| Full Name | Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep |
| Profession | Actress |
| Date of Birth | June 22, 1949 |
| Birthplace | Summit, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Years Active | 1975–present |
| Known For | Kramer vs. Kramer, Sophie's Choice, The Devil Wears Prada |
Meryl Streep has spent five decades moving between drama, comedy and musicals with a technical precision that critics and peers regularly cite as a benchmark for American screen acting. She holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations of any performer.
Early Life
Mary Louise Streep was born on June 22, 1949, in Summit, New Jersey, to Mary Wolf Streep, a commercial artist, and Harry William Streep Jr., a pharmaceutical executive. She began voice training around age 12 and acted in high school before studying drama and costume design at Vassar College, graduating in 1971. She went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama in 1975.
Career Beginnings
Streep made her professional stage debut in the early 1970s and her Broadway debut in 1975 in Trelawny of the “Wells.” She moved into film with Julia (1977), and her performance in The Deer Hunter (1978) brought her first Academy Award nomination.
Breakthrough and Major Works
Streep won her first Academy Award, for Best Supporting Actress, for Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), followed by a Best Actress win for Sophie’s Choice (1982). Through the 1980s and 1990s she built a body of work spanning Silkwood, Out of Africa, and The Bridges of Madison County. A new generation came to know her through The Devil Wears Prada (2006) and Mamma Mia! (2008), and she won her third Academy Award, for Best Actress, playing Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady (2011).
| Full Name | Mary Louise Streep |
| Born | June 22, 1949 – Summit, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Education | Vassar College; Yale School of Drama (MFA) |
| Profession | Actress |
| Years Active | 1975–present |
| Known For | Kramer vs. Kramer, Sophie’s Choice, The Devil Wears Prada |
| Notable Awards | 3 Academy Awards (of a record 21 nominations), 8 Golden Globes |
Awards
| 1980 | Academy Award, Best Supporting Actress – Kramer vs. Kramer |
| 1983 | Academy Award, Best Actress – Sophie’s Choice |
| 2012 | Academy Award, Best Actress – The Iron Lady |
| 2004 | American Film Institute Lifetime Achievement Award |
Personal Life
Streep was engaged to actor John Cazale, who died of cancer in 1978. She married sculptor Don Gummer later that year; the couple have four children, including actors Mamie Gummer and Grace Gummer.
Legacy
With 21 Academy Award nominations, Streep holds the record for any actor in Oscar history, and she is widely described by critics as one of the most versatile performers of her generation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Oscars has Meryl Streep won?
Three: Best Supporting Actress for Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) and Best Actress for Sophie’s Choice (1982) and The Iron Lady (2011).
Where did Meryl Streep train as an actor?
She studied drama at Vassar College and earned a Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama in 1975.
What is Meryl Streep’s record in Academy Award nominations?
She has received 21 nominations, the most of any actor in Academy Award history.
