Streep equals Bergman’s Oscar haul

STREEP AND BERGMAN. “Mature” sex appeal.

INGRID Bergman was lovelier than Greta Garbo, who was considered a legendary screen beauty—and, like Garbo, she was a superb dramatic actress. But, despite her prodigious dramatic prowess, Greta never won an Oscar—like Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant and Alfred Hitchcock.

On the other hand, Bergman won two Best Actress Oscars (for “Gaslight” and “Anastasia”), and a Best Supporting Actress trophy for “Murder on the Orient Express.”

With her Oscar win for “The Iron Lady” last week, Meryl Streep has equaled the legendary Ingrid’s record: Two Oscars for Best Actress (the first one for “Sophie’s Choice”), and another for Best Supporting Actress (for “Kramer vs. Kramer”).

Private life

At “only” 62, she’s expected to eventually equal Katharine Hepburn’s record of four Oscars. Like Kate, Meryl keeps her life private. She is hardly ever the subject of tabloid gossip. She is happily married and has two children who are following in her thespic footsteps. —I admire their guts for emulating their mother, who’s so eminent in her field!

Hepburn was legendary during her lifetime. She was as rich as she was classy—thus, she was one of few actresses who started a Hollywood career with contracts prepared!

STREEP AND BERGMAN. “Mature” sex appeal.

Like Hepburn, Meryl was a product of Yale. But, what is marvelous about Meryl is that she “becomes” as beautiful or as dowdy as her roles require.

Hard to top

In films like “Casablanca,” “Notorious,” “For Whom The Bell Tolls” and “Anastasia,” Bergman’s seductive charm added appeal to her luminous beauty.

In “The Bridges of Madison County,” co-starring Clint Eastwood, Streep exuded Bergman’s “mature” sex appeal. Her only problem? Viewers expect her to be outstanding all the time—and since she is, her excellence no longer surprises them!