Meryl Streep may be one of the most celebrated actors in Hollywood history, but she insists she is still figuring it out.
In a recent interview, the 76-year-old star opened up about her approach to acting, admitting she does not believe she truly knows how to do it. According to People, Streep said, âI donât know how to do it. I donât know how people do it,â explaining that she often watches other performers and feels in awe of their work.
She shared that after recently seeing âDeath of a Salesmanâ on Broadway, she was especially impressed by the cast, including Laurie Metcalf, and left the performance questioning her own abilities. Moments like that, she said, can make her feel like she should âjust retire.â
Despite holding a record 21 Oscar nominations and three wins, Streep explained that she does not follow a specific acting method. Instead, she approaches each role instinctively, relying on listening, feeling, and figuring things out in the moment rather than sticking to a defined technique. She said she simply has a sense of what needs to be done and builds from there.
She Once Thought Her Career Would End at 40
Meryl Streep revealed that early in her career, she believed it might not last much longer. Reflecting on her first time at the Cannes Film Festival in 1989, she said she was nearing 40, already a mother of three, and assumed her time in Hollywood was coming to an end due to industry expectations for women at that age, per People.
Speaking again at Cannes in 2024, Streep said that fear was not unrealistic at the time, but she is now grateful her career continued far beyond that moment. She also recalled feeling overwhelmed during her early Cannes experience and credited her late motherâs advice about how quickly time passes as something that stayed with her.
According to , Streep reflected on those doubts while accepting an honorary Palme dâOr, acknowledging how far her career has come since then and expressing appreciation for the longevity she once thought she would not have.
Returning to Miranda Priestly Years Later
Streepâs comments come as she returns to one of her most iconic roles in âThe Devil Wears Prada 2,â now in theaters.
Looking back at the original 2006 film, she admitted that her experience on set was not easy. Per People, Streep said staying in character as the intimidating Miranda Priestly made her âmiserable,â and she eventually stepped away from that approach, choosing to isolate in her trailer instead.
For the sequel, however, the process felt much more natural. She explained that actors tend to carry their characters with them over time, which made revisiting Miranda Priestly feel easier and more familiar.
Streep also revealed that she nearly did not take on the role in the first place. According to Variety, she initially turned down âThe Devil Wears Pradaâ despite believing it would be successful. She later agreed to join the film after negotiating a higher salary, asking for double her original offer and receiving it. At the time, she said she felt confident enough to walk away if the deal did not happen and even considered retiring.
The decision ultimately helped redefine her career. The film became a major success, earned her an Oscar nomination, and introduced her to a new generation of audiences.
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