Meryl-y We Roll Along

As the final portrait in my "New York: Portraits of City and Artist" series, I've decided to take on one of the most chameleon-like forces in the acting world: Meryl Streep. Originally from New Jersey, Meryl has taken on a number of iconic roles over the years (usually, about one per year). From Sophie's Choice to Woody Allen's Manhattan, she's made herself a true presence in the filmic New York; and with a number of Broadway and Shakespeare in the Park credits, she's no stranger to the New York stage, either. But it's hard to think of Meryl and Manhattan without immediately thinking of her wonderfully-icy portrayal of Miranda Priestly---the fashion world's fictitious "Dragon Lady"---in 2006's The Devil Wears Prada.


For this portrait, I wanted to capture Meryl's unparalleled ability to slip into a role, destroying all traces of the seams. Though I'm sure she can be quite the light-hearted presence on set, here I imagine her in the moments just before the marker snaps, when she has fully inhabited her character. The particular role of Miranda Priestly also allowed me to explore another oft-mythologized aspect of New York that my previous portraits had missed: the high-ranking Manhattan executive, whose office offers a striking view of the city's steel canyons. All in all, I think the portrait rounds out the series rather nicely. It's certainly been a fun run, and now it's onto new adventures.