Meryl Streep at Cannes 2024: I thought my career was over at 40

Streep, 74,was honoured with a standing ovation from the audience at the festival, which kickstarted on May 14.

French actress Juliette Binoche presented the award to Meryl Streep, who felt overwhelmed by the audience's response.

Binoche turned emotional while awarding Streep on the dais. Moving to tears, she was heard saying, "You (Meryl Streep) changed the way we see women in the world of cinema and you also helped us have a new vision of ourselves."

Streep appeared at the Cannes Film Festival after 35 years. She was last seen at the prestigious film festival in 1989 for 'Evil Angels'.

I thought my career was over at 40, says Meryl Streep

After receiving the award, Streep said, "For me, watching those clips is like looking out of the window of a bullet train, watching my youth flying to my middle-age right on to where I am."

"35 years ago when I was here for the first time, I was already a mother of three, I was about to turn 40 and I thought my career was over. And that was not an unrealistic expectation for actresses at that time," she said and added, "The only reason I am here tonight is because of the very gifted artists with whom I have worked."

The 77th Cannes Film Festival will run till May 25.