Meryl Streep is undoubtedly one of the most impactful women and a global icon. Known for her performances in films like The Devil Wears Prada, Mamma Mia and Julie and Julia, the actress is a three time Oscar winner.
Recently, the actress received the honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival which is the highest prize awarded at the festival. She was greeted by a thunderous two-minute standing ovation. Meryl was so overwhelmed with emotion that she first pretended to walk off the stage, but eventually began to dance to the applause.
In her speech she thanked Cannes for welcoming her back after 35 years and referring to her last time there, she said, “I was already a mother of three, I was about to turn 40 and I thought that my career was over.” She even went on to thank her Little Women director Greta Gerwig who is the jury president this year.
Meryl ended her speech by saying, “just so grateful that you haven’t gotten sick of my face and you haven’t gotten off the train.” She added, “My mother, who is usually right about everything, said to me: ‘Meryl, my darling, you’ll see. It all goes so fast. So fast.’ And it has, and it does. Except for my speech, which is too long.”