Nearing 60, Streep Trumps Hollywood's Old Boys

The anti-diva, a character actress at heart, is happy to play strong women

By Katherine Thompson, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 25, 2009 1:18 PM CST

(Newser) – Meryl Streep wasn't surprised when Mamma Mia! took the international box office by storm, and remained equally unfazed at the amazement of execs who hadn't expected the ABBA musical to succeed. The "fellas" who decide what films get made, Streep tells the Independent, "usually make those decisions based on what they want to see, or what they wanted to see when they were 14."

The 59-year-old Streep is happy to have left behind the "conventional" parts offered to young women in favor of character roles and tough, high-powered ladies. But she sees mainly old-boys' networks in the real world. "The film industry. The Senate. The House of Representatives. The top echelons of business. What isn't?"

[Images (4)]

[Videos (2)]

Nearing 60, Meryl Streep says she strikes a sharp contrast with Anna Wintour, the fashionista upon whom her character in 'The Devil Wears Prada' is loosely based. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

In this image released by Miramax Film Corp., Meryl Streep portrays Sister Aloysius in an Oscar-nominated turn in the film "Doubt." (AP Photo/Miramax Film Corp, Andrew Schwartz)

In this image released by Universal Pictures, Meryl Streep is shown in a scene from, "Mamma Mia!." The film blew producers' expectations out of the water, grossing $575 million. (AP Photo/Universal Pictures, Peter Mountain)

In this image released by Miramax Film Corp., Philip Seymour Hoffman portrays Father Flynn, right, and Meryl Streep portrays Sister Aloysius in a scene from "Doubt." (AP Photo/Miramax Film Corp, Andrew Schwartz)

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Meryl Streep leads an all-star cast in the feature-film adaptation of the beloved musical Mamma Mia! (PortugalZone)

The theatrical trailer for John Patrick Shanley's 2008 film, "Doubt." (CoolFilmTrailers)

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Nearing 60, Streep Trumps Hollywood's Old Boys