Elite arts group makes Meryl Streep a lifetime member

Somebody had better start inventing more honors, because Meryl Streep is going to have all of them soon. 

Still, even she was moved Monday upon receiving honorary membership in the American Academy of Arts and Letters, an elite honor society of 250 architects, composers, artists and writers. 

"I have to say that I was stunned, and when they sent me the roster of people in the academy I just burst into tears," Streep told the Associated Press. "I couldn't believe that I'd be even allowed in the kitchen."

According to the academy, getting in "is considered the highest formal recognition of artistic merit in the United States." The group aims to foster and sustain interest in literature, music and fine arts through various means of promoting individual artists and authors and their works. 

Streep and conductor James Levine were elected to a special membership category for "Americans of great distinction in the arts whose work falls outside the traditional departments" included in the society.

Membership in the group is for life; new members are sought "as vacancies occur."

-- Christie D'Zurilla

Photo: Meryl Streep at a play-reading in New York last month. Credit: Marc Bryan-Brown / The Daily Beast. 

Comments

[MONICA]

And they all very well deserved! CONGRATULATIONS MERYL!! Great artist, outstanding lady.

[Ignore the hype]

If you ignore all the hype...she is still pretty dang amazing. I remember watching "Sophie's Choice" and thinking, what is going on here? Who is this Polish woman? She is amazing. Just reading her profile on Wikikpedia is a delightful trip down memory lane.

[Roxanne]

Not only is Le Streep the greatest living actress in the World, she is the World's Greatest Actress Of All Times. If they can find another cameloen who so totally disappears into her characters, who lends her body and her mind to portray some of the most difficult characters and emotions in such breathless work, I would relinquish the later title but they cannot. Le Streep deserves no less!

One only needs to see Sophie's Choice, Miranda Priestly, Doubt and Senator Shaw in the same month that they see a Mamma Mia!, Julie and Julia and The River Wild, not forgeting the old Rabbi in the television series, Angels in America, to realise the almost limitless range of this woman's talent. None of these characters were similar in what was inside of them. And she may have lent her face and body to them but who could ever tell after the first few moments of the movies?

The Oscars have become cheap and meaningless. This is why this elite society needs to exist. This is merit based, not a rediculous annual campaign that only result in greatnest getting pushed aside for mediocrity as is now the case with the Oscars. The Academy Awards have become a cheap trick that does not deserve the likes of Le Streep gracing it with her presence anymore, but she is such a womderful human being, I am sure she would continue to show up to meet her friends.

However, having said all of that, I would be remis if I forget to say: Thank God for the American Academy of Arts and Letters!