In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

326 Meryl Streep, Actress By living a life that’s not her own but somehow more her own than possible, she goes beyond the script. It’s more than training, make-up or photography. It’s even more than talent. Her accents—British, Polish, Danish or Italian—are surer in their perfect imperfection than exact facsimiles. Rowing upriver, crossing a covered bridge, inviting dalliance on a train or being a Prime Minister, novelist or nun are more than roles for her. They seem like ventures cautiously begun and ending better than expected. Some say it’s just an exercise in craft. To me that totally ignores the mystery. More so by genius than direction, the way she acts defines performance as an art and not a trade. It’s death and resurrection all at once. That’s why I praise this lady with the same care I take to save this poem from excess. 327 Seeing her consummately composed in every part she plays, I never feel betrayed. ...

Share