actress Meryl Streep will receive an honorary Palme d’Or at the opening ceremony

“Winning an award at Cannes, for the international community of artists, has always represented the highest distinction in the art of filmmaking,” reacted the American actress on Thursday.

Thirty-five years after his Interpretation Prize for A cry in the night by Fred Schepisi, which remains her only appearance on the Croisette, American actress Meryl Streep is making her comeback. The cinema icon will be the guest of honor at the opening ceremony of the 77th Cannes Film Festival on May 14. She will receive an honorary Palme d’Or, the organizers of the event announced on Thursday May 2.

Meryl Streep, guest of honor at the 77th Cannes Film Festival ✨

35 years after her Best Actor Award for A Cry in the Night, which to this day remains her only appearance at the Cannes Film Festival, Meryl Streep, celebrated figure of American cinema, will kick off #Cannes2024… pic.twitter.com/DkEguueQTF

— Cannes Film Festival (@Festival_Cannes) May 2, 2024

“I am extremely honored to learn that I will be receiving this prestigious award. Winning an award at Cannes, for the international community of artists, has always represented the highest distinction in the art of filmmaking,” declared the star, who will kick off the 77th edition of the festival, whose jury is chaired this year by director Greta Gerwig. The latter also directed Meryl Streep in her adaptation of Daughters of Doctor March.

Legend with 21 Oscar nominations

A Hollywood legend with a record 21 Oscar nominations, Meryl Streep is known for her roles in cult films like Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), Sophie’s Choice (1982), On the road to Madison (1995) or even The devil wears Prada (2006).

Two other big names in cinema will receive an honorary Palme d’Or this year: the creator of Star Wars George Lucas and, collectively, Japanese animation director Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli.