NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n\n- \n\n
Meryl Streep starred as Madeline Ashton in the 1992 film Death Becomes Her<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n- \n\n
The film features a scene where Madeline drinks an elixir that makes her appear younger, including lifting and firming parts of her figure<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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While the film figured out many special effects, seamlessly lifting Streep\u2019s chest was harder than they anticipated<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meryl Streep<\/a>\u2019s figure got a special boost for an unforgettable film scene.<\/p>\nThe actress, now 77, starred in 1992\u2019s Death Becomes Her<\/em>, which served as a crash course in the burgeoning special-effects technology of the time.<\/p>\nFor one scene<\/a>, where Streep\u2019s 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.<\/p>\nTo achieve the transformation, production first tried a pneumatic bra<\/a>, but found it didn\u2019t provide enough lift. Instead, Streep\u2019s dresser was obscured as they lifted her breasts from below.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\nMeryl Streep as Madeline in \u201cDeath Becomes Her\u201dCredit: Universal Pictures<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
Death Becomes Her<\/em> 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 \u2013 Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.<\/p>\nAnother 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<\/a> during the film\u2019s making, Streep revealed there was a special guest on set that day.<\/p>\n\u201cThat 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,\u201d she revealed.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I was trying to explain this to her, and she said, \u2018Why the hell do you have a bag over your head? I come to watch you. They pay you all this money, and you\u2019re acting with a bag over your head.\u2019 And I said, \u2018Well, Bob says it will all go together.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n
Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE\u2019s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"Meryl](\"https:\/\/hermes.media.static.aol.com\/media\/2026\/07\/15\/075de26b-efd0-35a8-8572-a05ce168d398\/8bd8b005-1f13-49bf-8de8-cab9b7f39faa.jpg\"\/)
<\/div>\nMeryl Streep as Madeline in \u201cDeath Becomes Her\u201dCredit: Universal Pictures<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
Meryl Streep starred as Madeline Ashton in the 1992 film Death Becomes Her<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n The film features a scene where Madeline drinks an elixir that makes her appear younger, including lifting and firming parts of her figure<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n While the film figured out many special effects, seamlessly lifting Streep\u2019s chest was harder than they anticipated<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Meryl Streep<\/a>\u2019s figure got a special boost for an unforgettable film scene.<\/p>\n The actress, now 77, starred in 1992\u2019s Death Becomes Her<\/em>, which served as a crash course in the burgeoning special-effects technology of the time.<\/p>\n For one scene<\/a>, where Streep\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n To achieve the transformation, production first tried a pneumatic bra<\/a>, but found it didn\u2019t provide enough lift. Instead, Streep\u2019s dresser was obscured as they lifted her breasts from below.<\/p>\n Meryl Streep as Madeline in \u201cDeath Becomes Her\u201dCredit: Universal Pictures<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n Death Becomes Her<\/em> 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 \u2013 Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> during the film\u2019s making, Streep revealed there was a special guest on set that day.<\/p>\n \u201cThat 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,\u201d she revealed.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I was trying to explain this to her, and she said, \u2018Why the hell do you have a bag over your head? I come to watch you. They pay you all this money, and you\u2019re acting with a bag over your head.\u2019 And I said, \u2018Well, Bob says it will all go together.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE\u2019s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/p>\n Meryl Streep as Madeline in \u201cDeath Becomes Her\u201dCredit: Universal Pictures<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>