A Cult Classic, 17‑Hour Days, and One Very Cute Co‑Star Who Drove Her Nuts
More than 30 years after Death Becomes Her became a forever cult classic, Meryl Streep is finally revealing why she “had a beef” with her co‑star Goldie Hawn on set — and the reason is peak Goldie.
Meryl and Goldie made movie-star beef look immortal
A little lateness, a lot of laughter, and one perfectly unhinged cult classic — Death Becomes Her remains the glam-horror comedy that refuses to age.
In a new conversation with Vanity Fair, Meryl admits that while she and Goldie were close friends before, during, and after filming, their work styles could not have been more different. “Goldie, she was always late to set. And I’m always on time, you know. Everybody thought, ‘Oh, she’s so cute.’ So I had a beef with her.”
The actress explained that the long, grueling shoot didn’t help. “I have never ever worked longer days than on this movie. We worked maybe 17‑hour days most of the time,” she shared, adding that the schedule often put her “on edge.” At one point, she admitted she even started “whining and complaining” because she never got to see anyone at home.
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Still, despite the exhaustion — and Goldie’s sunshine‑y tardiness — Meryl says the experience was unforgettable. “Goldie is always in a good mood. It’s very wearing,” she joked. “But we had a fantastic time together… I was really happy to work with a buddy.”
The two had been friends for years and had tried to collaborate on several projects before Death Becomes Her finally brought them together. And the result? A dark‑comedy masterpiece filled with iconic lines, groundbreaking effects, and performances that still live rent‑free in pop culture.
“All that time and hard work paid off,” Meryl reflected. “These are the moments that make life worth living… It was really, really fun making that movie.”
