The Three Movies Meryl Streep Says She Regrets Doing

Meryl Streep’s rise to Hollywood stardom didn’t start as smoothly as most might think. In 1977, she landed a small role in Julia, acting alongside Jane Fonda and Vanessa Redgrave. But the experience was far from what she had imagined.

Much of her work was cut or rearranged in the editing room, leaving her feeling frustrated and disillusioned. She later said, “I had a bad wig, and they took the words from the scene I shot with Jane and put them in my mouth in a different scene.

” The manipulation made her question whether she wanted to continue in films at all. “I’ve made a terrible mistake, no more movies. I hate this business,” she admitted. By the early 1980s, Streep was taking on bigger roles, but her perfectionism kept her from ever feeling fully satisfied.

While filming The French Lieutenant’s Woman, she played a layered character who was an actress within a period drama. Even after winning a BAFTA and a Golden Globe, she confessed to Graham Norton, “I didn’t feel I was living it.” She often wished she could go back and do it differently, showing that even someone with multiple Oscars can struggle with regret.

When Streep took on the role of Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada, she tried Method acting for the first and only time. She stayed in character off-camera to maintain the intimidating presence of the fashion editor. While it worked on screen, it made her miserable in real life.

She said, “It was horrible! I was [miserable] in my trailer while I could hear the rest of the cast having a great time nearby.” After that experience, she decided Method acting wasn’t for her. “That’s the last time I ever attempted a Method thing,” she revealed. Since then, she’s relied on her traditional techniques, which clearly haven’t stopped her from dominating Hollywood.

Even now, Streep keeps busy. She is set to star in the Devil Wears Prada sequel that will release later this year. Despite her occasional regrets and experiments that didn’t work out, Streep’s career remains one of the most admired in Hollywood. “You always want to do something better after the fact,” she explained, showing that her dedication to her craft never wavers.

Do you think Meryl Streep made the right choice by quitting Method acting, or could it have elevated her performances even further? Share your thoughts in the comments.