Meryl Streep biography, daughter, net worth, age, young, children, awards, Oscars 2025

Meryl Streep Biography

Meryl Streep is the greatest American film actress of our time. She's won Oscars, Golden Globes, Emmys, MTV Awards, and a César. She has her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Early Years

Meryl (Mary Louise) Streep was born in the small American town of Summit, New Jersey, on June 22, 1949. Her father Harry Streep was a pharmaceutical company manager at the time, working hard to provide for his family. Her mother, Mary Wolf, was an artist, but she had to give up her art because three young children – Meryl and her two little brothers Harry and Dan – demanded constant attention.

Meryl's singing abilities emerged very early, and teachers at Bernards School, where she studied, strongly advised her parents to develop her vocal talents. For several years, Meryl worked with a coach, planning to become an opera singer, but nothing came of it.

After finishing high school, her parents sent their daughter to the prestigious Vassar College – and it was there that she discovered her true calling. One day, drama teacher Clinton Atkinson asked her to perform Blanche DuBois's monologue from Tennessee Williams's "A Streetcar Named Desire" at a student evening.

It was a casual request, since no one had noticed any particular acting talent in the young woman. But when Meryl began her performance, the room fell silent. It was impossible to believe that this student had never even learned the basics of stage craft – everyone saw a fully realized actress before them.

From that moment on, Meryl participated in every play the college students produced. In one of these productions, she was spotted by Robert Brustein, dean of Yale University's School of Drama and director of the Yale Repertory Theatre. Blown away by the young woman's performance, he not only invited Meryl to join his theater company but also recommended her for admission to the university's Drama School – with a full scholarship.

By the end of her university studies, Meryl Streep had over 40 major roles behind her

By the time she finished university, the future star had over 40 leading roles under her belt, performed across an incredibly wide age range in the most diverse plays – Chekhov, Shakespeare, Strindberg, Shaw.

Naturally, the determined and persistent Meryl had no doubts about where exactly she should begin building her artistic career: New York City, of course. And in 1975, diploma in hand, the aspiring actress set off to conquer Broadway.

Acting Career

The former student made her debut in 1975 at Joseph Papp's theater, where her brilliant talent was highly praised. The young actress was cast in Tennessee Williams' "27 Wagons Full of Cotton," and her performance in this production earned her a Tony nomination – the prestigious theater award.

Meryl also regularly participated in the annual New York Shakespeare Festival, impressing audiences and critics with her virtuosic performances in "The Taming of the Shrew" and "Henry V."

Meryl made her film debut in 1977 in the feature film "Julia" (directed by Fred Zinnemann), where she landed a small role. The film won three Oscars, which critics wrote about in all the papers, though somehow they failed to mention the young actress. But directors took notice – and soon Streep could consider her first major offer: Michael Cimino, who was beginning work on the war drama "The Deer Hunter," wanted only Meryl for the role of Linda.

Michael Cimino, Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep on the set of The Deer Hunter

Working on the film was incredibly difficult for her: John Cazale, one of the lead actors and her fiancé, was dying of cancer. She worked with everything she had, trying to give her best performance as her character Anna-Marie while simultaneously caring for the weakening John. Cimino himself later said that it was Meryl's selflessness that saved the film.

The Deer Hunter trailer starring Meryl Streep

The drama "The Deer Hunter" (1978) won 5 Oscars, and Streep, who became a nominee for both that award and the Golden Globe, instantly became a celebrity.

The Meryl Streep era had begun in America. Her work in the miniseries "Holocaust" (1978, as Inga Helms-Weiss) brought her first victory for Best Actress: she won an Emmy Award.

Meryl Streep and Woody Allen on the set of Manhattan

1979 was equally generous with significant roles. The young actress, showcasing every facet of her talent, brilliantly performed in the genius Woody Allen's comedy "Manhattan," which was a stroke of luck in itself, but her excellent supporting performance also earned Meryl a BAFTA nomination. And filming Robert Benton's drama "Kramer vs. Kramer" (as Joanna Kramer) ended in triumph: in addition to a Golden Globe, she won her first coveted Oscar statuette.

Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman in Kramer vs. Kramer

"The French Lieutenant's Woman" (1981) was a resounding success on movie screens worldwide. Her beautifully played dual role as Sarah/Anna was crowned with well-deserved awards – a BAFTA and a Golden Globe.

Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant's Woman

In 1982, the actress took on the role of Sophie Zawistowski in the remarkable Alan J. Pakula film "Sophie's Choice." Meryl dove so deeply into portraying this tragic woman who experienced the full horror of fascism that she couldn't bring herself to watch the finished film afterward. The profound tragedy of Sophie's character drew widespread attention from both press and audiences, earning the actress her second Oscar and third Golden Globe.

Throughout the '80s, Meryl remained firmly in the spotlight on film sets, collecting one award after another at prestigious ceremonies.

A shot from the musical Postcards from the Edge

The '90s brought the same shower of nominations as the actress continued her stellar career. Real breakthroughs came with her work in the musicals "Postcards from the Edge" (1990, Susan Vale) and "Death Becomes Her" (1992, Madeline Ashton), plus the dramas "The River Wild" (1994, Gail Hartman), "The Bridges of Madison County" (1995, Francesca Johnson), and "One True Thing" (1998, Kate Gulden).

Film critics couldn't stop praising Streep's magnificent performances, while audiences crowded box offices, eager to enjoy another cinematic masterpiece featuring their beloved actress. She effortlessly demonstrated such a level of artistry that everyone understood: Meryl truly deserved superstar status. She was equally at home in hilariously funny comedies and soul-chilling dramas, fearlessly performing risky stunts.

Still, she had her preferences: Streep loved playing the intellectual actress most of all. Fortune smiled on her, so the 2000s kicked off with a series of first-rate projects, with standouts including "The Hours," "Adaptation," and "Angels in America" - all showering Meryl with countless nominations and awards. Among them: a Golden Globe, Silver Bear, Emmy, Screen Actors Guild Award, and the Konstantin Stanislavski "I Believe!" Prize.

The drama "The Hours," which harvested a record crop of glowing reviews and massive box office returns, captivated audiences with the masterful performances of Streep alongside Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore.

The actress was absolutely magnificent transforming into glamorous magazine editor Miranda Priestly in David Frankel's "The Devil Wears Prada" (2006). For this role, Meryl went on a diet to lose 22 pounds so her character would match her real-life inspiration - Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.

Fans of Meryl's wonderful voice got pure joy watching the musical "Mamma Mia!" directed by Phyllida Lloyd. The actress was incomparable in the lead role, and her songs from the film, collected in an album, even earned a Grammy nomination.

Meryl Streep in the musical Mamma Mia!

While critics were divided on "Mamma Mia!," audiences spoke with one voice - confirmed by worldwide box office receipts: the film brought its creators $609 million.

In 2011, Streep delivered what might be the most brilliant performance of her career – embodying British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in director Phyllida Lloyd's The Iron Lady. The actress formed a perfect on-screen partnership with Jim Broadbent.

The Iron Lady Official Movie Trailer

Streep's Thatcher earned her a third Oscar, plus a Golden Globe, BAFTA Award, and the honorary Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.

Nearly every Streep role brings awards. Her next prizes came from the drama Into the Woods (2014) – an MTV Award – and the musical Florence Foster Jenkins (2017) – the Cecil B. DeMille Award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Fall 2018 brought Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again from director Ol Parker. The musical reunited Meryl's Donna Sheridan with Cher, Pierce Brosnan, Lily James, and Colin Firth. This sequel (or rather, prequel) proved just as infectious as the original.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again - Trailer

2019 saw the continuation of the hit series Big Little Lies, where Meryl took on a supporting role alongside powerhouses like Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodley.

In 2020, Meryl Streep tackled two projects that showcased entirely different sides of her talent. In the musical The Prom, she transformed into theater diva Dee Dee Allen, an egocentric Broadway star who joins fellow actors on a mission to a small town to support a high school student.

Her second project was Steven Soderbergh's deeply personal film Let Them All Talk, where Streep played celebrated writer Alice, reconnecting with old friends during a cruise. The result was an intimate story about friendship and forgiveness.

