Meryl Streep is set to receive a special Palme d’Or at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival, an honor that will be bestowed during the festival’s opening ceremony on May 14, as confirmed by the event organizers. The acclaimed actress, a previous recipient of the festival’s best actress award in 1989, will grace the 77th edition’s inaugural event at the Grand Theatre Lumiere.
“I am immeasurably honored 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 honored is humbling and thrilling in equal part. I so look forward to coming to France to thank everyone in person this May!” Streep expressed in a statement.
Her return to Cannes marks a significant moment, following a distinguished five-decade career in Hollywood. The festival directors, Iris Knobloch and Thierry Fremaux, highlighted her impact on cinema in a joint statement: “We all have something in us of Meryl Streep! We all have something in us of Kramer vs. Kramer, Sophie’s Choice, Out of Africa, The Bridges of Madison County, The Devil Wears Prada and Mamma Mia! Because she has spanned almost 50 years of cinema and embodied countless masterpieces, Meryl Streep is part of our collective imagination, our shared love of cinema.”
Streep’s participation will inaugurate a festival that continues until May 25, culminating in an awards ceremony led by jury president Greta Gerwig. Previous luminaries who have received Cannes’ honorary Palme d’Or include Jeanne Moreau, Marco Bellocchio, Catherine Deneuve, Jean-Pierre Leaud, Jane Fonda, Agnes Varda, Forest Whitaker, and Jodie Foster.
