Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) was a turning point for Meryl Streep. She played Joanna Kramer, a mother who leaves her family, sparking a custody battle. The film required raw emotion and honesty, but her co-star Dustin Hoffman made the process deeply uncomfortable.
Hoffman was already famous for method acting. He believed in using real emotions to enhance a scene. According to Streep, he sometimes crossed the line. He surprised her with unscripted actions, such as slapping her in the middle of a take, in an attempt to provoke genuine reactions. While it may have added intensity to the performance, it left Streep feeling disrespected.
Decades later, Streep described her early career as a time when she lacked the power to protest. She endured Hoffman’s behavior because she wanted to succeed, but she did not forget the experience. Ironically, the film went on to win five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Hoffman. Streep herself won her first Oscar, for Best Supporting Actress, but she has since been open about the unpleasant memories from the set.