“Dating Her is Like Wearing Hot Lava.”: These Wild Facts About Celebrities Left Us Speechless

Meryl Streep is often seen as the picture of control, class, and serious acting, but one of her early Oscar-winning moments came with a harsh behind-the-scenes story. While making Kramer vs. Kramer, reports say Dustin Hoffman slapped her before a scene. It was supposedly done to provoke a more emotional reaction from her.

The situation became even darker because Hoffman reportedly brought up the recent death of Streep’s boyfriend, John Cazale, to push her emotionally. It adds a painful layer to a performance many people only know as brilliant. Behind the polished award-season success was an actress being pushed through something deeply personal.