I’m sure this will make your Sunday. On her first cover for 2011, you’ll have a hard time figuring out that it’s indeed Meryl Streep. For the Alumnae/i Quarterly magazine, Meryl transformed, with the help and stunning photography by Brigitte Lacombe, into Vassar founder Matthew Vassar. She helps to recreate the painting “Matthew Vassar, 1861“, commissioned by Vassar’s nascent Board of Trustees and executed by the distinguished artist Charles Loring Elliott, upon the founding of the college.

Many thanks to Simona for providing these two fantastic interviews for the video archive. In 2009, while Meryl Streep was visiting the Rome International Film Festival to promote “Julie & Julia”, two interview specials were produced by the festival for Italian television – Incontro and Viaggio Nel Cinema Americano – both very insightful and funny. The two specials can be now watched in great quality in the video archive. Thanks Simona! Enjoy watching.

Actress Kate Winslet will author a book of celebrity self-portrait photos by Ben Stiller, Jude Law, Meryl Streep and others to support autism that will be released later this year. Winslet organized the collection of self-portrait photos for the book titled “The Golden Hat” after becoming inspired by an HBO documentary she narrated called, “A Mother’s Courage: Talking Back To Autism”. The film shows Keli Ericsdottir, an Icelandic boy who suffered from severe non-verbal autism, eventually being able to communicate. He now composes poems, including one describing a magical hat that enables an autistic boy to communicate. The book derives its name from Ericsdottir’s poem. Winslet asked more than two dozen celebrities to take a self-portrait photo wearing one special hat that was passed along. Other well-known figures in the book include comedian Ricky Gervais, tennis player Maria Sharapova, singer Christina Aguilera and actresses Naomi Watts and Julianne Moore. Proceeds from the book’s profits will benefit Winslet’s autism charity “The Golden Hat Foundation.” (source: Reuters).

According to the Lincoln Center website, Meryl Streep leads some of America’s foremost artists, scholars, and public figures in this extraordinary evening celebrating the role of contemporary poetry in American culture. Wednesday, April 27, 2011 6:30 PM. Alice Tully Hall, Starr Theater.

Deadline has, once again, the exclusive scoop on “Great Hope Springs”: “I’m told that Tommy Lee Jones has surfaced as the front-runner to play Meryl Streep’s husband in the David Frankel-directed Great Hope Springs. Mandate Pictures recently set Streep as one half of the troubled couple and Steve Carell to play the marriage therapist who tries to help rekindle their loveless relationship after 31 years of marriage. It’s their last shot before divorce. Vanessa Taylor wrote the script. Escape Artists’ Todd Black and Film 360’s Guymon Casady are producing. Shooting starts in August.” Personally, while I am still not sure if this film is going to happen this soon – I consider Mr. Jones the best actor of his time, so he would be a perfect match for Meryl Streep.

Here is another rare find for the archives. In 1996, CBS aired a Siskel and Ebert special, featuring interviews with some of the greatest filmmakers of their time, inluding Meryl Streep. She and Gene Siskel first visited Yale for a discussion with students, and then sat down at Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria (seriously) for an interview about Meryl’s time at Yale and her successful film career. This interview is insightful and at times downright hilarious, which makes it a must-see. Enjoy! Additionally, screencaptures have been added as well.

“Still of the Night”, the 1982 psychologial thriller directed by Robert Benton, has been one of the last remaining films of Meryl’s career that had yet to be released on DVD. Since January, a demand version if available on DVD in the USA (means it’s manufactured on demand when ordered) and since yesterday, a DVD was released in Germany. So finally, there are great quality captures from this lesser known – or let’s say, less successful, Meryl film. The captures contain spoilers, so be aware when viewing them. Enjoy!

A new picture from yesterday’s filming of “The Iron Lady” has been added. It’s a case of BIN there, done that for the Iron Lady… as these latest pictures from the filming of her life story show. Trademark handbag by her side, Mrs T, played by a ­spookily similar-looking Meryl Streep, has to fight her way past vast piles of rubbish bags in a ­recreation of 1979’s ­Winter of Discontent. Shortly after, Thatcher led the Tories to victory – and 11 years in Downing Street. The Iron Lady, due in cinemas at the end of the year, tells how Britain’s only female Prime Minister rose to power.

Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn will be among the participants Good Housekeeping’s Shine On benefit, to be presented at Radio City Music Hall, on Tuesday, April 12. Rebecca Romijn will host. Grammy Award-winner Eve will perform an original song for the occasion. Additional participants will be announced at a later date. This original 90-minute show will benefit the National Women’s History Museum in Washington, D.C., which is dedicated to preserving, interpreting, and celebrating the diverse historic contributions of women. For tickets and more information, click here.

In a recent article by Deadline on a new collaboration for Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufman, the director and author who helmed “Apdation” in 2002, there’s word on another possible project that Kaufman is aiming at and – according to this source – has gained Meryl’s interest. “It’s not the only Kaufman project in the mix. I’m told he’s looking to direct his script Frank Or Francis. The film chronicles a volatile back and forth between a film director (Frank) and an online blogger (Francis), who takes delight in berating his cinematic talent. The project’s at Sony Pictures for the moment, and names like Adaptation’s Meryl Streep being talked about for roles.” The complete article can be read here.