Meryl Streep

Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep (born June 22, 1949) is an American actress. Known for her versatility and adept accent work, she has been described as "the best actress of her generation". Her career spans over four decades, with numerous accolades, including a record 21 Academy Award nominations, of which she has won three, and a record 34 Golden Globe Award nominations, of which she has won eight. Streep made her stage debut in 1975 and two years later, made her feature film debut in Julia (1977). Some of her critically acclaimed films include 'Kramer vs. Kramer' (1979), 'Sophie's Choice' (1982), and 'The Iron Lady' (2011). Streep's work has also extended into television, she has won three Primetime Emmy Awards for her roles in the miniseries 'Holocaust' (1978) and 'Angels in America' (2003), as well as the narration in the documentary series 'Five Came Back' (2017). Her other television work includes the drama series 'Big Little Lies' (2019) and the comedy-mystery series 'Only Murders in the Building' (2023–24). Streep was born on June 22, 1949, in Summit, New Jersey to artist Mary Wilkinson Streep and pharmaceutical executive Harry William Streep Jr. She has two younger brothers, both actors. Streep's upbringing and early schooling in Basking Ridge, New Jersey captured glimpses of her future career as an actress. She completed her high school cheerleading and studied as a high school senior in Bernards High School. Although Streep appeared in numerous school plays during her high school years, she was uninterested in serious theatre until acting in the play Miss Julie at Vassar College in 1969. Streep demonstrated an early ability to mimic accents and to quickly memorize her lines. She received her BA in drama cum laude in 1971, before applying for an MFA from the Yale School of Drama.