Meryl Streep And Christine Baranski Impersonate Donald Trump And Hillary Clinton, And It’s Brilliant
Meryl Streep has shown off her best Donald Trump impression, according to the BBC. The 66-year-old actress attended the annual Shakespeare in the Park event in New York and impersonated the Republican nominee.
To look like the always-orange Trump, Meryl Streep wore fake orange tan and made her hair as messy as Trump’s hair is. And that impression from the Oscar-winning actress, who turns 67 later this month, was marvelous!
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
Meryl Streep opted for a man’s suit with a fake large belly (although that belly seemed way too large) and red tie that was way too long. In such a way, the Devil Wears Prada actress showed her support for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who became the first ever female presidential nominee in 227 years.
Meryl Streep didn’t perform alone, as she was joined by her Mamma Mia co-star Christine Baranski, who impersonated Hillary Clinton. The two actresses performed two songs, including a musical number “Brush Up Your Shakespeare” from Cole Porter’s “Kiss Me, Kate.”
ICYMI: Meryl Streep w/ her best Trump impression at a gala benefit Monday. Christine Baranski impersonated Clinton pic.twitter.com/lbI29wzvbZ
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) June 8, 2016
As for Meryl Streep’s Trump-like moves, she was stretching out her arms just like the Republican presidential nominee and gesticulating in Trump’s make-America-great-again style. That song is usually sung by two men and is a guide on how to pick up women.
But Meryl Streep changed the lyrics a bit so that it would be a guide on how to get female voters.
“If she says your behavior is heinous, kick her right in the Coriolanus!”
The audience seemed amused throughout the entire Meryl Streep’s performance. It’s worth noting that the audience included the former mayor of New York City, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power, and many other high-profile political figures.
It seems like event organizers were surprised when Meryl Streep offered them to do her best Donald Trump impression as the closing act of the annual Shakespeare event. The event’s artistic director, Oskar Eustis, revealed that it was entirely her idea, from beginning to end, according to The New York Times.
“There were skeptics, there were doubters, but one of those skeptics was not Meryl Streep.”
Meryl Streep was absolutely certain she could pull off a spot-on Donald Trump impression. And she did! In fact, Eustis revealed that no one had seen the Oscar-winning actress in Trump’s costume and makeup until she walked out on the stage that night.
Meryl Streep even went with method acting for her role of Donald Trump. The actress even skipped the dinner before the event, just like the Republican presidential nominee often does. And actress Kate Burton revealed that Streep stayed in the character in the dressing room.
“He apparently does this thing, where he goes to close to his jacket but it doesn’t close all the way, and so he kind of goes for it and then he tries to close it again.”
Meryl Streep is no stranger to impersonating high-profile political figures, as she is also known for her iconic role of Margaret Thatcher in Iron Lady, for which she won her third Oscar in 2011.
Meryl Streep, encore plus réaliste en Donald Trump qu’en Margaret Thatcher https://t.co/9VbPp5cKYb pic.twitter.com/Jvyem17uJi
— Marion Lizé (@mrnlz) June 7, 2016
The New York Times reviewed Meryl Streep’s performance and described it as a “credible version of the presumptive Republican nominee” thanks to her fake tan, pursed lips, gesticulation, the “braggadocio-inflected voice” as well as that low-hanging belly.
In a statement released after the show, Meryl Streep said she appreciated the interest from her fans, but warned that this was her one-off impersonation of Donald Trump. So it looks like Streep is not planning to impersonate the Republican presidential nominee anytime soon.
Neither Donald Trump nor his campaign’s camp hasn’t yet shared their thoughts about Meryl Streep’s performance.
[Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images]