While promoting her latest film, Meryl Streep became emotional during an interview when a journalist presented her with a gift related to one of her most iconic roles. The moment prompted a heartfelt reaction from the veteran actress, who was left in shock and awe.
Veteran actress Meryl Streep, alongside co-star Stanley Tucci, appeared on the French news show to promote their latest movie, “The Devil Wears Prada 2.” Toward the end of the segment, the host, Laurent Delahousse, redirected the conversation to Streep’s 1982 film, “Sophie’s Choice,” and handed her a tablet.
“I even told my mother that she was my favorite mother, because Meryl Streep was always nice to me and playing with me,” a woman in the video said. Streep’s reaction showed the moment she realized who the woman was: Jennifer Lejeune, who portrayed her daughter in “Sophie’s Choice.”
“I think if she wasn’t able to build that bond with me, there’s no way we would have ever had that kind of reaction on set,” Lejeune continued. Streep angled the tablet toward Tucci to show him the clip.
The Actress Was Shocked To See Her Former Co-Star
Streep, who was visibly emotional, asked Delahousse, “That’s the child?” The journalist confirmed that it was, indeed, Lejeune. “Oh my god, that’s amazing,” the 76-year-old actress exclaimed before asking where they found her. Delahousse said that her former co-star now resided in Paris.
Streep, still recovering from her shock, said, “Well, that’s amazing. That’s very beautiful. Thank you for giving me that. What a gift. Journalists never give me gifts!”
Lejeune was just 4 years old when she portrayed Streep’s daughter in “Sophie’s Choice.” The movie, directed by the late Alan J. Pakula, was based on a novel of the same name written by William Styron. The psychological drama focused on Zofia “Sophie” Zawistowski, a Polish immigrant in post-World War II America who is haunted by a traumatic and devastating decision she was forced to make during the Holocaust.
Meryl Streep And Jennifer Lejeune Formed A Bond While Filming
In an interview included on the “Sophie’s Choice” Blu-ray released in 2014, Lejeune recalled auditioning for the role and being asked to kick Streep. “They asked me to kind of kick Meryl at the final interview, and I gave her a good whacking on the shin,” she said.
Lejeune said she formed a bond with the actress, revealing that Streep would often spend a couple of hours with her and her on-screen brother to build rapport. “It was just playing together – sometimes in the hotel, sometimes just around town in the playground – and getting to know each other so I trusted her. I felt safe with her,” she shared.
“I apparently told my real mother that Meryl Streep is a nicer mother than she is. That didn’t go over really well with my real mom,” said Lejeune.
Meryl Streep Refused To Watch One Specific Scene
One of the most emotionally gripping scenes from the movie is when Sophie is forced by a Nazi officer to make a devastating decision: choosing which of her two children will live, knowing that if she refuses, both will be killed.
Streep revealed that she wasn’t acting the moment Lejeune was taken from her. “It was just what happened in the moment,” she said. Lejeune also said her screams were real, as she felt fear at that moment, despite the filmmakers explaining to her what was happening. “I had such a bond with Meryl, so I think I got into the emotional part of it,” she explained.
Years later, Streep shared that she refused to watch the scene because the emotions were too real and shooting it left her completely drained. Moreover, she was a mother herself, and having to revisit that moment was difficult. In 2002, Streep was on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and the scene was played. She then revealed that it was her first time watching that scene.
‘Sophie’s Choice’ Earned Meryl Streep Her First Best Actress Academy Award
Streep’s portrayal of Sophie earned her rave reviews, with notable film critic Roger Ebert praising the actress’ range. “There is hardly an emotion that Streep doesn’t touch in this movie, and yet we’re never aware of her straining. This is one of the most astonishing and yet one of the most unaffected and natural performances I can imagine,” he wrote.
Streep won Best Actress In A Leading Role for “Sophie’s Choice” at the 55th Academy Awards in 1983.
