Meryl Streep, considered one of the best actresses in film history, celebrates her 75th birthday today. Beyond her impressive career, which began in 1977 with the film “Julia”, and having an almost unmatched record of 21 Oscar nominations, Mary Louise, daughter of a pharmaceutical executive of German descent from New Jersey and a fine artist and editor of a decoration magazine, has had a private life marked by two great loves: one passionate and tragic, and another calm and stable that has given her four children.
His dream
During her teenage years, Meryl Streep dreamed of becoming a singer. However, upon discovering her passion for theater, she enrolls at Yale University to study Drama and later joins the Phoenix Repertory Theater in New York. Her film debut occurs in “Julia” (1977), directed by Fred Zinnemann, and the following year she stars in “The Hunter.” Streep accepts a supporting role in Michael Cimino’s film to be close to her then-partner, John Cazale, who was suffering from bone cancer. This role earns her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress and she wins an Emmy for her performance in the television series “Holocaust.” In 1980, Streep won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in “Kramer vs. Kramer.”
First Oscar as supporting actress: “Kramer vs. “Kramer”
Meryl Streep stands out both in roles of fragile women and in strong and resilient characters, facing adversity in films such as “The French Lieutenant’s Lover” (1981) and “Sophie’s Choice” (1982), for which she won the Oscar for The best actress.
“Sofia’s decision”a powerful role that earned him the Academy Award.
She also demonstrates her ability to play middle-class women in everyday and extraordinary situations, as in “Silkwood” (1983), by Mike Nichols. She works alongside great actors such as Robert De Niro in “Falling in Love” (1984) and Jack Nicholson in “Love is an Eternal Wanderer” (1987). Streep stars in a tragic love story in “My Africa” (1985) and an impossible love in “The Bridges of Madison” (1994) alongside Clint Eastwood.
“The bridges of Madison” directed by Clint Eastwood, colleague in the field.
Dramatic roles become a constant in her career, with films such as “The blood that unites us”, “Things that matter”, “Music of the heart” and “The hours”, which leads her to become the actress with more Hollywood Academy Award nominations. However, she also explores other genres: she plays a living dead woman in the fantasy comedy “Death Becomes You” (1992).
“Death suits him well” directed by Robert Zemeckis.
She also shines in the role of a rafting expert in the thriller “Wild River” (1995) and as a manipulative politician in the remake of “The Ambassador of Fear” (2004). She ventures into comedy with “Lemony Snicket: A Series of Unfortunate Events” opposite Jim Carrey, where she plays Aunt Josephine, and she gives a standout performance in Ben Younger’s “Shared Secrets.” She also provides the voice of the queen ant in the animated film “Antz.”
Images of “Wild River”1994, directed by Curtis Hanson
In 2006, Streep plays a country music singer in “Magic Radio Nights”, Robert Altman’s latest film. Later, she joins the cast of “The Devil Wears Prada”, the adaptation of Lauren Weisberger’s novel, where she plays the intimidating Miranda Priestly, a role that earns her another Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
“The Devil Wears Prada” beautiful and overwhelming in the role of Miranda Priestly…
In 2007, he starred in two politically themed films: “Lions for Lambs” by Robert Redford, alongside Tom Cruise, and the thriller “The suspect”on the arrest of suspected terrorists.
The following year, she shows a new facet as an actress in the musical “Mamma Mia! The Movie”, directed by Phyllida Lloyd. Which will then have a sequel: “Mamma Mia, Let’s Go Again”, in 2018.
Currently it shines with shocking and successful series such as: “Big Little Lies” (original from HBO Max) and “Only murders in the building”, original from Disney+.
“Mamma Mia!” a modern mother…and beautiful songs
A data:
When she won her third, and so far last, Oscar for “The Iron Lady” in 2012, Meryl Streep dedicated an emotional tribute to her husband: “Everything I value most in our lives was given to me by you, because you can be the most prize in the world, but when after forty years the arms of that man who looks at you in love from the audience continue to be the safe haven where you feel loved and understood, then that, and only that, is true success, not the statuette that you have in your hands, no matter how golden it may be.”
For more than 40 years, they have been one of the most solid and discreet marriages in Hollywood. That is why it was a surprise when in 2023, shortly after receiving the Princess of Asturias award, it was revealed that the couple had been living separately for six years. Their last appearance together was at the Oscars ceremony in March 2018. Meryl has shown that it is possible to combine a brilliant professional career with a happy and discreet private life.
Recent distinctions
In 2010, she was recognized with the National Medal of Arts by Barack Obama, in 2023 with the Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts and in 2024 with the Honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Only:
Meryl Streep has the honor of being the woman with the most nominations in the history of the Oscars. With 21 nominations, has become a living legend of cinema. The Hollywood Academy has nominated her 17 times in the best actress category and 4 times as best supporting actresssetting a record that is difficult to beat.
It was nominated for the following films, winning for the highlighted titles:
1. ‘The Hunter’ (1978)
2. ‘Kramer vs. Kramer’ (1979)
3. ‘The French Lieutenant’s Lover’ (1981)
4. ‘Sophie’s Choice’ (1982)
5. ‘Silkwood’ (1983)
6. ‘My Africa’ (1985)
7. ‘Love is an eternal wanderer (1987)
8. ‘A Scream in the Dark’ (1988)
9. ‘Hollywood Memories’ (1990)
10. ‘The Bridges of Madison’ (1995)
11. ‘Things that matter’ (1998)
12. ‘Music of the heart’ (1999)
13. ‘The Orchid Thief’ (2002)
14. ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ (2006)
15. ‘Doubt’ (2008)
16. ‘Julie and Julia’ (2009)
17. ‘The Iron Lady’ (2011)
18. ‘August’ (2013)
19. ‘In the forest’ (2014)
