Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep
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Name:
Meryl Streep
Real name:
Mary Louise Streep
Who is:
Birth date:
(76 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Summit, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:
5'5 ft ()
Weight:
128 lb (58 kg)
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

Photos: Meryl Streep

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Biography of Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep is the greatest American movie actress of our time, winner of the Oscar, Golden Globe, Emmy, MTV, and César awards. She has her own star on Hollywood Walk of Fame. Net worth: $160 million.
In the photo: Meryl Streep
In the photo: Meryl Streep

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, managed a pharmaceutical company and worked hard to provide for his family. Her mother, Mary Wolf, was an artist who had to abandon her career to care for three young children ‒ Meryl and her two brothers Harry and Dan.
Meryl Streep as a child with her mother
Meryl Streep as a child with her mother
Meryl showed a natural talent for singing from an early age, and teachers at Bernard's school strongly recommended her parents develop her vocal abilities. For several years Meryl took lessons with hopes of becoming an opera singer, but it didn't work out.
Meryl Streep in her youth
Meryl Streep in her youth
After high school, her parents sent her to the prestigious Vassar College ‒ where she discovered her true calling. 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 just a routine request because no one had noticed any special acting talent in her. But when Meryl began her performance, the entire hall fell silent. It was impossible to believe this student had never studied drama ‒ everyone was watching a natural-born actress.
Young Meryl Streep
Young Meryl Streep
From that moment on, Meryl appeared in every production the college students staged. In one of these productions, she was spotted by Robert Brustein, dean of Yale University's Drama Department and director of the Yale Repertory Theater. Stunned by the young woman's performance, he not only invited Meryl to join his theater troupe but also recommended her for admission to Yale's School of Drama ‒ with a full scholarship.
By the end of studying at the university over 40 leading roles lay behind Meryl Streep
By the end of studying at the university over 40 leading roles lay behind Meryl Streep
By graduation, the future star had performed over 40 leading roles spanning the widest age range in diverse plays by Chekhov, Shakespeare, Strindberg, and Shaw.
Meryl Streep's most embarrassing Golden Globe win
Naturally, the determined Meryl knew exactly where to launch her artistic career: New York City. In 1975, after earning her master's degree, the aspiring actress set out to conquer Broadway.

Acting career

Her professional debut came in 1975, in Joseph Papp's theater, where her exceptional talent quickly gained recognition. She joined the cast of «27 Wagons Full of Cotton» by Tennessee Williams, and for her work in the production, she received Tony Award nomination.
Joseph Papp and Meryl Streep
Joseph Papp and Meryl Streep
Meryl also regularly participated in the annual New York Shakespeare Festival, captivating audiences and critics with virtuosic performances in «The Taming of the Shrew» or in «Henry V».
Meryl Streep and Jane Fonda in the film «Julia»
Meryl Streep and Jane Fonda in the film «Julia»
Meryl made her screen debut in 1977 with a role in «Julia» (directed by Fred Zinnemann), in a small role. The film received three Oscars, though critics overlooked the young actress. But filmmakers took notice, and Streep soon received her first major offer: Michael Cimino, who had begun shooting the military 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 drama «The Deer Hunter»
Michael Cimino, Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep on the set of the drama «The Deer Hunter»
The filming proved emotionally devastating for her: one of the stars of the film, John Cazale, her fiance, was dying of cancer. She gave everything to her performance as Anne Marie while caring for the dying John. Cimino himself later said that it was Meryl who saved the film with her dedication.
Trailer of the film «The Deer Hunter» with the participation of Meryl Streep
The drama «The Deer Hunter» (1978) won 5 Oscars, and Streep, who became the nominee of both this award and another one ‒ Golden Globe, catapulted her to stardom.
Meryl Streep in the series «Holocaust»
Meryl Streep in the series «Holocaust»
The Meryl Streep era had officially begun. Shooting in the series «Holocaust» (1978, Inga Helms Weiss) earned her first major win: the actress was awarded the Emmy Award for Best Actress.
Meryl Streep and Woody Allen while shooting the film «Manhattan»
Meryl Streep and Woody Allen while shooting the film «Manhattan»
1979 brought even more significant roles. The young actress, showcasing her versatility, brilliantly played in the comedy of great Woody Allen «Manhattan», a major coup in itself, but in addition to it, Meryl was nominated for the British Academy Film Awards for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. And the shooting in Robert Banton's drama «Kramer vs. Kramer» (Joanna Kramer) proved triumphant: in addition to the Golden Globe, she claimed her first Oscar.
Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman in the drama «Kramer vs. Kramer»
Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman in the drama «Kramer vs. Kramer»
The film «The French Lieutenant's Woman « (1981) became a worldwide success. Her masterful dual performance as Sara/Anna earned well-deserved recognition ‒ the British Academy Film Awards and the Golden Globe.
Meryl Streep in the film «The French Lieutenant's Woman»
Meryl Streep in the film «The French Lieutenant's Woman»
In 1982, Streep took on the role of Sophie Zawistowski in director Alan Pakula's acclaimed film «Sophie's Choice». Streep connected so deeply with the character of a woman who had endured the horrors of fascism that she couldn't bring herself to watch the finished film. The tragic depth of Sophie's character drew widespread critical and public attention, earning Streep her second Oscar and third Golden Globe.
Meryl Streep in the movie «Sophie's Choice»
Meryl Streep in the movie «Sophie's Choice»
Throughout the '80s, Streep remained in the spotlight on film sets and at award ceremonies, where she collected one accolade after another.
A shot from the musical «Postcards from the Edge»
A shot from the musical «Postcards from the Edge»
Riding this wave of critical acclaim, Streep continued her stellar career into the '90s. Career highlights included her performances in the musicals «Postcards from the Edge» (1990, Suzanne 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 raving about Streep's brilliant performances, while audiences flocked to theaters eager to catch another masterpiece featuring their beloved actress. She effortlessly displayed such extraordinary talent that it became crystal clear: Meryl had earned her superstar status. She was equally at home in laugh-out-loud comedies and soul-stirring dramas, fearlessly tackling challenging roles.


