Three's a trend: The Meryl Effect

Berenice Bejo

Nominated for Best Supporting Actress for The Artist

Meeting Meryl "I almost cried! I have to keep myself from crying now. She is so wonderful... You just want to hold her. She's so real."

Why gush? "For younger actresses, honouring Meryl is a way of getting your name in the same sentence as one of America's greatest living stars when your statement hits the press," explains one Hollywood agent.

Fellow gusher… Meryl's Doubt co-star, Amy Adams, who revealed, "We did a scene where I have to yell at her, and I almost got stage fright."

Jessica Chastain

Nominated for Best Supporting actress for The Help

Meeting Meryl "I look over and say, ‘Is that Meryl Streep?' My friends all look over and were like, ‘Yes.' And as I said it she turned around and started walking towards me, and that's when everything got kind of foggy."

Why gush? "Praising Meryl is an easy way for a female star to show she's not a jealous type who can't appreciate her peers," an insider told Scene. "But you can bet they wouldn't talk that way about actresses in their age group, or who are up for the roles they want."

Fellow gusher… Clooney's girlfriend, Stacy Keibler, who managed to grind out a "She's pretty cool" when discussing the Mer. 

Melissa McCarthy

Nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Bridesmaids

Meeting Meryl "As I'm talking to someone, somebody is pulling on my hand and I hear, ‘Melissa, Melissa.' And I turned around and she said, ‘Hi, I'm Meryl'. Literally like my brain snapped in two. And then I really didn't know what to say. I just kept going, ‘Oh my god. You're Meryl Streep!' And she was chatting like a normal human being."

Why gush? "Meryl's body of work has won her two Oscars and 17 nominations," said a Hollywood source. "If you mention Streep, it's a subtle way of letting directors, producers and casting agents know that you want to replicate that kind of success."

Fellow gusher… Meryl's fellow Best Actress nominee, Viola Davis, who declared, "I love the great Streep. I revere the great Streep. It's like wanting to do battle with a 500lb gorilla of acting. I'm honoured just to be in the same company as her."