I keep Googling the Taj Mahal: Meryl Streep

Actor Meryl Streep, who won her third Oscar this year, may be on the wish list of every filmmaker across the globe, but the Hollywood star says that on her wish list is seeing the Taj Mahal. Best known for her films including Mamma Mia!, Sophie’s Choice and Kramer Vs Kramer amongst several others, the actor here talks about her work, Indian cinema and also reveals her hottest co-star.
 
What’s your take on Bollywood?
I believe Bollywood is very popular all across. I have seen a few films in bits, so I won’t name any, but I enjoyed it. It’s different cinema.

Any plans to visit India someday?
Yes, of course! I would love to see the Taj Mahal. I keep Googling it  for it’s images and I feel it’s immensely beautiful. I would love to visit the place soon.

Several top filmmakers and actors in Bollywood have admitted to being a fan of your work. Is there any actor on your radar?
Well, I consider myself to be very fortunate if that is the case. I would appreciate them for having said that. Well, in Bollywood, Aishwarya Rai (Bachchan) is quite famous. She is elegant and gorgeous.

Who would you rank as your hottest co-star till date?
All are good in their own way, but I think it should be Alec Baldwin. It was fun shooting for It’s Complicated with him.

What kind of research did you do to play the character of Margaret Thatcher?
I observed lots of newsreel and real footage, and the biggest challenge for me was just accomplishing the long lines of thought that she would launch into without taking a breath. Even with all the drama schooling I’ve had, I had a lot of trouble managing that. And that has something to do with who she was as a person, just the galvanising energy, the drive, the capacity to follow through with a conviction all the way to the end of your breath until you can’t go any further — and not let anybody interrupt (laughs).
 
Do you prefer playing real people or fictional characters?
Well, since in a good 40% of the film I’m playing a Margaret Thatcher no one has seen or knows, and we can’t know — it’s an imagined journey that we were taking — I felt a lot of freedom.
 
What’s the secret of Meryl Streep being the star every actor hopes to be?
Well, being modest I would say there is no secret as such. I feel maybe it’s ’cause of my work that they are inspired and it gives them motivation.