Meryl Streep (born Mary Louise Streep; June 22, 1949) is an American actress of theatre, television, and film. She is widely regarded as one of the best living American film actresses.
Streep made her professional stage debut in The Playboy of Seville (1971), before her screen debut in the television movie The Deadliest Season (1977). In that same year, she made her film debut in Julia (1977). Both critical and commercial success came quickly with roles in The Deer Hunter (1978) and Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) followed by, among others, Sophie’s Choice (1982), Out of Africa (1985), Mamma Mia! (2008), The Iron Lady (2011), and August: Osage County (2013).
Considered by many critics to be the greatest living actress, Meryl Streep has been nominated for the Academy Award an astonishing 18 times, and has won it three times. Born Mary Louise Streep in 1949 in Summit, New Jersey, Meryl’s early performing ambitions leaned toward the opera. She became interested in acting while a student at Vassar and upon graduation she enrolled in the Yale School of Drama. She gave an outstanding performance in her first film role, Julia (1977), and the next year she was nominated for her first Oscar for her role in The Deer Hunter (1978). She went on to win the Academy Award for her performances in Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) and Sophie’s Choice (1982), in which she gave a heart-wrenching portrayal of an inmate mother in a Nazi death camp.

A perfectionist in her craft and meticulous and painstaking in her preparation for her roles, Meryl turned out a string of highly acclaimed performances over the next decade in great films like Silkwood (1983); Out of Africa (1985); Ironweed (1987); and A Cry in the Dark (1988). Her career declined slightly in the early 1990s as a result of her inability to find suitable parts, but she shot back to the top in 1995 with her performance as Clint Eastwood’s married lover in The Bridges of Madison County (1995) and as the prodigal daughter in Marvin’s Room (1996). In 1998 she made her first venture into the area of producing, and was the executive producer for the moving …First Do No Harm (1997). A realist when she talks about her future years in film, she remarked that “…no matter what happens, my work will stand…”
In September 1999, named Best Modern Actress in an Entertainment Weekly online poll, substantially beating out runner-up Michelle Pfeiffer.
Learned to play the violin, by practicing 6 hours a day for 8 weeks, for her role in Music of the Heart (1999).
Has a fear of helicopters.
Listed as one of 12 “Promising New Actors of 1977” in John Willis’ Screen World, Vol. 29.
In October 1997, ranked #24 in Empire (UK) magazine’s “The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time” list.
Educated at Yale University. Studied Drama.
Graduated from Vassar College in 1971.
Was romantically involved with actor John Cazale for a total of 7 years, culminating with his death at age 42 in 1978 from bone cancer. She is very reluctant to discuss the relationship with anyone.
Graduated from Bernards High School.
Before making it big, she was a waitress at The Hotel Somerset in Somerville, New Jersey, USA.
Was a cheerleader and homecoming queen in high school.
She left her just-claimed Oscar for Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) on the back of a toilet during the 1979 festivities.
Replaced Madonna for the lead in Music of the Heart (1999).
In 2001, her son, Henry W. Gummer (“Hank”) was a student at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.
Sister-in-law of Maeve Kinkead.
In 2000, named an Officer of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
Born at 8:05 a.m. EDT.
Tennessee Williams wanted her for a film version of “A Streetcar Named Desire” in the 1980s. When Streep proved unavailable, the project was refashioned for television and the role of Blanche given to Ann-Margret.
Has a deviated septum, which she refuses to have fixed.
The children’s TV series Sesame Street (1969) has featured a character named “Meryl Sheep” in her honor.
Was originally supposed to play the role of Iris Hineman is the film Minority Report (2002), but had to back out. She was replaced by Lois Smith.
Her character Karen Silkwood from her 1983 film Silkwood (1983) was ranked #47 on the American Film Institute Heroes list of the 100 years of The Greatest Screen Heroes and Villians.
Presented Paul McCartney with the 1990 Grammy Lifetime Achievement award. Attended The Beatles concert at Shea Stadium in 1965 with an “I love Paul” sign, which she mentioned when presenting the award to McCartney.
Older sister of Harry Streep and Dana Streep.
Spent a year as a transfer student at Dartmouth College where she participated in theater.
Originally applied to Law School but slept in on the morning of her interview and took it as a sign she was destined for other things.
Sigourney Weaver and Christine Estabrook were fellow classmates at Yale Drama School.
Back at the Drama school, she and Sigourney Weaver appeared in a play staged in a swimming pool together. The play was called ‘The Frogs.’.
May 27, 2004 was proclaimed “Meryl Streep Day” by Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields. [May 2004]
She was voted the 37th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.
As a young actor, she performed at the Yale Repertory Theater with Christopher Lloyd.
According to Katharine Hepburn’s official biographer A. Scott Berg, Meryl Streep was her least favorite modern actress on screen: “Click, click, click,” she said, referring to the wheels turning inside Streep’s head.
Has only been turned down for four roles: Michelle Straton in American Gigolo (1980), Patsy Cline in Sweet Dreams (1985), Miss Kenton in The Remains of the Day (1993), and Elizabeth I in Elizabeth (1998).
She often works with Academy award-winning director Mike Nichols.
Mentioned by first name only (with two-time co-star Jack Nicholson) in Michael Crichton’s 2004 novel “State of Fear.”.
Tony Nominee in 1976 as Best Actress (Featured Role – Play) for Tennessee Williams’ “27 Wagons Full of Cotton.”.
Premiere Magazine ranked her as #46 on a list of the Greatest Movie Stars of All Time in their Stars in Our Constellation feature (2005).
IMDb Mini Biography By: Tom McDonough