According to the new Madonna biography, the legend that she turned up in New York with $35 and worked her way to pop heaven is not true, but it seems that Meryl Streep actually did live the tough life on the streets of London. Just think Oliver Twist with fabulous bone structure.
The Hollywood star came to the U.K. when she was a struggling actress in her twenties and earned her keep by busking for loose change.
Streep admits that some days she would not earn enough to pay for a hotel – and once had to spend the night in London’s Green Park.
She tells British magazine Closer, “On my very, very first trip to London, when I was 20, I went around busking to afford food and overnight accommodation. One night when I hadn’t earned enough, I actually slept in the open in Green Park, under a tree.
“The view was of the Ritz hotel and I vowed to myself that night that I was going to stay there one day – and I have!”
I spent far too many years working for a fast food chain across the street from a magnificent hotel. As I emptied the outdoor garbage cans I could hear the noises of parties from the rooftop swimming pool and when the balls were over, people would come to get burgers in their gowns. I always wanted to go to one of the balls, and the best part of eventually going was when I dropped into my place of work for post-party munchies, I got my meal for free. Which I then proceeded to spill down my dress. I think Meryl Streep has managed to transition from street kid to red carpet with a little bit more class.
I tried to find out what she did to busk, unless she did monologues from theatre she learnt at drama school or sang (she’s a professionally trained opera singer) she probably didn’t play an instrument. She didn’t learn to play the violin until 1999.
Meryl is promoting her new film Mamma Mia, a film version of the musical about the Swedish supergroup Abba also starring Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth.
Meryl Streep is shown at the NY premiere of Mama Mia on 7/16/08 with Amanda Seyfreid. Credit: Joseph Marzullo / WENN.
love her
Wow, could she actually make enough money doing that everyday to afford food and a hotel EVERY night? I see people doing that all the time and they don’t look like they make that much money…I would figure she slept outside more than once.
Don’t kid yourself, BLA, they make quite a lot of money. I remember one beggar in Kansas City about 15 years ago who bragged that she averaged $200 a day (probably equivalent to $500 in today’s economy).
A friend in Portland, OR was injured in an accident and could not go back to work, things were getting tight, and someone suggested he go downtown and beg. He scoffed, saying that wouldn’t pay the rent. A few beers and a lot of laughing later, he agreed to try a Noble Experiment, and sat himself down on a street corner with a hat in front of him. No sign, didn’t say a word. In less than 2 hours he’d gotten $175.
I don’t earn $87.50 an hour.
Um… does anyone else see Meryl’s nip slip in the header pic? 🙂
But other than that, I would be tempted to call this story bullshit if they didn’t have direct quotes. I thought Meryl was a middle-class girl who went to Vassar, then Yale Drama, then got her first acting job two seconds after graduation?!?!?
Meryl is a joy to watch in any role. It is that simple….a magician of an actress who gets better with each project. THANK YOU, Meryl!!!
At 20, Meryl Streep was still at Vassar earning her B.A. She also was never a professionally trained opera singer; she took lessons during her teenage years but stopped pursuing a music career when she got to Vassar and realized she liked acting more. I just wanted to point that out.
I’m not sure it was that unusual in the 60s for college kids to go over to Europe and just wing it once they got there, backpacking and sleeping in parks and whatnot. I.e., this isn’t an indication of how hard-scrabble Meryl’s life was–it was an acceptable thing to do if you were up for it. Now it sounds crazy for anyone, esp. a woman, to sleep outdoors in a city park, but times have changed.
overrated chicken face.
@Kate, I’m confused, she has been nominated for 14 Academy Awards and won 2, how is she overrated?
zfXD41 good game! i liked it too