Meryl Streep is known for her portrayals of famous characters including Margaret Thatcher for which she won an Oscar. Recently, the versatile actor performed at the NYC gala to give a tribute to Shakespeare, where she transformed into controversial presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump. The actress wore a men’s suit with a fake padded belly, blonde wig with a peculiar accent, fake tan and a red tie to complete the look in a surprise appearance at the Public Theatre Gala in New York.
It was her way of showing support for Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee in the race for the White House.
Streep’s Mamma Mia co-star Christine Baranski dressed up as Clinton and the duo performed two songs, Brush Up Your Shakespeare from the musical Kiss Me Kate. Needless to say, Meryl stunned the audience with her exemplary acting. The New York Times said Streep’s version “did a more than incredible version of the presumptive Republican nominee, down to the pursed lips and low-hanging belly. She got the boastful voice even while singing.”
“There were skeptics, there were doubters but one of those skeptics was not Meryl Streep. She was absolutely sure she could do it,” the theatre’s artistic director Oskar Eustis told Times. “None of us had seen her in costume or makeup, till she walked out tonight.”
Donald Trump hasn’t yet commented on what he thought of Streep’s version of him.
Meryl Streep dressed up like Donald Trump tonight and Christine Baranski loved it. Sometimes the world is perfect. pic.twitter.com/NLg9FSUYiK
— Jack Moore (@JackPMoore) June 7, 2016
From taking the stage as Margaret Thatcher to playing Miranda Priestly in the Devil wears Prada, she has always managed to make the audience fall in love with her.
Imitation might be the biggest form of flattery but Meryl has been vocal about her support for Hilary Clinton. A reporter asked Clinton once who she’d like to play her in a film to which she replied, “Well, Meryl Streep of course.”
After her portrayal of Trump went viral, Meryl issued a statement: “I appreciate the interest, but this was a one-off, a once in a (last in a) lifetime appearance of this character.”
