Meryl Streep's unexpected appearance on Only Murders in the Building was an effect of her desire to appear in just one episode of the show. She tried contacting the showrunners, and one of the exciting casting decisions in the third season of Only Murders in the Building had come to pass.
As the show's co-creator John Hoffman said in an interview with LA Times, Meryl Streep approached them to collaborate on an episode. He said,
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"For me, it was a thunderbolt of thrill followed by pure abject terror."
This was because they needed to do justice to the actress and provide her with a suitable role. The role was conceptualized with her in mind and quickly became something consequential for the season that could give the story depth and suspense.
She stars as a struggling actress, Loretta Durkin, who finally gets the break she longed for. Her character brings an enriched element not only to the show but also to the twisted mystery arc.
Meryl Streep’s role in Only Murders in the Building Season 3
In season 3 of Only Murders in the Building, Meryl Streep stars as Loretta Durkin, a seasoned though unsuccessful actress whose career never truly took off, despite years of dedication to her craft. The producers came up with several ideas for the character before envisioning her as someone who awaited that big break.
According to Hoffman while discussing the direction of the season with the LA Times, the producers explained,
"Well, you know who the perfect person to cast here is, right? The most celebrated actress of our time playing this part. I mean...right?"
Loretta's character suffers because of past failures and lost opportunities; for this reason, her highly awaited role in Oliver Putnam's (Martin Short) Broadway show turns out to be a matter of even bigger importance.
The whole series, of course, is a comedy, filled with meaningfulness, but Loretta's storyline stands apart as a special, adapted "underdog" story.
Her part becomes convoluted in the aftermath of the suspicious death of co-star Ben Glenroy played by Paul Rudd as she is one of the suspects in his murder, and her story becomes highly intertwined in the mystery that unfolds in season 3.
Why Meryl Streep was the perfect addition to the Only Murders in the Building cast
Streep joined the cast of Only Murders in the Building. Hoffman said he admires her readiness to take risks, such as how she easily accepted the challenge of playing Loretta, a character so different from her experience in life.
"Yes, you're going to sing too, Meryl!" - Hoffman recalled saying during the season's development, adding that the character's role would extend into unexpected musical numbers alongside the series regulars, per LA Times.
What perhaps makes Only Murders in the Building is the blend of humor and suspense, through Streep's competent comedic timing and range.
Entertainment Weekly highlights how Loretta's oddity in reading the entire show and her strain with Ben Glenroy made even more tension and suspense in the mystery at hand.
Viewers enjoyed Streep making Loretta human, which made her simultaneously likable and detestable since her insecurity and years of rejection by men made her character real.
Then, there is a dynamic she shares with Oliver Putnam, whom she falls for, which includes a romantic subplot that balances the dark humor throughout the series.
Only Murders in the Building is available to stream online exclusively on Hulu. The newest episodes are released every Tuesday.
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