Meryl Streep at 60: Happy to Be Alive

In a context in which more and more actresses in Hollywood are complaining about the double standard in the industry and the ageism that is forcing them to accept roles they wouldn’t have given a second thought had they been younger, there is at least one female star who’s thriving. Meryl Streep, aged 60, is the latest cover girl for the prestigious Vanity Fair – and simply can’t stop gushing about how great things have turned out for her.

The famous actress, a well established thespian but also one of the classiest ladies in the industry, is not deceiving herself about the way things stand in the industry. Past a certain age, women no longer receive as many offers as they used to so this means they have to turn their attention someplace else or, oppositely, be satisfied with the little that comes their way. Personally, Streep has only good things to say about how her career is going right now.

“It’s incredible – I’m 60, and I’m playing the romantic lead in romantic comedies! Bette Davis is rolling over in her grave. She was 42 when she did ‘All About Eve,’ and she was 54 when she did ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?’” Streep says for the publication, with that well-known smile of hers dangling in the corner of her lips. And she’s right, it has been pointed out: at her age, other actresses get parts to play grandmothers or mother in laws, so she can consider herself lucky on this count.

Nevertheless, Meryl Streep considers herself lucky for her life as well, and not just for her career. Having lived the life she lived and seeing many a time that things could be so much worse, the star has absolutely nothing to complain about. “I’m very [expletive]ing grateful to be alive. I have so many friends who are sick or gone, and I’m here. Are you kidding? No complaints!” she says.

As noted above, Meryl Streep graces the cover of the January 2010 issue of Vanity Fair. Inside the pages of the magazine, fans will also find several astonishing portraits of the actress, as done by Bridgette Lacombe. See here for more on that.