My Week With Meryl. Or How I Succeeded in Stalking the Fantastic Meryl Streep... sort of.

So, some of you may, or may not, know this, but I’m a HUGE Meryl Streep fan. Seeing her in person is something that I would love to strike off my bucket list. Naturally, I was determined to make this happen. However, getting close to Ms Streep was not as easy as anticipated.

We went to the Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica – because Meryl was scheduled to be a presenter at the Awards. So we waited at the red carpet for HOURS for her arrival. She never showed up, because she had last minute Academy Awards rehearsal that afternoon. Strike 1.

THEN, we planned to stalk her on the red carpet at the Academy Awards. However, the arrivals section is blocked off for blocks, so your chances of getting close to the red carpet are slim to zero. Strike 2.

YAY!! SHE WON!!!

Rumour had it that she would be on Jimmy Kimmel after the Academy Awards. So we tried to get tickets to this recording. However, tickets were sold out (SURPRISE!) Strike 3.

Michael and Stephanie had previously seen her in Soho, so we hung out in Soho for a bit hoping to catch a glimpse of Ms Mary Louise… OK I admit this was a bit of a long shot, but I was desperate. Surprise. No Meryl. Strike 4.

But someone up there must like me… Meryl was a scheduled performer at the Trudie and Sting Rainforest Benefit to be held at Carnegie Hall on the 3rd of April. So things were looking up.

We went to the stage door early that day – to catch the arrivals for the rehearsal. Liesl was beside herself with excitement. 

Me at the stage door at Carnegie Hall

The first black car pulled up (about 5 minutes after we arrived). Liesl saw a blonde lady in the back of the car and shouted out that it was Meryl!! Well the blonde lady got out of the car, and we realized it was someone else.. of course only at the exact moment that this women walked right past me, and I looked at her face to face, did I realize that it was Trudie Styler! Mrs Sting herself… and we totally had no idea who she was because we were so focused on Meryl.

Trudie Styler

Anyway, a few minutes later the next big black car arrived. Liesl once again screamed, “It’s Meryl!” This time, she was RIGHT!!! OMG. Meryl Streep had just arrived.

Flanked by her 4 body guards she was whisked right past us and into the auditorium. Although we didn’t get to speak to her, I got a good look at her. She’s so tiny!! She looked fab in black leggings, platform shoes, a blue shirt and awesome movie star shades. Did I mention how tiny she is? She’s little! So cute!

One thing that I have neglected to mention, is that Stephanie works at Carnegie Hall. BONUS! A few minutes later, she met us at the stage door and said that she could sneak us into the rehearsal!!! I was so excited and must have blacked out for a bit, because the next thing I knew I was sitting  in the 4th row inside Carnegie Hall. Looking up at the stage and seeing Sting, Elton John, James Taylor.. and MERYL STREEP!

OMG, OMG, OMG!

The four of them did a medley from the "Wizard of Oz". I could have died. Meryl Streep doing a "Wizard of Oz" medley inside the auditorium where Judy Garland had one of the worlds most record-breaking concerts ever!?! Someone up there seriously likes me!

The stage was set up with Directors chairs to the right – in front of where we were sitting. Meryl and Elton took their seats and sat there chatting and laughing for the entire rehearsal – in between their numbers of course! So I basically sat and stared at Meryl Streep on stage for 4 hours – with my heart racing and my mouth wide open (and Liesl laughing at me)

It was AWESOME!

Meryl sang “When You Wish Upon a Star” beautifully, while Elton watched. Afterwards Meryl sank into her chair – looking a bit shy and uncertain of herself. Elton just looked at her, gave her a hug and said, “that was fabulous!”

Meryl’s next number was with Sting. They sang “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” together. It was stunning! The two of them were so cute.

What I love most about Meryl, is her humanness. She’s a brilliant actress and watching her is as close to having an out of body experience. But underneath it all, she’s a total goof and airhead – watch a few of her interviews and you’ll see what I mean.

Meryl-the-airhead made a few appearances that day. Like forgetting her words; goofing around with Elton and Sting in the finale and forgetting to come in on her que; forgetting where she put her mic – and fidgeting around in her huge Mary Poppins handbag to find it. But ever the professional, she would get it all right the second time around. No prob.

Other highlights of the day included:

• Watching Sting and Trudie dancing to the side of the stage during “Wish Upon a Star”.

• Having Sting and Trudie sit in the row in front of us to watch some of the numbers – so close that I could have rubbed his bald little head, and pulled the hairpin out of Trudie's French bun. I didn’t.

• Jennifer Hudson blowing the roof off with “I’m Telling You”

• Elton asking where Jennifer got her shoes, and then saying that he wants them!

• The Bruno Mars and Elton John duet.

• Finding out that Meryl can’t dance!!!! She can do everything else, except dance without looking like a 1980s wedding guest. It was hysterical to watch!

• Watching Elton John sing “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” while Channing Tatum adorns him in jewels.

All in all, it was a truly amazing day. I can hardly believe that we saw it, and that I got to spend all those hours in the same room as Meryl.

Thank god for Stephanie, and her amazing powers of persuasion, for getting us into the rehearsal. Steph, like I said, if you ever need a kidney or a bone marrow transplant, you know who to call!

xxx