Meryl Streep’s on-screen transformations are the stuff of legends, but it seems that a little bit of that fun experimentation has transferred to her off-screen style as well. Streep was spotted backstage at the hit Broadway production Michael Moore: The Terms of My Surrender; a picture may be worth a thousand words, but Streep can convey a lot more with just a few accessories.
The 68-year-old actress sported a bold black ensemble with a red leaf pattern, and teamed it with simple hoop earrings and a watch. The outfit was so striking that it took a second glance to notice the real statement pice that Streep had slung across her shoulder: a purse with a picture of Michelle Obama on it.
It’s actually not the first time that Streep has debuted this bag; earlier this year, E! News spotted the Mamma Mia! star on the set of her upcoming film with the custom purse on a modified shorter strap. On one side, the bag features Michelle and Barack Obama standing in a loving embrace, while the other side shows Michelle in her solo pose.
Streep’s love of the Obamas has never been a secret; she struck a bond with fellow equal-rights advocate Michelle and even took a trip to Africa with the former first lady. She also attended numerous star-studded events during Barack’s presidency.
In 2014, the former president presented Streep with the Medal of Freedom and made sure the world knew just how he felt about the Oscar-winner.
“I love Meryl Streep,” Barack said. “Her husband knows I love her. Michelle knows I love her. There’s nothing they can do about it.”
The Obama purse turned out to be the perfect accessory for Streep’s trip to the Broadway production in September. According to the play’s website, “This exhilarating, urgent show is a hysterical theatrical coup d’etat that takes the utter lunacy of our times and turns it into a subversive piece of theatre.” The Academy Award-winning filmmaker behind Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11, Moore uses his production “to answer the burning questions of the Trumpian era”.
Moore, who predicted that Trump would become president and believes that the controversial figure is on track for re-election in 2020, was well-matched to Streep’s ensemble with his trademark black hooded jumper and a red baseball cap. Streep and Moore couldn’t resist snapping a selfie to commemorate the moment.
Streep recently made headlines when she publicly decried Harvey Weinstein, a Hollywood executive accused of multiple counts of sexual harassment and assault against up-and-coming actresses.