2021 brought Streep one of her most striking and controversial roles yet. In Adam McKay's satirical Don't Look Up, she embodied U.S. President Janie Orlean, a narcissistic and incompetent leader more concerned with poll numbers than an approaching cosmic disaster.

Meryl Streep in a suit and cap with American flag stands against a backdrop of the US flag, leaning on a podium — Meryl Streep in Don't Look Up

To prepare for the role, Streep studied news reports and dove into the character through music, creating a unique psychological atmosphere for her character. Alongside Jonah Hill, who played her son and chief of staff, she created a grotesque duo.

2023 marked Streep's triumphant return to television. In the third season of the hit series "Only Murders in the Building," she appeared as Loretta Durkin, an aging actress dreaming of her big break while falling for Martin Short's character.

Meryl Streep with braids holds tongs in one hand, wearing a kitchen mitt on the other — Meryl Streep in "Only Murders in the Building"

Critics were unanimous in their praise for her performance, calling Streep's addition to the cast "one of the most inspired casting decisions of all time." The role earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series and her 33rd career Golden Globe nomination.

Meryl Streep's Personal Life

Meryl Streep's first love was actor John Cazale – the star of Coppola's "The Godfather." The actress met John while preparing for the play "Measure for Measure" at Joseph Papp's theater.

John was married, but he and his wife had long since grown apart, so neither he nor Meryl felt they were deceiving anyone. But fate had other plans: just as John was celebrating being cast alongside his friend Robert De Niro and fiancée Meryl in "The Deer Hunter," a medical exam revealed he had cancer.

Robert De Niro insisted that Cazale remain in the cast, Meryl supported John however she could, and director Cimino prioritized filming scenes featuring Cazale first.

Meryl supported John right up until his death

Meryl stayed with him until the very end, practically moving into the hospital. John Cazale died on March 23, 1978.

The actress struggled deeply with the loss. After John's death, Meryl's brother moved her into his friend's apartment – sculptor Don Gummer, who was traveling through Europe. She planned to leave when he returned, but Don convinced her to stay. Hard work during the day and long conversations with Don in the evenings gradually calmed the storm in her heart: the pain of loss began to fade, and the present started to reclaim its place. She came to appreciate Don's kindness and masculine reliability, and in that same year, 1978, she agreed to marry him.

Don and Meryl had and raised four children – Henry (1979), Mamie (1983), Grace (1986), and Louisa (1991), whom they carefully shielded from paparazzi attention. All four found their calling in show business: Henry as a musician, and the daughters as actresses.

Meryl Streep with her husband and children

In October 2023, Streep's representatives officially confirmed that the actress and Don Gummer had been living separately for more than six years. "While they will always care for each other, they have chosen lives apart," the statement read. Streep continued to wear her wedding ring.

Meryl Streep Now

In February 2025, Streep made her first-ever appearance on the legendary Saturday Night Live, playing in a sketch about an alien abduction of Kate McKinnon's character's mother.

Meryl Streep in SNL sketch

This spring, Streep signed on for the highly anticipated sequel to "The Devil Wears Prada," returning to her iconic role as Miranda Priestly. The film is slated for release in May 2026.

Even more intriguing is the announcement of a biographical film about American singer Joni Mitchell. Streep will portray the singer in her later years, while Anya Taylor-Joy takes on the younger version.

Meryl Streep: latest news and articles

Audrey Davis

a brilliant actress who is shy even when she gets an Oscar. That`s what real talent means! I love all the movies with her, without exception. and now about the life of Meryl learned

2021-05-14 21:35:02
Dana Jones

A not long time ago I watched the television series Big Little Lies. I like it very much! And this series it`s not only for housewives.

2021-04-27 22:27:18
Janet Parks

Not a bad actress, I can`t say all her movies but she played in many of them.

2021-04-26 14:25:47
Renee Martin

By the way, she is still working despite her age

2021-04-25 17:43:17
Marilyn Thomas

Is that case when the actress played so many roles but you can`t select one

2021-01-06 20:35:58

Meryl Streep

Photos: Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep Biography

Early Years

Acting Career

Meryl Streep's Personal Life

Meryl Streep Now

Meryl Streep: latest news and articles

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