The Tamesis
Streep: Do you see anyone having a career like Karl Lagerfeld?
Wintour: Yes!
Streep: Same longevity and influence?
Wintour: I do, I really do. I think Mathieu has found his dream job. Alain Wertheimer and Gérard Wertheimer, the owners of Chanel, are very patient. They always find a balance between tradition and openness to change. That was the magic of Carl, who was knowledgeable about history but also curious and restless, an extraordinary multitasker. I think Mathieu has that same energy and cultural awareness and maybe – who knows? ——As long as Carl.
Gerwig: There’s always this question, especially for women, of having children and work and how they fit together. I was so excited about the thought of interviewing you because no one asks about becoming a grandmother. So, I mean, Meryl, I know you’re very involved in —
Streep: Some say over-involvement.
Gerwig: How to balance work and life as a grandmother?
Streep: It’s just about grabbing a few seconds, grabbing whatever you can, knowing how fleeting it all is and how quickly time passes. That’s what my mom said to me and I said, “Yeah, yeah.” It was the longest time and the shortest time. And you get nothing back. So take as much as you can…. I find it sacred. I have six grandchildren, six and under. They are six, five, four, three, two, one. I hope we’re not done yet, but we’ll see. I can’t even begin to talk about how much it means to me that my kids give me as much time as their kids. The only problem is they are on both coasts so I fly a lot.
Gerwig: Anna, you also have grandchildren.
Wintour: I don’t have as much as Meryl. I only have four children and four step-grandchildren who grew up around us. As a mother, when you have the job we have, you have to make time. I consistently went to games, attended parent-teacher conferences, and was present when it mattered. i feel like Fashion You can always wait, and it’s okay to be a busy mom. You make it work. We have a family compound on Long Island and I try to make it a hub for all of us around the world. We love celebrating birthdays and weddings; traditions are important – we’re British so we play games constantly and hold countless tennis tournaments – and we try to look after each other and stick together. I try to instill in my children and grandchildren the idea that family is what matters and that family will give you love and support. If you have this, everything else will be fine.
Gerwig: Meryl, you said something to me that has stuck with me. You said, “Life begins when you make a commitment,” and I think that’s a very wise statement. Obviously that’s the biggest commitment when you have a family, but I think for both of you in terms of your work, you already have a commitment to your respective fields.
