Among the most renowned faces to grace Hollywood films and theatre screens, Meryl Streep maintains her standing as an imminent figure. Her adaptability and versatility have long been praised, becoming the cornerstone of a glorious career spanning decades. Streep’s contributions to the film industry are demonstrated by her many projects; she has reportedly acted in about seventy films.
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Although the esteemed personality has garnered a well-established reputation as a veteran well-versed in Hollywood’s intricate functioning, there are moments where her popularity, excellence, or esteem couldn’t stop her from criticizing or evaluating her own work. Like most perfectionists and creatives, there are elements in Streep’s highly decorated career which, if given a chance to go back in the past and change, she would.
One such endeavor that she looks back on with dissatisfaction is the British romantic drama titled The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981). The aspect that nagged her pertained to Victorian beauty standards, which the actress felt she didn’t meet.
Meryl Streep Was Critical Of Her Appearance In The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981)
In The French Lieutenant’s Woman, based on the 1969 novel by John Fowles, Streep starred in the endeavor alongside Jeremy Irons. It is considered the actress’ first leading role.
A highly-venerated interweaving of two separate romantic affairs, the 1981 film presents a Victorian drama combined with another narrative showcasing the two leads as actors filming a modern-day retelling of the same period piece. After its release, the metafiction story-within-a-story format garnered the project favorable reviews from critics.
It additionally amassed $26.9 million at the box office against a budget of only $8 million. Although the movie may not have had the same impact as some of Streep’s best-received films, it was nonetheless seen as a significant milestone in her career. She started rising in prominence with projects that followed.
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In a September 1981 issue of Time Magazine (via Simply Streep), Meryl Streep participated in an interview around the time of the romantic drama’s unveiling. Here, the Mamma Mia! alum admitted to being unimpressed with how she appeared in the movie, wishing she had looked “more beautiful.” She stated:
“Watching the film, I couldn’t help wishing that I was more beautiful. There comes a point when you have to look the part, especially in movies. In Victorian literature, passion, an illicit feeling, was always represented by darkness.”
Continuing, she affirmed:
“I’m so fair that dark hair makes me look like some old fish, so I opted for auburn hair instead […] I know I’m good-looking enough to play any of the women I usually play … But for the character—with her intense beauty—it wasn’t enough.”
Her acting prowess and on-screen expertise garnered her an Oscar nomination for her performance as Miss Sarah Woodruff and Anna, despite the self-criticism of her looks in the project. Nevertheless, the legendary actress has seemingly held on to feeling displeased with her efforts in the endeavor, as witnessed during her appearance on The Graham Norton Show a few years back.
Meryl Streep Wasn’t Satisfied With Her Performance In The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981)
When the three-time Oscar-winning actress was asked on The Graham Norton Show which movie from her illustrious career she lamented, where she felt the performance lacked quality, Meryl Streep spoke candidly about The French Lieutenant’s Woman. She believed her dual-role embodiment didn’t provide her with the experience of “living” the venerated initiative. Following was her statement:
“…I’m giving myself an out, but part of it was, the structure of it was … artificial because I was the actress playing The French Lieutenant’s Woman. At the same time, I was an American actress playing a British woman. I hear it now… I was young and new at this,”
She further clarified:
“I wasn’t as pleased… I didn’t feel I was living it. […] You always want to do something better after the fact.”
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Without any doubt, Meryl Streep’s propensity for perfection permitted her to stay relevant, inspiring her to push the boundaries of her acting throughout the years. The 74-year-old A-lister, even now, never ceases to astound viewers with her acting gigs. There’s a reason why she is deemed the best actress of her generation, and her multiple accolades are proof enough. Given her ever-evolving finesse, it makes sense that she holds certain films and earlier ventures, much like the 1981 romantic drama, in a critical light.
The French Lieutenant’s Woman is available for buying/renting via Prime Video.
