On Friday, Meryl Streep joined conductor Mikko Franck, the Chœur de Radio France, Maîtrise de Radio France and Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, for the world-premiere of Rufus Wainwright’s “Dream Requiem”. Streep read Lord Byron’s poem “Darkness”, written in July 1816. Introducing the Dream Requiem, Rufus Wainwright wrote: “The music speaks of death, but I wanted it to be inspiring and full of hope at the same time. The work combines two soundworlds: The Latin Requiem text is sung by a large mixed choir, children’s choir and soprano soloist while the Byron text ‘Darkness’, which describes an environmental catastrophe, is spoken by a narrator. Dream Requiem was conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic and is also about the people we have lost during that crisis, for the loss of human connection that we all experienced. The full concert is curerntly available on-demand on the ARTE Concert webiste (at least for French and German viewers) and will be released on DVD later this year. Pictures from the rehearsals, the concert day and screencaptures have been added to the photo gallery.

All public appearances at the 77th Cannes Film Festival have been updated with additional pictures, including a new Q&A, which took place earlier today: Taking a broader look at the state of the industry, as France currently goes through its own #MeToo reckoning, Streep considered how significantly the film industry changed once women gained greenlight authority at the studios.

Before there were women in greenlight positions at studios, it was very hard for men to see themselves in a female protagonist. It was not difficult for the women executives to see themselves in a male protagonist, but the hardest thing — I’ve said this 150,000 times — the hardest thing is for a male to live through the female in a movie who’s the lead,” Streep said during the Q&A. “They just didn’t get it. The first movie I ever made where a man came up to me afterwards and said ‘I know how you felt’ was “Devil Wears Prada.’ It was more than one man who came and said ‘I know how you felt, I know what it’s like to be the one to take the decisions and nobody understands you.’ That was fascinating to me.

After an extended standing ovation at the top of the Q&A, Streep talked through her first experience at the Cannes Film Festival back in 1989, where she would go on to win the best actress award for “A Cry in the Dark.” She remembered not feeling “safe” there. “I needed maybe a dozen [bodyguards] the first time I came here because, in the olden days, I don’t know, there wasn’t the same security. All the barriers weren’t there… it was insane. I almost didn’t recover from that. I couldn’t believe how wild it was. So that was 35 years ago. It’s changed a lot, the world has changed a lot,” Streep said. When asked further about this, she said it’s tied back to how she doesn’t consider herself a “rock star” and instead has a “life that is filled with things that are not hyperbolic like that.”

An emotional Meryl Streep was greeted by a thunderous two-minute standing ovation. The 74-year-old Oscar winner was so overcome with emotion that she first pretended to walk off the stage, but eventually began to dance to the applause. Juliette Binoche, herself emotional, presented the award to Streep, saying: “When I see you on the screen, I don’t see you … Where does it come from? Were you born like this? I don’t know, but there’s a believer in you; a believer that allows me to believe. You changed the way we look at cinema.” In her speech, Streep thanked Cannes for welcoming her back after 35 years. She said that watching the ceremony’s retrospective clips of her career was “like looking out the window of a bullet train, watching my youth fly into my middle age right onto where I am standing on this stage tonight. So many faces and so many places that I remember.” Streep said that the last time she was at Cannes, “I was already a mother of three, I was about to turn 40 and I thought that my career was over.” “That was not an unrealistic expectation for actresses at that time. And the only reason that I’m here tonight and that it continued is because of the very gifted artists with whom I’ve worked, including Madame La President,” she said, gesturing to jury president Greta Gerwig. Streep ended her speech by saying that she is “just so grateful that you haven’t gotten sick of my face and you haven’t gotten off the train.” Pictures from the arrivals, ceremony and add-ons from the photocall have been added to the photo gallery.

A few hours ago, Meryl Streep has arrived at the 77th Cannes Film Festival’s photocall for her Honorary Palme d’Or accolade, which will be handed out during the opening ceremony later this evening. A great batch of pictures from the photocall have been added to the photocall. Make sure to check back later for pictures from the ceremony.

Meryl Streep will pick up an honorary Palme d’Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, the festival announced on Thursday. Streep will receive her honors during the May 14 opening ceremony at the Grand Théâtre Lumière, which French actress Camille Cottin (“Call My Agent”) will host. As announced in April, George Lucas will receive an honorary Palme d’Or at the May 25 closing ceremony, also hosted by Cottin. Streep winner returns to the Croisette for the first time since she won best actress there in 1989 for “Evil Angels” (“A Cry in the Dark”), directed by Fred Schepisi.

