Meryl Streep, born Mary Louise Streep on June 22, 1949, in Summit, New Jersey, is an acclaimed American actress known for her remarkable versatility and depth in performance. She is the daughter of Mary Wilkinson Streep, a commercial artist and art editor, and Harry William Streep Jr., a pharmaceutical executive. Raised in a Presbyterian household, she spent her early years with her two younger brothers, Dana and Harry William III, in suburban New Jersey.

Streep attended Cedar Hill Elementary School and later Oak Street School, where her talent for performance began to emerge. At Oak Street, she participated in school theater productions, including a notable early role as Louise Heller in the play “The Family Upstairs.” In 1963, her family moved to Bernardsville, New Jersey, where she enrolled at Bernards High School. There, she initially focused on opera singing, taking voice lessons for four years before shifting her interest fully to acting.

Early Career in Theater

After high school, Streep continued her studies at Vassar College and later earned her Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama. Her early stage work included performances in Shakespearean classics such as “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” where she gained attention for her compelling stage presence and emotional range. Streep's theater background laid the foundation for her disciplined and nuanced on-screen performances.

Breakthrough Roles and Recognition

Streep first gained national recognition in 1978 with two notable roles. She played Inga Helms Weiss in the TV miniseries Holocaust, depicting a German woman during Nazi Germany. The miniseries drew an estimated audience of 109 million and significantly raised her profile. That same year, she appeared on screen in The Deer Hunter as Linda, the girlfriend of Robert De Niro’s character. Her emotionally charged portrayal earned her widespread critical acclaim and her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

These breakthrough roles catapulted Streep into Hollywood prominence, leading to a career marked by both critical and commercial success. Known for her ability to master different accents and inhabit a wide range of characters, Streep became one of the most respected and awarded actresses in film history.

Accolades and Personal Life

Over the course of her illustrious career, Meryl Streep has received a record-setting 21 Academy Award nominations, winning three—Best Supporting Actress for Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), and Best Actress for Sophie’s Choice (1982) and The Iron Lady (2011). Her numerous honors include Golden Globe Awards, Primetime Emmy Awards, and recognition from institutions such as the American Film Institute and the Kennedy Center.

In 1978, Streep married sculptor Don Gummer. Together, they had four children: one son and three daughters, including Mamie Gummer, who has followed in her mother’s footsteps as an actress. Streep’s commitment to her craft, her influence in the performing arts, and her contributions to cinema continue to solidify her legacy as one of the greatest actresses of all time.