Article courtesy Publisher’s Weekly: On August 16th, HighBridge Audio will release the audio version of Paul Farmer’s Haiti After The Earthquake — narrated by Meryl Streep. Farmer, the UN Deputy Special Envoy for Haiti and Chair of the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, was at work on a development plan in Haiti when the earthquake of 2010 hit the country. Suddenly, his project was transformed into a massive international rescue and relief effort — which Farmer and his colleagues chronicle in Haiti After The Earthquake. In addition to Streep, the audiobook is narrated by an ensemble cast that includes Edoardo Ballerini, Eric Conger, and author-narrators Edwidge Danticat, Nancy Dorsinville, and Michèle Montas-Dominique. The audio book can be pre-ordered at Amazon.com.

More insight on Meryl Streep’s preparation to play “The Iron Lady” comes courtesy The Telegraph: Bell Pottinger, the PR company founded by Tim Bell, coached Rebekah Brooks for her appearance before the House of Commons Committee for Culture, Media and Sport last week. But Brooks’s unconvincing performance was not in the same league as Lord Bell’s first PR triumph – Margaret Thatcher. With the late Sir Gordon Reece, he moulded Baroness Thatcher’s public persona – down to the bouffant hairdo and pearls. This is why the producers of The Iron Lady, scheduled for release next January, signed up Stephen Sherbourne, until recently Lord Bell’s right-hand man, to help Meryl Streep with her portrayal of Lady T. Sherbourne said there was little to add to the actress’s extraordinary insight into her subject: Miss Streep had read a great deal about the former PM, knew about the workings of Parliament and was in superb command of her brief. If only the same could be said of Rebekah Brooks.

Many thanks to Tina for providing scans from three issues of the French Elle magazine, ranging from 1982 to 1991 and featuring some fantastic new (old) pictures :-) Enjoy!

The Arts Initiative at Ohio State has posted additional pictures from the Margo Jones Award. While in NYC for the July 12th OSU/RSC Gala event members of The Arts Initiative team attended the 2011 Margo Jones Award ceremony at Lincoln Center. The 2011 Margo Jones Award winner is Anne Cattaneo, Dramaturg of Lincoln Center. Among those attending the award ceremony were actresses Meryl Streep and Blair Brown. The Award is given annually by OSU’s Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute. Also there to honor Cattaneo were actresses Mamie Gummer, Blair Brown, Deborah Rush and Lois Smith.

According to The Day Connecticut, “Great Hope Springs” has found its locations in Mystique to start filming most probably in late September and early October. The full article has more information courtesy the film’s location manager. “Great Hope Springs” centers around a middle-aged couple, played by Jones and Streep, who attend an intense counseling weekend to decide the fate of their 30-year-old marriage. Carell plays the relationship guru who counsels them. The Sony Pictures film, which is slated for a late 2012 release, is being directed by David Frankel of “The Devil Wears Prada.”

Many thanks to Sven for letting me know about their interview with Meryl Streep on The Talks. An excerpt from the 2009 interview is below, the full interview, along with an audio sample, can be read at The Talks.

Have you ever envied anybody in your life?
Oh, yeah. I mean, yeah! I envied Jessica Lange when she got Sweet Dreams. That was such a great movie; she was beyond wonderful in it. I wished for things that I haven’t had, but I have to say my blessings are pretty great, so I have no complaints.

Sophia Loren once said she hates you because you stole her part in The Bridges of Madison Country with your acting skills.
Well, I don’t think Sophia hates me because I just met her for the first time in my life at the last Academy Awards and she gave me the most wonderful embrace and she made me very happy. I am such a fan of hers and a great admirer of hers and always have been and so is my husband. He has never recovered from that moment where she came out of the sea. (Laughs)

Click here to read the full interview

Info courtesy Broadwayworld. On July 11, the Ohio State University Arts and Humanities and University Libraries’ Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute presented the prestigious 2011 Margo Jones Award to Lincoln Center Theater dramaturg Anne Cattaneo in a ceremony in the Vivian Beaumont Theater. The award was presented to Ms. Cattaneo by Ohio State University Arts and Humanties

Dean Mark Shanda, joined by Ms. Cattaneo’s colleagues LCT Artistic Director Andre Bishop, playwright John Guare and actress Meryl Streep – who worked together on the 1978 television film “Uncommon Women and Others” and 1983’s “Sophie’s Choice”. A picture of Meryl, among others from the event, can be found on the Another Eye Opens blog.

Fantastic news! According to Pathe, we’ll be able to get a first look at the highly anticipated “The Iron Lady” teaser trailer when it goes live exclusively on The Guardian website and on BBC Breakfast after 8:30am on July 7. Be sure to find it on Simply Streep as well, after its broadcast. Edit: The teaser – which is running for roughly a minute – can be now watched in the video archive.

Lots and lots of additional appearances pictures have been added to the image library, ranging from 1978 to 1990. Each updated gallery can be reached through the previews below. Enjoy!

Many thanks to Simona for contributing scans from the July 2011 issue of the Italian CIAK magazine. They’re covering “The Iron Lady”.