Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep
Kevin Payravi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Meryl Streep
Caption	Streep in 2018
Birth name	Mary Louise Streep
Birth date	22 June 1949
Birth place	Summit, New Jersey, U.S.
Education	Vassar College (BA), Yale University (MFA)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1971–present
Spouse	Don Gummer (m. 1978)
Awards	Full list

Meryl Streep is an American actress widely regarded as one of the greatest performers in the history of cinema. Renowned for her exceptional versatility and mastery of accents, she has received a record number of nominations for the Academy Awards and has won three, alongside numerous Golden Globe Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards. Her career, spanning over five decades, encompasses acclaimed work in film, television, and theater, establishing her as a preeminent figure in the performing arts.

Early life and education

Mary Louise Streep was born in Summit, New Jersey, to Mary Wolf Wilkinson, a commercial artist, and Harry William Streep Jr., a pharmaceutical executive. She developed an interest in performance during her youth in Bernardsville, New Jersey, singing opera and appearing in school plays. For her undergraduate studies, she attended Vassar College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in drama before enrolling at the Yale School of Drama. At Yale University, she earned a Master of Fine Arts and performed in numerous productions with the Yale Repertory Theatre, honing her craft alongside future notable figures in American theater.

Career

Streep's professional stage career began with the The Public Theater in New York, leading to a 1976 Tony Award nomination for her performance in the Broadway revival of A Memory of Two Mondays. Her breakthrough film role came in *The Deer Hunter* (1978), which earned her first Academy Award nomination. She won her first Oscar the following year for Kramer vs. Kramer. The 1980s solidified her stardom with a string of acclaimed performances in films such as *Sophie's Choice*, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress, *Out of Africa*, and *Ironweed*. She continued to achieve critical and commercial success in subsequent decades with roles in *The Bridges of Madison County*, *The Devil Wears Prada*, *Doubt*, *The Iron Lady*—winning her third Oscar—and *Florence Foster Jenkins*. She has also worked extensively in television, winning an Emmy for the miniseries *Angels in America*.

Acting style and reception

Critics and peers consistently praise Streep for her chameleonic ability to fully inhabit a diverse array of characters, often highlighting her meticulous preparation and mastery of dialects. Scholars and directors, such as Mike Nichols and Steven Spielberg, have frequently lauded her technical precision and emotional depth. Her performances are often studied for their lack of mannerism and complete transformation, whether portraying real-life figures like Margaret Thatcher or fictional characters like Miranda Priestly. This dedication has resulted in unparalleled recognition from institutions like the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the American Film Institute, which named her one of the greatest screen legends.

Personal life

Streep married sculptor Don Gummer in 1978, and they have four children: musician Henry Wolfe, actresses Mamie Gummer and Grace Gummer, and model Louisa Jacobson. The family maintains residences in New York City, Los Angeles, and Connecticut. She is known for fiercely guarding her family's privacy from the media. A longtime advocate for various causes, she has been involved with organizations such as Equality Now and has spoken frequently on issues including gender equality in Hollywood.

Filmography and accolades

Streep's extensive filmography includes over 70 feature films, ranging from intense dramas like *The French Lieutenant's Woman* to musicals like *Mamma Mia!* and its sequel. Her accolade record is historic; she holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations of any actor (21) and has won three. She has also received a record number of Golden Globe Award nominations, with eight wins, a Primetime Emmy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement. In 2014, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

Public image and influence

Often described as the "best actress of her generation" by publications like The New York Times and *Time*, Streep's cultural influence extends beyond her film roles. She is considered a role model for actors worldwide, known for her professionalism and longevity. Her 2017 acceptance speech for the Cecil B. DeMille Award, which criticized then-President Donald Trump, sparked significant national debate and highlighted her willingness to use her platform for political commentary. Her career is frequently cited in discussions about the artistic potential and commercial power of films led by women, influencing the industry's approach to projects for and about women.

Category:American film actresses Category:Best Actress Academy Award winners Category:1949 births Category:Living people