Queen Meryl: The Iconic Roles, Heroic Deeds, and Legendary Life of Meryl Streep

by Erin Carlson

Overview

A captivating and inspiring portrait of legendary actress Meryl Streep and her work, Queen Meryl explores the fearless icon's trailblazing roles in film, her feminist activism, and the indelible mark she's left on pop culture.
Meryl Streep is the most celebrated actress of our time. She's a chameleon who disappears fully into each character she plays. She never tackles the same role twice. Instead, she leverages her rarified platform to channel a range of dynamic, complicated women--Joanna Kramer, Karen Silkwood, Julia Child, Margaret Thatcher, Katharine Graham--rather than limit herself to marginal roles for which other actresses must settle: Supportive Wife. Supportive Mother. Supportive Yet Utterly Disposable Love Interest. Streep will have none of that.
The once-awkward, frizzy-haired suburban teen blossomed into a rising ingénue on the stage at Vassar College and the Yale School of Drama. She came of age during the women's movement of the '60s and '70s, and has worn her activism on her sleeve even when it was unfashionable. When she reached 40, the age when many leading ladies fade away, Streep plunged forward, taking her pick of parts that interested her and winning a pile of awards along the way. Meanwhile, she remained an unlikely box-office draw, her clout even managing to grow with age: The Devil Wears Prada, starring Streep as the Anna Wintour avatar Miranda Priestly, scored $326 million worldwide.
Journalist and author Erin Carlson documents all of Streep's Oscars, accents, causes, memes, friendships, and feuds; also exploring the "off-brand" forays into action-adventure (The River Wild) and musicals (Mamma Mia!), and how Streep managed to sneak her feminism into each character. In the spirit of nontraditional bestsellers like Notorious RBG and The Tao of Bill Murray, Queen Meryl is illustrated by artist Justin Teodoro and filled with fascinating lists and sidebars, delivering joy in homage to its unique and brilliant subject.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316485289
Publisher:	Hachette Books
Publication date:	09/24/2019
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	NOOK Book
Sales rank:	386,444
File size:	39 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Erin Carlson is the author of I'll Have What She's Having: How Nora Ephron's Three Iconic Films Saved the Romantic Comedy and has covered the entertainment industry for The Hollywood Reporter and the Associated Press. Her work has appeared in Glamour, Fortune, and the Los Angeles Times, and she holds a masters in journalism from Northwestern.

Editorial Reviews

08/02/2019

While entertainment journalist Carlson's (I'll Have What She's Having: How Nora Ephron's Three Iconic Films Saved the Romantic Comedy) not so subtle coronation of Meryl Streep as Her Highness of Hollywood might be dead-on, the author's incessantly cloying style, habit of referring to the actress as "Queen Meryl" and her acolytes as "Streepers," and hagiographic approach make for an annoying appraisal of Streep's career trajectory. In a People magazine meets TMZ mashup, Carlson wends her way through Streep's biography and considerable cinematic canon, paying particular attention to reviews; critics' assessments; Streep's relationships with actors, directors, and writers; and, of course, the cornucopia of awards. Scattered throughout the text are frequent digressions in the form of shadow-boxed sidebars affixed with a little crown and lengthier asides that Carlson calls an "intermission." In addition to the films, Carlson focuses on Streep's strong familial bonds. VERDICT Potentially fun for Streep fan boys and girls, although Michael Schulman's Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep, which Carlson references, is preferred.—Barry X. Miller, Austin P.L., TX

Library Journal

07/01/2019

Entertainment journalist Carlson follows I’ll Have What She’s Having, her 2017 examination of writer and director Nora Ephron’s romantic comedies, with this fast-paced and enjoyable homage to acting legend Meryl Streep. In a breathless, admiring tone, Carlson quickly covers Streep’s childhood and education before rushing onto her career. Streep’s roles—including Linda in The Deer Hunter, her star-making role in Kramer vs. Kramer, and as the unforgettable Miranda Priestly in the film adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada—are meticulously covered. Though Streep has had an extraordinary run, Carlson too eagerly absolves her of any responsibility for less than apt role choices (She-Devil with Roseanne Barr, for example). The focus is on Streep’s extraordinary dramatic gifts, but Carlson regularly reminds readers of the difficulties women face—especially in Hollywood—over getting equal pay, dealing with ageism, and deflecting unwanted sexual attention (Dustin Hoffman, Jack Nicholson, and Harvey Weinstein are mentioned unflatteringly) as well as of Streep’s feminist activism. Generously supplemented with gossipy sidebars and lists and with fashion magazine–like brush-and-ink drawings, Carlson’s latest will be embraced by Streep-struck fans, but cinephiles will have to wait longer for an in-depth examination of Streep’s extraordinary career. Agent: Daniel Greenberg, Levine, Greenberg, Rostan Literary Agency (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"All hail!"—People, Best New Books of the Week

