Meryl Streep joins the star-studded cast of HBO's 'Big Little Lies' season two

Meryl Streep during a news conference for the 66th Berlinale International Film Festival Reuters/ Stefanie Loos

HBO's Emmy Award-winning series "Big Little Lies" season 2 just added another star to its already star-studded cast: Meryl Streep.

According to HBO, Streep will play the role of Mary Louis Wright, Celeste's (Nicole Kidman) mother-in-law. Her casting breakdown is as follows: "Concerned for the well-being of her grandchildren following her son Perry's death, Mary Louise arrives in Monterey searching for answers."

The news came shortly after her nomination for Steven Spielberg's "The Post." Streep's Oscar nomination this year makes her the most Oscar-nominated actress in history, with over 21 nominations and three Oscar wins.

Meanwhile, fans of "Big Little Lies" are more excited for the show's second season premiere now that Meryl Streep is joining the cast. In a brief synopsis of season two, Celeste will be "reeling from her husband Perry's death" and find herself "adrift, but determined to fight for her family and find the woman she once was."

Although the second season of "Big Little Lies" was officially announced in December, only Kidman and Witherspoon are confirmed to be going back to the show. Fans need not panic however, since HBO already noted that most of the original cast will be back.

"Big Little Lies" author Liane Moriarty recently shared to Herald Sun how Kidman became a tool in convincing Streep to take on the role. Apparently, while writing the events for season two, Moriarty already envisioned Perry's mother with Streep in mind.

"The producers were laughing at me because they were saying 'you've become so Hollywood' ... as in, picking up the phone and saying, 'get me Meryl''," Moriarty said. "They were teasing me ... but then they were saying, it's not beyond the realm of possibilities because Nicole and Meryl are friends."

Moriarty further shared how she sent an email to Kidman asking for help. "Nicole sent me an email saying, 'ask and you shall receive,'" the author revealed.

"Big Little Lies" season two will be composed of seven episodes and will be directed by Andrea Arnold.

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