Meryl Streep's Real Name: Mary Louise Streep
Meryl Streep → Mary Louise Streep
Quick answer: Meryl Streep's real name is Mary Louise Streep. She was born on June 22, 1949, in Summit, New Jersey. "Meryl" is a childhood nickname that blends Mary and Louise.
Meryl Streep's real name
Streep was born Mary Louise Streep, and "Meryl" developed as a family nickname (Britannica). She has used Meryl Streep professionally for her entire career.
Early life and education
Streep grew up in Bernardsville, New Jersey, where she sang and performed in school productions. She graduated from Vassar College in 1971 and earned a Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama in 1975 (Britannica).
Stage to screen
After Yale she worked on the New York stage, earning a Tony nomination for 27 Wagons Full of Cotton (1976). Her film debut was Julia (1977). She won an Emmy for the miniseries Holocaust (1978) and earned her first Oscar nomination for The Deer Hunter (1978).
Three Oscars and a record
Streep has won three Academy Awards (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences):
- Best supporting actress, Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
- Best actress, Sophie's Choice (1982)
- Best actress, The Iron Lady (2011), as Margaret Thatcher
With 21 Oscar nominations, she holds the record for the most acting nominations of any performer.
Best-known films
Streep is famous for her range and accents. Highlights include Silkwood (1983), Out of Africa (1985), Postcards from the Edge (1990), The Bridges of Madison County (1995), Adaptation (2002), The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Mamma Mia! (2008), Julie & Julia (2009), Into the Woods (2014), The Post (2017) and Little Women (2019). On TV she won Emmys for HBO's Angels in America (2003) and starred in Big Little Lies and Only Murders in the Building.
Honors and personal life
President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014 (The White House archives). She received the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes in 2017 and an honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes in 2024.
Streep's partner in the late 1970s, actor John Cazale, died of cancer in 1978. She married sculptor Don Gummer later that year; they have four children, including actresses Mamie Gummer and Grace Gummer, and musician Henry Wolfe. In 2023 the couple said they had been separated for several years.
Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep by Michael Schulman (book) The Devil Wears Prada (2006) Blu-ray
FAQ
What is Meryl Streep's real name?
Mary Louise Streep.
When was Meryl Streep born?
June 22, 1949, in Summit, New Jersey.
How many Oscars has Meryl Streep won?
Three, from a record 21 nominations.
Where did Meryl Streep go to school?
Vassar College and the Yale School of Drama.
Who is Meryl Streep married to?
Sculptor Don Gummer, married in 1978; they announced in 2023 that they had been separated for years.