'The Iron Lady' Star Meryl Streep Talks Playing Margaret Thatcher, Losing Her Glasses

If her 8 Golden Globe wins are any indication, Meryl Streep can take just about anything; including playing a political figure she disagrees with and using profanity on live television.

The star, who nabbed a Golden Globe for her performance in Phyllida Lloyd's Margaret Thatcher biopic "The Iron Lady" at Sunday night's awards, admitted the role of Margaret Thatcher was an interesting one to take on.

"Coming into this I had a very reductive view of Margaret Thatcher," Streep said of the former Prime Minister in the Golden Globes press room. "I sort of did what we all do to political figures we don't agree with; we turn them into something more than human and less than human at the same time. It was interesting to me to look at the human being behind the headlines; to imagine what it's like to a live a life so huge, controversial, and groundbreaking in the winter of that life, and to have sort of a compassionate view for someone with whom I disagree."

But Streep's compassion for Thatcher didn't stop her form throwing a bold word into her acceptance speech for "The Iron Lady" when she realized she'd lost her glasses.

"Oh, I can't believe I said 'sh*t' on TV," Streep said. "I never do anything like that! It's just, I have such a good speech, and I can't see it at all. Even if you held it in the front row I couldn't see it!"

The Oscars are right around the corner, but Streep isn't slowing down; she's starring in David Frankel's "Great Hope Springs" as Maeve Somes, in theaters this December.

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Comments

[Ellyn64]

01:51 PM on 01/17/2012

Meryl Streep is as phoney as a three dollar bill. A great actress, but there are many great actresses. And I wish that she would stop flirting with every interviewer. I never liked her but she is definitely where she wants to be. I sure would like to know the story of her family life. Now, that would be interesting. Her husband - or should I say her consort - always looks so bored at these functions. I wonder why he stays with her. Could it be LOVE? I doubt it.

[chiodo08]

09:11 AM on 01/17/2012

was I the only one that caught the collective "seriously" *eye roll from the audience?....you would think Meryl Streep was the only actress worth watching...even she seemed a bit embarrassed for winning AGAIN gussying over the women that should have won...

[ontariogirl]

11:43 PM on 01/16/2012

I would love to enjoy a glass of wine and just chat with her for an evening. Such an inspirational woman.

[andys0391]

08:35 PM on 01/16/2012

She is a living goddess. Amazing woman and immensely talented. A true inspiration.

[riverhouse]

04:48 PM on 01/16/2012

Streep is a charming woman, one of the finest actors ever, and an utter delight. No pretense, no drama. She has lived a sound family life with one husband and well raised daughters. There is no one who knows her who does not like her.

[OutAtFirst]

03:58 PM on 01/16/2012

So she does a decent Margaret Thatcher, big deal. Let's see how she does with Wnston Churchill.

[Carol Martin235]

02:38 PM on 01/16/2012

That did not just slip out of her mouth. That is the way she talks all the time or it would not have come out of her mouth to begin with. Just like the rest of this world.

[riverhouse]

04:49 PM on 01/16/2012

Petty is as petty posts.

[oimZgirl]

11:31 AM on 01/16/2012

National Women's History Museum! Yay Meryl for giving it a shout-out!

[Minion]

11:31 AM on 01/16/2012

No big deal. Meryl might have just had a cocktail or two last night.

[okiedemocrat]

11:24 AM on 01/16/2012

She's a great actress, but the remarks she delivered last night were awful. Guess all her roles are tightly scripted and don't allow for ad libbing.

[peggysmom]

01:27 PM on 01/16/2012

if you have seen any of her interviews she is a bit quirky, says what ever she wants & then laughs

[enlightenedgirl]

11:13 AM on 01/16/2012

"Reductive" - first Madonna now Meryl, it's the Word of the Week that you have to look up!