Meryl Streep webchat - Thursday 8th October from 1-1.45pm.

[SandyMumsnet]

We are beside ourselves with excitement and so delighted to be able to say that the highly acclaimed Oscar and BAFTA winning actress, and quite frankly awesome, Meryl Streep is joining us for a webchat on Thursday 8th October from 1-1.45pm.

Meryl will be chatting about her new film Suffragette and her diverse, award winning career.

For 45 minutes we've got her full attention. So please join us on Thursday for the webchat, or post your question to this industry veteran now!

Suffragette is in cinemas from 12th October.
Suffragette show times

Photo of Meryl courtesy of Brigitte Lacombe

Hi Meryl

It's brilliant that you have come to chat with us - thank you Totally star struck

My question is do the film roles you take change you as a person, just as life events do? Which one has changed/affected you the most?

Thank you

Huge congrats for making a success in a very male dominated industry. I know giving females more notoriety in television and film is something close to your heart, and has been a particular focus of this years London Film Festival.

I am a busy mum and step mum, but also an aspiring writer and children's creator of television, so my question is can you give us keen mummy's looking to diverse a career into television and film any tips on how to juggle life as a mum and how to break into the industry?

Thank you
Xx

Hi Meryl

You're No. 1 on my Goddess list (ahead of Judi Dench AND Jessica Ennis-Hill).

You have so much experience in telling stories, are you ever going to write a screenplay yourself?

Yours in total admiration
ChinUp

What are your future projects after promoting Suffragette, Meryl?

Golly! I don't have any sensible questions to ask so just wanted to say ... Hello Meryl!

I know I'm not allowed another question but I'm going to ask anyway - if someone made a film about your life, who would you like to play younger you? your daughter? OR someone else?

What on ilkley moor bar tat said!

(Yorkshire is lovely by the way, recommend it next time you're in the UK).

ooh! hello meryl one of my very favourite films is 'falling in love' it just seem so close to what could happen in real life; what are your best memory of making that movie?

Hi Meryl

Thanks for coming on to MN for this webchat.

When you won your BAFTA for The Iron Lady you mentioned your roots in Lincolnshire. Where abouts are your family from? Which parts of Lincolnshire have you visited and liked?

I'm from Lincs, so if you ever want a tour guide...

Here I am doing my humdrum fiddling on the computer housework but potentially able to communicate with a major Hollywood star.

Which role would you say has been your most challenging to date? Is there one particular thing that makes a role more difficult, such as mastering an accent, or would the emotional complexity of the character or the difficulty in achieving a close resemblance to a famous person be a bigger challenge? And has any one role been particularly enjoyable - Mamma Mia certainly looked fun!

Hi Meryl, thank you for coming into MNHQ. I've just seen an item on the BBC showing the protest against cuts to refuges for women who suffer from domestic violence at the premiere of Suffragette, and the positive responses given by Ann-Marie Duff (your successor, perhaps), Helena Bonham Carter and Carey Mulligan. Do you share their view that given the subject of the film, this protest was entirely legitimate?

Meryl, I think you're an amazing actor but my question to you isn't about that, I'm afraid. It's very shallow.

You have AMAZING skin. Please could you tell us what products you use? Do you drink gallons of water? What's your diet like? You are doing something well to have such translucent skin - it's fantastic.

And those missing Oscars - it's disgraceful.

Hello Meryl,

Do you have any special fond memories from the making of "Dancing at Lughnasa"?

It's so lovely that you are here chatting with us!

Hi Meryl, I'm a great admirer of your work and you as a person.

On Twitter I follow @ProResting an actress who "anonymously tweets about the ridiculousness of the acting world", and some of the genuine casting calls she puts up are just shocking. They always want young attractive women (for the male parts attractiveness is never mentioned) and usually in demeaning or decorative roles, such as silent girlfriend, stripper or dead prostitute.

Was it like this for you when you started out as an actress? Do you think anything has improved for women in the performing arts since then?

Thank you for reading and for coming to Mumsnet, its such a treat!

Meryl, you are incredibly awesome, although I suspect you must get a bit fed up of having to nod modestly and look self-deprecating when people go on about this at award shows and stuff, I think you should just own it and go 'yes I am the best, now stop banging on about it'.

I definitely think you should have got the role of Evita - it's hard to imagine there are many parts that Meryl Streep can't get just by going 'I want that one'. But are there any parts that you look back on as 'the one that got away'?

Hello Meryl,

I admire you and your work very much. Out of Africa is my favourite film and I hope, someday, to acquire a fraction of your Karen Blixen's strength, composure and restraint.

The 'Men go off to be tested...' lines resonated greatly with me at one point in my life.

(Other favourite bits: perfect pause and appraising look before 'Does she have money? Of course, she has money.'

'I'm afraid what you want is quite impossible' 'Yes, it always is. Who must I see next?'

We're just out of coffee, but I can offer you tea.) OK, I'll stop now.

A lot of your characters demonstrate strength coupled with self-possession. My question is, are you like this yourself, and if so, have you ever shouted?! (I can't imagine it.)

I really hope you see this, I'm a huge fan and consider you one of my inspirations for pursuing a career in acting!
My question is, what advice would you give to young actresses trying to make a career for themselves, and how have you dealt with sexism within the industry?
Id really love to know your take on it as well as any advice you could possibly give!
Thank you so much for your time ?? xx

Hello Meryl
Everyone looks up to someone in their life I look up to you,your an inspiration to women!
My question is as an aspiring 18 year old actress myself what advice would you give me on how to survive in the industry!
Can't wait for Monday suffragette I'll be definitely going to watch it!

Hello Meryl,

curtsies

Given that we are all so star struck, I'd like to know, is there anybody that makes you start struck, and if so who?

Also, will you / would you direct one day please?

hello. huge fan here. thank you.

I know there's enormous pressure for women (and men) in hollywood to look young. I'm just curious if you think there is (or might ever be) a backlash against this and a desire to age more naturally.

Oh no! typo in front of Meryl!

star struck

that should be. I'll be in the corner.

I'm a huge fan of your work and have been for a long time now. As a history student I have a big interest in the Suffragette Movement and I was wondering,

What was it that made you decide to take the role as Emmeline Pankhurst in this film?

Hi Meryl

Do you think the fuss over the "Rebel not a slave" T Shirts is indicative of the somewhat insular world view of many in the USA? My conversations with Americans online about this issue has exposed a quite staggering ignorance of any history, politics or culture that does not directly involve themselves.

MNHQ testing...

Oooo - nearly time! [excited]