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Meryl Streep starred as Madeline Ashton in the 1992 film Death Becomes Her
The film features a scene where Madeline drinks an elixir that makes her appear younger, including lifting and firming parts of her figure
While the film figured out many special effects, seamlessly lifting Streep’s chest was harder than they anticipated
Meryl Streep’s figure got a special boost for an unforgettable film scene.
The actress, now 77, starred in 1992’s Death Becomes Her, which served as a crash course in the burgeoning special-effects technology of the time.
For one scene, where Streep’s Madeline Ashton drinks an anti-aging potion known as the Elixir of Life, the effects are seen instantly, with both her breasts and her bottom rising and plumping.
To achieve the transformation, production first tried a pneumatic bra, but found it didn’t provide enough lift. Instead, Streep’s dresser was obscured as they lifted her breasts from below.
Meryl Streep as Madeline in “Death Becomes Her”Credit: Universal Pictures
Death Becomes Her was directed by Robert Zemeckis, from a script by Martin Donovan and David Koepp. It made over $140 million at the box office and won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects. Streep was also nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
Another scene features Madeline falling down the stairs and breaking her neck, only to then walk around with her head on backward. In a behind-the-scenes interview during the film’s making, Streep revealed there was a special guest on set that day.
“That was wild because we had to come in on one day and shoot the scene, and that happened to be the day my mother was visiting the set,” she revealed.
“So I was trying to explain this to her, and she said, ‘Why the hell do you have a bag over your head? I come to watch you. They pay you all this money, and you’re acting with a bag over your head.’ And I said, ‘Well, Bob says it will all go together.’ ”
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Meryl Streep as Madeline in “Death Becomes Her”Credit: Universal Pictures
Asked about using CGI in the film during a 2000 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Streep was hopeful it would be “My first, my last, my only” experience with the technology.
“I think it’s tedious. Whatever concentration you can apply to that kind of comedy is just shredded,” she explained.
“You stand there like a piece of machinery — they should get machinery to do it. I loved how it turned out. But it’s not fun to act to a lampstand. ‘Pretend this is Goldie, right here!’ ‘Uh, no, I’m sorry, Bob, she went off the mark by five centimeters, and now her head won’t match her neck!’ It was like being at the dentist.”
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