However, she also had her own preferences: Streep most of all liked the role of an intellectual actress. Fate was on her side, so the 2000s began with a series of first-class projects, among which «The Hours», «Adaptation», and «Angels in America» especially stood out, which earned Meryl countless nominations and awards. Among them are Golden Globe, Silver Bear, Emmy, Screen Actors Guild Award, K.S. Stanislavsky Award «I Believe!».
Meryl Streep in the film «The Hours»
Meryl Streep in the film «The Hours»
The drama «The Hours», which garnered record-breaking rave reviews and massive box office success, captivated audiences with brilliant performances from Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore alongside Streep.
Meryl Streep in the film «The Devil Wears Prada»
Meryl Streep in the film «The Devil Wears Prada»
The actress was simply gorgeous, transforming into Miranda Priestley, the ruthless editor of a glamorous fashion magazine in David Frankel's film «The Devil Wears Prada» (2006). To prepare for this role, Meryl went on a strict diet to lose 22 pounds, ensuring her character would match its real-life inspiration ‒ the editor-in-chief of Vogue Anna Wintour.
Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour
Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour
Fans of Meryl's stunning vocals were thrilled by her performance in the musical «Mamma Mia!», which was directed by Phyllida Lloyd. The actress in the leading role was inimitable, and her songs from this film collected in the album were even nominated for the Grammy Awards. While critics were divided on «Mamma Mia!», audiences were unanimous in their love for it, as proven by the worldwide box office numbers: the film brought to its creators $ 609 million.
Meryl Streep in the musical «Mamma Mia!»
In 2011, Streep delivered what many consider her most powerful performance to date. It was the character of the Prime Minister of England Margaret Thatcher in the film «The Iron Lady» directed by Phyllida Lloyd. In the film, the actress created a harmonious duet with Jim Broadbent. Her portrayal of Thatcher earned Streep her third coveted Oscar, as well as the Golden Globe, the British Academy Film Award, and the Honorary Golden Bear award of the Berlin International Film Festival.
Meryl Streep during the Oscar Awards ceremony(2012)
Nearly every Streep performance brings home hardware. For example, the next awards were brought to Meryl by the drama «Into the Woods» (2014) ‒ MTV Movie Awards, and by the musical «Florence Foster Jenkins» (2017) ‒ the Cecil B. DeMille Award (from Hollywood Foreign Press Association).

Fall 2018 saw the release of «Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again», directed by Ol Parker. The musical starred Cher, Pierce Brosnan, Lily James, and Colin Firth alongside Meryl as Donna Sheridan. This sequel (or rather, prequel) proved just as captivating as the original.
Trailer of the movie «Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again» with Meryl Streep's participation

Meryl Streep's personal life

Meryl Streep's first love was actor John Cazale, who starred in Coppola's «The Godfather». The actress met John while preparing the play «Measure for Measure» at Joseph Papp's theater.
Meryl Streep and John Cazale
Meryl Streep and John Cazale
John was married, but had been estranged from his wife for some time, so neither he nor Meryl felt they were betraying anyone. But fate had other plans: Just as John, his friend Robert De Niro, and his girlfriend Meryl were cast in «The Deer Hunter», he received a devastating cancer diagnosis during his medical exam.
Meryl supported John as she could
Meryl supported John as she could
Robert De Niro insisted that Cazale remain in the cast; Meryl supported John as she could, and the film director Cimino primarily shot the scenes where Cazale played.

Meryl stayed with him until the end, practically living at the hospital. John Cazale died on March 23, 1978.
Meryl Streep and Don Gummer
Meryl Streep and Don Gummer
The actress was devastated by the loss. After John's death, Meryl's brother arranged for her to stay in 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 evening conversations with Don gradually helped heal her broken heart – the pain of loss began to fade as she embraced the present. She came to appreciate Don's kindness and steady reliability, and later that same year, 1978, she agreed to marry him.
Meryl Streep with her husband and children
Meryl Streep with her husband and children
Forty years have passed since then, but their family, built on love and trust, remains as strong as ever. Don and Meryl had and raised four children – Henry (1979), Mary (1983), Grace (1986), and Louisa (1991), whom they carefully shielded from the paparazzi.

Meryl Streep now

Meryl stayed busy on screen throughout 2019. She appeared in the series "Big Little Lies", Soderbergh's film "The Laundromat", and the drama "Little Women".
Meryl Streep was nominated for Oscar 21 times
Meryl Streep was nominated for Oscar 21 times

Meryl Streep: latest news and articles

  • 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
  • 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
  • Not a bad actress, I can`t say all her movies but she played in many of them.
    2021-04-26 14:25:47
  • By the way, she is still working despite her age
    2021-04-25 17:43:17
  • Is that case when the actress played so many roles but you can`t select one
    2021-01-06 20:35:58
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