New Jersey’s own Meryl Streep was the guest of honor at this Saturday’s Montclair Film fundraiser, where she chatted with The Late Show host and self-proclaimed “laugh harvester” Stephen Colbert at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. The initial idea came about when Colbert’s wife, Evelyn, who is the president and an original board member of the organization, asked if he could get her on as a guest. Skeptical, Colbert was pleasantly surprised by the acting legend’s swift response. Streep responded 10 minutes after his initial email ask: “I would love to come back to New Jersey!” It was an overall love fest for the Garden State. Governor Philip Dunton Murphy introduced Colbert after announcing a new filming tax credit, and officially welcomed Streep back to her home state.
In a luxe living room, over Colbert-crafted cocktails, no subject was left untouched. Streep (who takes her gin martinis extra dry, with a twist) took guests on a journey. She started with her first acting role, as a cardboard robot named Madam X in the 5th grade, to her first play, Sir Arthur Wing Pinero’s Trelawny of the Wells at Lincoln Center, and ended with talk of her more recent films. Colbert couldn’t help but show some affection for The Devil Wears Prada, and showed Streep the viral meme of her delivery for “Why is no one ready?” Colbert showed a clip of one of his writers, Ariel Dumas, resurrecting the line, to which Streep gave a cutting Miranda Priestly review: “It’s good but she’s too angry. Too much edge.”
Streep’s movies weren’t the only topics of conversation. The actress shared some of her own movie recommendations: The Rider directed by Chloé Zhao, First Reformed with Ethan Hawke, and A Star Is Born, directed by and starring Bradley Cooper with Lady Gaga. Politics came up as well. When Streep mentioned that being empathetic is part of an actor’s job description, Colbert asked, “What’s it like for you to see somebody who is the president of the United States . . . who is indifferent to the idea of empathy?” Streep had an assured response: “I’m scared. I’m scared by his possibility and I do empathize with him. I can’t imagine what his 3:00 a.m. is like. There’s a gathering storm—everyone feels it, he feels it. His children are in jeopardy and I feel that. I think, What if my children were in jeopardy? I would do anything, anything to get them out of trouble. So we should be afraid. That’s what I think.”
Right before “Mamma Mia” blasted from the speakers, concluding the festivities, Colbert began the final question: “Someday, someone will play Meryl Streep . . . .” Without missing a beat, Streep replied, “Oh my god, what a nightmare!” Colbert continued, “If they want to get Meryl Streep right, what can they not leave out physically and what can they not leave out in terms of intention?” Streep paused and smiled, “Silliness, can’t leave that out; and what’s the word for opinionated? I guess opinionated, yes.”
