Meryl Streep Once Called This Actor an Obnoxious Pig

Meryl Streep began her legendary acting career in the late 1970s, quickly establishing herself as a formidable talent. She made her debut in the 1977 drama Julia alongside Jane Fonda, which paved the way for a string of major professional triumphs.

Following that, she appeared in the Vietnam War drama The Deer Hunter, which secured her a first Academy Award nomination, and later joined Woody Allen’s classic romance Manhattan.

Her first major industry win arrived just two years after she started, as she took home an Oscar for her role in Kramer vs. Kramer. This acclaimed film explored a painful custody dispute between two parents, earning awards for both Streep and her lead co-star, Dustin Hoffman.

However, their collaboration was marred by a difficult and frequently hostile relationship behind the scenes. According to various reports, the tension began when Streep requested changes to the script to make her character’s perspective feel more modern and fair.

Hoffman was reportedly unhappy with these adjustments, as he had already developed his own approach for the sequence. Frustrated by the feedback, he reportedly told her, “Meryl, why don’t you stop carrying the flag for feminism and just act the scene?”

Hoffman, known for his intense commitment to method acting, often used his creative process to justify unprofessional conduct during production. In one instance, he physically struck his co-star during a take without any prior warning.

She later explained the impact of this moment to The New York Times, saying, “This was my first film, and it was my first take in my first film, and he just slapped me. And you see it in the film. It was overstepping.”

The behavior reportedly continued throughout filming, with Hoffman allegedly attempting to trigger an emotional reaction from his co-star by shouting the name of her late fiancé, John Cazale, during scenes.

Her negative experience with him actually began at their very first meeting before the cameras started rolling. She recounted this initial interaction to Time magazine, noting, “He came up to me and said, ‘I’m Dustin—burp—Hoffman,’ and he put his hand on my breast… What an obnoxious pig, I thought.”

Today, Meryl Streep is recognized as one of the most decorated performers in cinema history, holding the record for the most Academy Award nominations of any actor. She continues to choose diverse and challenging roles, maintaining a career that spans over five decades of consistent excellence.

Her work is often praised for her technical mastery, particularly her ability to adopt authentic accents and deeply inhabit her characters. Looking toward the future, the actress is currently busy preparing for the highly anticipated sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2, which is scheduled for release on May 1.

She is set to reprise her iconic role as the formidable magazine editor Miranda Priestly, with co-stars Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt also returning to the project. This sequel is currently one of the most discussed films on the upcoming release calendar.

Beyond that project, she has also been cast to portray the legendary musician Joni Mitchell in an upcoming biographical film directed by Cameron Crowe. Her commitment to such varied and high-profile work demonstrates why she remains a leading figure in the global film community.

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