Berlinale honors Jolie and Streep

BERLIN - Reuters

REUTERS photo

Meryl Streep’s groaning awards cabinet is about to get fuller still yesterday when the Berlin film festival honors the American actress with an Honorary Golden Bear. 

The prize giving, at a special gala screening of “The Iron Lady,” falls on Valentine’s Day and two days after the 62-year-old picked up a BAFTA, Britain’s top cinema honor, for her portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. 

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie also picked up an award in Berlin, receiving late on Feb. 13 the Cinema For Peace prize, which goes to film makers promoting the values of humanity. 

She has showcased her hard-hitting Bosnian war drama, “In the Land of Blood and Honey,” at this year’s festival, and was on the red carpet with partner Brad Pitt ahead of receiving the prize. 

“This award ... is not just so we have a film that looks back, but a cast and a project that look forward to a more prosperous future in the region, and that is what we all really want,” Jolie said. 

As for Streep, her performance as Thatcher has already garnered a Golden Globe and Oscar nomination to add to the 16 she has already earned over a career that spans more than 30 years. 

But Streep has carried away the famous statuette just twice. Anything but a third Oscar for Streep on Feb. 26 would be a major shock.