Yesterday, Meryl was in attendance in Poltu Quatu, Sardegna, Italy, to receive the 2010 Rodolfo Valentino Award. Clips of her acceptance speech can be now watched in the video archive, with thanks to Nora & Tina.

The Rodolfo Valentino award is given each year by a jury of critics to movie personalities who have success all over the world. The winners of 2010, Meryl and Andy Garcia, join a selected group of outstanding personalities, including Pedro Almodovar, Robert Altman, Bernardo Berolucci, Francis Ford Coppola, Bette Davis, Jeremy Irons, Sophia Loren and Roman Polanski, among others. Pictures from the ceremony have been uploaded to the image library.

Some of you may remember Iain Johnstone’s book, “Streep“, which was released last Summer and is currently available in a revised edition. Back then I’ve made a deal that in exchange for mentioning the book, I would receive a copy of the interview that Mr. Johnstone and Meryl did in 1983 at the National Film Theater in London (as it was mentioned in the book). To make a long story short – as good things take time – I’m proud to finally share this rare treat with you!

Back in 1983, Meryl visited London to promote “Sophie’s Choice” and to talk about her films. The NFT produced a fourty minutes television broadcast in which she was interviewed by Mr. Johnstone. Enjoy watching the interview, and kindly do not copy these on other websites or sharing portals. Thanks! Screencaps have been also uploaded to the Image Library. My most sincere thanks go to David for helping me with this – thank you!

As you can see, Simply Streep is running a brand new layout! It has taken quite a while to bring it online – and also to convert and update all remaining pages, but here it finally is and I hope you enjoy the new look. Some parts have been modified, most notably the filmography pages – you can now rate each of Meryl’s films and also write your own comments, so don’t hestitate to share your thoughts. Also, you can now search the full site via the search form next to the navigation on top. The video archive will be converted as we speak, and once this is done, expect a great surprise!

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Meryl is currently in negotiations to star as Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady,” a biopic of the controversial and long-governing former British prime minister. Jim Broadbent is in talks to play Margaret Thatcher’s husband, Denis, for the pic, which is being co-produced and co-financed by Pathe and Film4. The film is said to be directed by Phyllida Lloyd, who last helmed the big screen version of “Mamma Mia”.

This project, like the previous mentioned “Great Hope Springs” is not official yet. A couple of years ago there already was a mention of Streep playing Thatcher, although these were simply misleading, since the actual news were based on a quote by Oliver Stone, saying that Meryl would be his first choice to play Thatcher. Still, if this new project will be done, Meryl will be in magnificent company with Jim Broadbent, who won an Academy Award in 2002 for his performance in “Iris”.

Meryl’s speech at the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award honoring Mike Nichols has been added to the video archive. Apparently, her speech was shortened for the television broadcast.

While still unofficial, according to the Wrap, Mike Nichols is in talks to direct Mandate Pictures’ “Great Hope Springs,” an individual familiar with the project told TheWrap. Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Jeff Bridges are currently close to finalizing deals to star in the dramedy. CAA, which represents Nichols, Streep and Bridges, would not confirm the negotiations. This would be the fifth project for Nichols and Streep after “Silkwood” (1983), “Heartburn” (1986), “Postcards from the Edge” (1990) and “Angels in America” (2003).

According to Coming Soon, Meryl Streep and Jeff Bridges are in talks to star in Escape Artists’ “Great Hope Springs”. Philip Seymour Hoffman is also circling the project but may not be able to join in due to schedule conflicts. The film, written by Vanessa Taylor Writer, is about a couple who have been married for thirty years and attend an intense counseling weekend to decide the fate of their marriage. Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Guymon Casady and Steve Tisch are producing the dramedy.

“In talks” basically means that the two are considered, or wanted for this projects, so I wouldn’t count it as an official project for now. Be sure I keep you posted on further information.

According to the Italian news association ANSA, Meryl Streep and Andy Garcia will be awarded with the Rudolfo Valentino Award in Poltu Quatu, Sardegna, Italy, July 7. The Rodolfo Valentino award is given each year by a jury of critics to movie personalities who have success all over the world, past winners include Pedro Almodovar, Robert Altman, Bernardo Berolucci, Francis Ford Coppola, Bette Davis, Jeremy Irons, Sophia Loren and Roman Polanski, among others. Thanks to Ilaria for the heads-up!

The following article from the Connecticut Theater Reviews not only features some great remarks by Meryl on her early stage work but also four amazing pictures from her collaboration with the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in 1975. The complete article can be read here and below.

I just got off the phone, talking to Meryl Streep about the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford, and its second Tony Award — this one for outstanding regional theater, which was presented during last night’s Tony ceremonies at Radio City Music Hall. Streep spent a summer at the O’Neill 35 years ago when she was a young actress starting out, fresh out of her three years at Yale School of Drama. While at the O’Neill in 1975 she appeared among projects in a John Guare play being developed there called “Marco Polo Sings a Solo” and Jeff Wanshel’s “Isadora Duncan Sleeps with the Russian Navy.” Also in the staged reading were actors Joel Brooks, Jay Garner and Kevin O’Connor.

As reported earlier, Meryl has attended the AFI Lifetime Achievment Award to director Mike Nichols, yesterday. Pictures have been added to the Image Library with more information below. It was a reunion with lots of her Nichols-directed co-stars – Cher of “Silkwood”, Jack Nicholson of “Heartburn” and Shirley MacLaine of “Postcards from the Edge”. The tribute to Nichols airs June 26 on TV Land.

I remember on ‘Silkwood’ once, you said to me, ‘You know, directing is like making love.’ And I said, ‘Eww, I don’t even know him that well. Why is he telling me this?’ ‘Because,’ you went on, ‘you never know if you’re doing it right or as well as the other guy.’ I just found that insecurity so completely disarming, and, well, you know, I started to fall in love with you over and over and over again.

Introduced by Streep at the end of the evening, Nichols gushed thanks for his costume designers, cinematographers, script supervisors, makeup artists, composers and other associates. “If I thanked everyone who contributed importantly over the years, we would be here until Miley Cyrus’ AFI award,” Nichols said. “All of you made me feel I got away with it. I love the process of making a movie, and doing it with all of you was – despite the fear, the pressure, the budget – happiness.”