Veteran actor Meryl Streep was presented with an honorary Palme d’Or during the opening ceremony of the 77th Cannes Film Festival, The Hollywood Reporter said.
When summoned to the stage and presented with the gold-plated emblem of the city of Cannes by French actress Juliette Binoche, the 74-year-old received an overwhelming standing ovation lasting 2.5 minutes from the packed Grand Lumiere Theatre, consisting of over 2,000 guests. Among them was Greta Gerwig, Streep’s director in Little Women and this year’s Cannes jury president, who was seen wiping away tears.
“You changed the way we look at women,” said Binoche, choking with emotion as Streep comforted her.
Streep expressed her gratitude, stating, “This prize is unique in the world of cinema and I’m very, very honoured to receive it.” She extended thanks to her agent, Kevin Huvane, with whom she has collaborated for 33 years. Additionally, she acknowledged J Roy Helland, her longtime hair and makeup stylist, saying “he is responsible for almost every single one of the characters that I have ever played in the last half-century.”
She reflected on her previous visit to Cannes, recalling that at the time, she was on the brink of turning 40 and was a mother of three.
“I thought that my career was over — and that was not an unrealistic expectation for actresses at that time,” said Streep. “And the only reason that I’m here tonight and that it continued is because of the very gifted artists with whom I’ve worked, including madame la president [Gerwig].”
Streep’s sole previous visit to the Croisette occurred 35 years ago when she attended the festival with the film ‘A Cry in the Dark.’ Her outstanding performance in the film earned her the best actress prize from the jury.
Renowned for her multifaceted performances spanning nearly five decades, encompassing films such as The Deer Hunter, Kramer vs. Kramer, Sophie’s Choice, Out of Africa, The Bridges of Madison County, The Devil Wears Prada, Mamma Mia!, Doubt, Julie & Julia, and The Iron Lady, the actress has amassed an impressive collection of accolades. This includes three Academy Awards, eight Golden Globe Awards, and two SAG Awards. Additionally, she has received acting honors from prestigious film festivals such as Berlin, Telluride, and Toronto, as well as career achievement awards from the AFI, Film Society of Lincoln Center, and Kennedy Center Honors.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the honorary Palme d’Or from Cannes, which acknowledges lifetime achievement, has been previously awarded to esteemed figures such as Catherine Deneuve, Jane Fonda, Clint Eastwood, Agnes Varda, Jodie Foster, Tom Cruise, and, in the previous year, Harrison Ford and Michael Douglas.
This year, two additional honorary Palmes will be bestowed: one to Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli on May 20, marking the first time a non-individual entity has received this honor, and the other to Streep’s fellow American and pioneering figure of “New Hollywood,” George Lucas, during the closing ceremony on May 25.
When Streep’s honorary Palme was first announced, she said in a statement, “I am immeasurably honoured to receive the news of this prestigious award. To win a prize at Cannes, for the international community of artists, has always represented the highest achievement in the art of filmmaking. To stand in the shadow of those who have previously been honoured is humbling and thrilling in equal part. I so look forward to coming to France to thank everyone in person this May!,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.