June 22

Mary Louise Streep's Birthday
 

Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada
 

One doesn’t see the word “classy” as much these days as we did in the past, Perhaps because some of us may have forgotten what it means The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines classy  with three connotations: having or showing class: as (a ) elegant, stylish, as in a classy clientele; (b) having or reflecting high standards of personal behavior, as in a classy guy or a classy gesture; and (c) : admirably skillful and graceful, as in a classy outfielder. Based on this definition, it is easy to see why the term classy is rarely applied to most actors today, unlike those of past generations such as Cary Grant, Ronald Coleman, Audrey Hepburn, and Grace Kelly.

One could argue that its application to contemporary actresses would  include Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslett,. Julia Roberts, and Meryl Streep who meet all three connotations of the term. But it was Meryl's portrayal of Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada (2006), the ever-so-lightly disguised portrait of Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of American Vogue, that may have been her classiest role, although Miranda Priestly (and some might argue Anna Wintour as well). failed to meet definition b, although she got extra points for definitions a and c.

Meryl is the most honored actress of all time. She has been nominated for the Academy Award  16 times, and has won it twice.  She has had 25 Golden Globe nominations, winning seven, more nominations than any other actor in the history of either award. Her work has also earned her two Emmy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and simply too many to be listed in for this brief article  .Her unique  career has included remarkable dramatic roles such as in the 1978 TV miniseries The Holocaust, Sophie's Choice (1982). Out of Africa  (1985), and The Bridges of Madison County (1995); comedic roles such as She-Devil (1989) ,Death Becomes Her (1992) ,Stuck on You (2003); musical films, such as Postcards from the Edge (1990) and Mamma Mia (2008),and cartoon characters such as in The Ant Bully (2006) and The Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009).

Her success has been due in part to her chameleon-like ability to master diverse character, accents, and genres. She once explained this talent as "Acting is not about being someone different. It's finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself in there." and that "All an actor has is their blind faith that they are who they say they are today, in any scene. "

So to celebrate Meryl's birthday, we suggest renting a copy of The Devil Wears Prada and, when Meryl says " Bore someone else with your questions," toast her with the most imaginatively named cocktail in the bartender's lexicon, The Devil Pears Prada, created by the imaginative people at Absolut who created their wonderful pear-flavored vodka.