"The world doesn't deserve Meryl Streep — luckily, she graces us with her talents anyway. Erin Carlson's delightful book captures the inexorable rise of a benevolent genius. Long live the queen!"—Gavin Edwards, New York Times bestsellingauthor of The Tao of Bill Murray

"Erin Carlson sheds a new light on one of the most beloved actresses of our times. As she charts Meryl's career and personal life, Carlson manages to make her seem not just regal, but deeply human. Readers will come away with a new appreciation for Queen Meryl and a desire to revisit so many of her greatest roles."—Jennifer Wright, author of It Ended Badly

"An utterly compelling ride through the rise of one of our most beloved and impactful artists. Carlson deftly dissects the evolution of a self-made icon, and the fascinating stories behind her many, many unforgettable roles. This is a book for film aficionados, Hollywood history fans, and anyone who's ever wondered how Meryl Streep came to be Meryl F*cking Streep."—Kelsey Miller, author of I'll Be There for You: TheOne About Friends

"With great research and enthusiasm, Carlson writes of Streep's trailblazing roles, activism and impact on pop culture. If you're a fan, you'll want to add this to your pile."—Huffington Post, Books to Read This Fall

"Generously supplemented with gossipy sidebars and lists and with fashion magazine-like brush-and-ink drawings, Carlson's latest will be embraced by Streep-struck fans."—Publishers Weekly

"An enthusiastic homage to a legend."—Kirkus Review

"Fans should be delighted by the juicy details of life on various sets andtales of Streep's good-humored devotion to her craft."—Booklist

"You absolutely must read [this] homage to another female force to be reckoned with."—Women.com, Books of the Month

"A vibrant celebration of one of Hollywood's most iconic figures."—Bustle.com

From the Publisher

2019-06-30
Meryl Streep, actor, wife, mother, and feminist spokesperson, has had a sensational career.

With 21 Oscar nominations and three wins, along with multiple international acting awards, Streep can aptly be called Queen Meryl, the most celebrated actor in America. Entertainment journalist Carlson (I'll Have What She's Having: How Nora Ephron's Three Iconic Films Saved the Romantic Comedy, 2017) gleefully recounts Streep's career from her earnest performance as the Virgin Mary in a family Nativity play (she was 6) to her acclaimed roles in The Devil Wears Prada, Iron Lady, and The Post. As a student at the Yale School of Drama, Streep stood out for her ability to create complex characters, and she was often cast in Yale Repertory Theatre shows—while holding down off-campus jobs to pay her tuition. After graduating at 26, she immediately became "a Broadway starlet," Carlson discovered, thanks to the support of Joe Papp, founder of the Public Theater. Her film career took off in 1977 when she was cast in Julia, a drama starring Jane Fonda. Fonda encouraged Streep to improvise and also "imparted an object lesson in kindness" that inspired Streep's generosity to her less experienced co-stars. Drawing on a copious number of articles, reviews, profiles, and interviews as well as archival material and a previous biography of Streep, Carlson creates a mostly engaging, deeply admiring chronicle of Streep's life: her long marriage to sculptor Don Gummer, motherhood, sometimes unexpected role choices, friendships, political activism and views, and the movie synopses, production anecdotes, and reviews that document Streep's prolific acting career. Although she was highly praised for most of her work, some dissenting voices emerged in the 1980s. "Streep can come off like a piece of fine china, white, hard, perfect," one critic wrote. She never felt perfect, she admitted, but most of the time, she felt confident. "Usually I think I can play anything," she told an interviewer in 1980. "I have great faith in myself."

An enthusiastic homage to a legend.

Kirkus Reviews