Meryl Streep: Oscar’s Leading Lady

What can be said about the mighty Meryl that hasn’t already been covered hundreds of times in her storied career? She’s simply the most acclaimed actress of her, or any, time in history. And she seems to be getting better with every passing year. Ah, here’s something — her roles get more limited as she (and we) get inevitably older in a youth-obsessed media universe. But first, I’d like to remind everyone just how beautiful Ms. Streep is with a few photographs of the screen goddess taken through the celluloid ages:

This was Meryl in the first movie I ever saw her in: Sophie’s Choice. The film is dated now, but she isn’t. She’s so beautiful in this portrayal of a woman haunted by the Nazis in World War II. Worth another viewing if you haven’t seen it in awhile.

This photo is circa Kramer Vs. Kramer. Meryl is an absolute knockout in the role and her beauty is so radiant it puts all future supermodels to shame. To be that talented and that beautiful was and is truly something to behold and celebrate. Oscar here we come…

Around the same era but in color. One of my favorite Meryl Streep movies is SILKWOOD. Meryl is so vulnerable in this role and absolutely riveting as a young, free-spirited woman who takes on a nuclear energy plant and pays the price. The b-story of her home life with Cher and Kurt Russell is equally compelling and easily their best work opposite arguably the best American actress ever. Just goes to show that Meryl on a movie will invariably up everyone else’s acting chops to a new level while they’re in her orbit.

Two more of my favorites. Between the smoldering sensuality and those eyes piercing through to your soul…

But I have to say I love Meryl in black & white. There’s something so timeless about her beauty that she lends herself to the glamor shot in such an open, unassuming and understated way that all you see is beauty and brains unlike any other actress of her time. This is another one of my favorites of the multi-Oscar winning actress. And no matter how old she gets and how insipid the movie roles become – I’m just happy to see Meryl up on the screen where she belongs – in front of the camera that loves her along with the audience.

Just beautiful.

Michelle Pfeiffer: Sexiest Catwoman Ever?

Michelle Pfeiffer is one of the most beautiful women who ever lived, hands down. The soulful eyes, luscious downturn lips and megawatt smile are enough to make this weaponized beauty a worthy adversary against every other knockout who’s ever graced the silver screen. Michelle’s held her own against some pretty hard-hitters, too. From Scarface (1983) with Al “say hello to my little friend” Pacino, to The Witches of Eastwick (1987) with Jack Nicholson playing, ahem, a horny devil – Michelle has survived some pretty scary characters. That is, until it came time for her to cross over to the dark side and play the dangerously seductive Catwoman to Michael Keaton’s Batman in Batman Returns (1992).

Michelle is my favorite Catwoman because she is easily the sexiest, slinkiest A-List actress to don the feline form-fitting suit and not look slightly ridiculous. As a matter of fact, she actually looks sexy and dangerous at the same time – two of my favorite qualities in a girlfriend. Miss Pfeiffer has the purrrfect figure (sorry, groan) for the portrayal and comes off as a cross between a dominatrix with a leather fetish and a sympathetic victim of circumstance. Plus, the heat she managed to generate on-screen with Keaton was the major highpoint in the legendary first-Batman franchise. I mean, look at the photo (above) and tell me that she’s not exuding a “come hither, go wither” glare.

Of course, Michelle is an amazing actress whether in or out of the catsuit. One of my very favorite movies is What Lies Beneath (2000) where Michelle is haunted by ghosts and ultimately stalked by her husband, a menacing Harrison Ford. This movie scared the bejeezus out of me while also reminding me of why I’ve had a crush on Michelle my entire adult life. She is really a wonderfully-talented thespian who just happens to be an absolute, drop-dead gorgeous blonde. But it would have to be Dangerous Liaisons (1987) that sealed my affections for Ms. Pfeiffer. Her deeply affecting portrayal of a woman in love who is mortally-wounded by the object of her desire, embodied by John Malkovich, is one of her greatest achievements. Even in her death scene, Michelle is so, so beautiful. Those lips, those eyes once again classify her as a goddess of the silver screen.

So, is Michelle the best and sexiest Catwoman ever? In a little less than a couple weeks we’ll find out what Ms. Anne Hathaway has to say about it. But I have a sneaking feeling that Michelle will always hold a special place in the pantheon of feline femme fatales. And she will always be Hollywood royalty for daring to be so beautiful, vulnerable and formidable all at the same time – whether she’s in spandex, leather, gossamer or nothing at all.