THE Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep is to star in the film version of Brian Friel's play, Dancing at Lughnasa, which will be filmed in Ireland in August.
Ms Streep, who has won Oscars for her performances in Kramer vs. Kramer and Sophie's Choice, will play the role of Kate, the school-teacher, in the Friel film, which will be produced by Noel Pearson.
Mr Pearson - himself a former Oscar nominee for My Left Foot - was jubilant about the casting of Ms Streep, which was confirmed at the Cannes Film Festival yesterday. "She's a great star and a great actress," he told The Irish Times.
"There are very few American actresses who could do this role, and the whole trick was to get a star who wouldn't unbalance the artistic side of the film."
He said that Ms Streep was "knocked out" by the screenplay for the film, which has been adapted from the Friel play by the Irish writer, Frank McGuinness.
"I was told that she takes months to decide on scripts that are offered to her," he said, "but she got this script on a Monday and responded on the Wednesday."
The film of Dancing at Lughnasa, which starts shooting on August 18th, will be directed by Pat O'Connor, the Irish director whose films include Cal, A Month in the Country, Fools of Fortune and the television film, The Ballroom of Romance. His latest film, Inventing the Ahbotts, opens in Ireland next month.
The Irish actress Brid Brennan will play the role of Agnes in the film, having won the Tony award for her performance in that role on Broadway. Dancing at Lughnasa received four Tony awards, including that for best play.
The cast will also include Michael Gambon and the rising young American actor, Billy Crudup. Three further principal roles have yet to be cast.
Mr Pearson says that his team is now checking possible locations for the film, and it is likely to be shot in Donegal, Connemara or Wicklow. It will have a budget of £10 billion and be produced by Mr Pearson's company, Ferndale Films, in association with Film Four in Britain, the Paris-based Pandora, Bord Scannan na hEireann and RTE.