All Hail, Queen Meryl
Now I am too old to complain, to be weird, to curse, to be offended, to be sensitive, to whine, to resent, to be behind on savings. I am not the wise, financially secure, intentional woman I thought I’d be with a bookish brownstone, a smattering of unique friends, and young people seeking my advice. I am not alternating between the cultural delights and dining options of NYC and a coastal cabin filled with tartan sofas and the smell of old classics in Maine. I don’t stroll into a room and instantly make everyone feel inspired and slightly terrified at the same time.
I am not Meryl Streep. And that means Robert Redford will never gently shampoo my hair by a Kenyan river (especially now that he has left us. R.I.P.).
Master of Disguises
Because who wouldn’t want to be even a little bit of Meryl? That mythological shapeshifter, that iconic smile—equal parts comfort and command. Um….cheekbones?
Meryl can soothe babies and nations, inspire revolutions, and remind you to call your mom. Nominations and awards orbit her like devoted moons. She lives quietly in Connecticut–a life of admirable balance. Somehow. Mother, wife*, artist, activist, philanthropist, . I break into a cold sweat when my phone rings or I have to do more than one thing.
Narration So Good It Should Come With a Crown
Not content with cinematic domination, Meryl narrates audiobooks with precision, charm, and the kind of emotional intelligence that makes you reconsider your own pauses while reading aloud.
🎧 Listen Like a Queen
Audiobooks narrated by Meryl:
- Audible: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
- Audible: Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White (& more children’s classics)
- Audible: Heartburn by Nora Ephron
- Audible: Selected Essays & Speech
- Book: Queen Meryl by Erin Carlson
- Book: Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March
- Biography: Meryl Streep: Anatomy of an Actor
- Biography: Her Again- Becoming Meryl Streep by Michael Schulman
Tip for Emotional Dressers: Listening to Meryl or reading about her is like taking a masterclass in poise, craft, and presence—something you can’t really find on Instagram these days.
How She Wins Without Making Us Hate Her
Meryl Streep is fabulously rich, brilliant, and successful beyond imagining, yet nobody hates her for it. Compare that to anyone else in the spotlight—Paltrow, Kardashians, etc.—and the “ugh” factor skyrockets. She makes clothes look like an afterthought, and yet somehow magnetic. No billion-dollar brands, no Instagram drama. Aspirational. Entirely believable.
Sometimes, the most empowering thing you can say is, “I’m not Meryl Streep, and I don’t have to be.”
Untouchable, Unbothered, Unreasonably Perfect
Even comparing myself to her feels like I’ve violated an unspoken rule of the universe. There’s a freedom in acknowledging that you’re not Meryl Streep—and the world won’t implode because of it. I can learn from her mastery, poise, humor, and brilliance, while living my own messy, mismatched life, whose only dramatic performances are triggered by bad Wi-Fi and interactions with teenagers.
Sometimes, the most empowering thing you can say is, ” I’m not Meryl Streep, and I don’t have to be.”
*Side note: Meryl’s rumored romance with Martin Short is sweet and low-key—presumably after an amicable split from her longtime husband. Awards in one hand, peace in the other.
