Lively 'Queen Meryl' crowns Streep as acting's best

"Queen Meryl: The Iconic Roles, Heroic Deeds, and Legendary Life of Meryl Streep," Hachette, by Erin Carlson

The sort of book that would make its subject blush and her fans gush, "Queen Meryl" affirms Meryl Streep as the greatest actress of her generation - maybe of either gender and of any generation. That she's not one to take herself so seriously as to believe there is anything heroic or legendary about her life is another reason to celebrate her.

It's not just the seemingly countless, varied roles or numerous honors, including three Oscars. As author Erin Carlson states, "Most of all, she represents a meaningful goal for women: the courage to shed fear and inhibition and live a big, bold, authentic life."

Streep created her first role in high school when she tamped down a naturally bossy, opinionated and loud personality to become more popular among the girls and with the boys. Her reward then was the crown of homecoming queen.

At Vassar and Yale the real Meryl emerged, now impressing her drama teachers and classmates with her excellence at performance.

Theater roles led to her first film, 1977's "Julia" with Jane Fonda, and the Emmy-winning miniseries "Holocaust" the next year.

Managing to have a life beyond stage and screen while conquering both venues points to her indefatigable nature and the courage to take roles that, on their face, don't seem right for her.

Only those who follow Streep closely may know that she is an outspoken liberal on many public issues - among them climate change, #MeToo and Donald Trump - because she doesn't demand center stage to be involved.

Trump's declaration that she is "one of the most overrated actresses in Hollywood" is hardly the worst review she's received, but it might be one that she's proud of.

It's all about the work and the life beyond, a refreshing break from angst-ridden Hollywood backstories. Now 70, Streep still has the power to make us believe and question and feel, and the joy she has drawn from her efforts to blaze a singular path shines through in "Queen Meryl."

Associated Press