I am immeasurably honored to receive the news of this prestigious award. To win a prize at Cannes, for the international community of artists, has always represented the highest achievement in the art of filmmaking. To stand in the shadow of those who have previously been honored is humbling and thrilling in equal part. I so look forward to coming to France to thank everyone in person this May! (Meryl Streep)

“We all have something in us of Meryl Streep!” Iris Knobloch and Thierry Frémaux said, also via statement. “We all have something in us of ‘Kramer vs. Kramer,’ ‘Sophie’s Choice,’ ‘Out of Africa,’ ‘The Bridges of Madison County,’ ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ and ‘Mamma Mia!’ Because she has spanned almost 50 years of cinema and embodied countless masterpieces, Meryl Streep is part of our collective imagination, our shared love of cinema.” Greta Gerwig leads this year’s jury, which also includes actors Lily Gladstone and Eva Green, directors Nadine Labaki, Juan Antonio Bayona and Kore-eda Hirokazu, and Turkish screenwriter and photographer Ebru Ceylan, Italian actor Pierfrancesco Favino and French actor/producer Omar Sy.

On Saturday, Nicole Kidman was honored with the 40th AFI Life Achievement Award. The actress was scheduled to be presented with the award last year, but the ceremony was postponed indefinitely due to the writers’ strike, which was resolved in September after 146 days on the picket line. As the highlight of the evening, her “The Hours”, “Big Little Lies” and “The Prom” co-star Meryl Streep spoke about her colleague and presented her with the statue. So far, a couple of pictures have been released, which can be found in the photo gallery.

On Thursday, AFI announced that Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, Naomi Watts and Reese Witherspoon will be among the presenters at the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award Tribute in honor of Nicole Kidman, with Streep – recipient of the 32nd AFI Life Achievement Award – presenting the highest award for a career in film to Kidman. “Nicole Kidman embodies the glamour and romance of Hollywood past – a true screen icon – but she is also a risk taker – and so each performance is something new and something profound,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI President & CEO. “And like all truly great artists – Nicole not only gives back – she drives culture forward with her commitment to amplifying the voices of female directors and producers.” The Gala Tribute event will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, CA, on April 27, 2024. The official dinner sponsor is Canva, the official water sponsor is FIJI and the official red carpet sponsor is AMC Theatres. All proceeds from the AFI Life Achievement Award support the American Film Institute as a nonprofit organization. It was also announced that the tribute special will premiere on TNT on June 17 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT and on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) on June 27 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Monday was a big night for Cher at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards. The music legend was honored with the prestigious Icon Award and her famous pal Meryl Streep was on hand to present her with the honor. “When I think of Cher, I think of her giant heart. How open it is. How battered it is. And how strong it is. How she leads with her heart in everything she does. In her acting, her singing, her dancing, her dressing. She puts it all out there. It’s brought her lots of prestigious awards. But it has pulled her to work on behalf of our veterans and for LGBTQ rights and for many, many more,” Meryl shared before Jennifer Hudson and Cher sang “Believe” together. Pictures and a video of Meryl Streep’s speech have been added to the archives.

iHeartMedia and FOX Entertainment announced today 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards will feature special appearances by Avril Lavigne, GloRilla, Jared Leto, Jennifer Hudson, JoJo Siwa, Katy Perry, Latto, Meghan Trainor, Meryl Streep, Niecy Nash-Betts, Peso Pluma, Ravi Patel, Stevie Wonder, T-Pain, Vella Lovell and more. Additionally, Green Day and TLC will also receive the iHeartRadio Landmark Awards. The event will air LIVE from Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Monday, April 1 (8:00-10:00 p.m. ET live / PT tape-delayed) on FOX and will also be heard on iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide and on the iHeartRadio app. The event will feature performances by host Ludacris, Justin Timberlake, Green Day, TLC, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, Tate McRae and more. Beyoncé will be honored with the 2024 iHeartRadio Innovator Award. The 11th annual iHeartRadio Music Awards will celebrate the most-played artists and songs on iHeartRadio stations and the iHeartRadio app throughout 2023, while also offering a preview of the upcoming hits of 2024. Meryl Streep will most probably attend the ceremony to honor her colleague and friend Cher, who is the 2024 iHeartRadio Icon Award Recipient.

On Friday, Meryl Streep joined Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, showrunner John Hoffman and songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul for a For Your Consideration event on the Paramount lot, with a conversation moderated by co-star Jane Lynch. The group is currently shooting season four of the series, which is largely set in Los Angeles, on the lot. Streep told the crowd how she called Martin to ask to appear on the show, after having had a “really fun” time working with him on 2009’s It’s Complicated. “I’m sorry, can you believe that Meryl Streep asked to be on this show? I could die,” Gomez exclaimed, as Streep responded, “Doesn’t everybody want to be on this show? They do, because next season, they all are,” referencing the fact that several new stars, including Eugene Levy, Molly Shannon and Eva Longoria, will be joining the cast. “They have to erect barriers to keep these actors out,” she continued. “I was a huge fan of the show, but I also just wanted to have some fun because the world is pretty shitty right now.” She added of the Broadway music-set third season, “I really thought they should have had Selena sing.” A lenghty article on the panel, alongside some brief video clips can be found over at The Hollywood Reporter. Pictures have been added to the photo gallery, alongside some new ones from the Screen Actors Guild Awards.