By Nayria Figueroa Colon
Meryl Streep was born Mary Louise Streep on June 22, 1949, in Summit, New Jersey. She graduated from Vassar College and Yale Drama School with degrees in drama. She started her career in New York on stage. In the late 1960s, she appeared in various Broadway productions and, in the late 1970s, began her acting career in film.
Streep’s first role in film began with the drama Julia (1977), in which she starred opposite Jane Fonda and Vanessa Redgrave. A year later, she starred alongside Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken in The Deer Hunter. Her performance in the 1978 film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, which was one of many to come.
In the 1979 drama Kramer vs. Kramer, Streep secured the role of a woman who abandons her family to return later and fight for custody of her son. The film put Streep’s name in the industry as she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards, which marked her first Oscar of three.
“She is such a sophisticated actress,” said sophomore Lilian Galvin. “She presents poise in every movie she does!”
In the 1980s, Streep was in many diverse films that stamped her name in Hollywood and all over the world. She starred in the film Sophie’s Choice (1982), in which she plays a Polish woman who is traumatized and horrified by the effects of the Holocaust and the events that ensued. Streep secured her first Best Actress win and second Oscar for the role. In 1985, the film Out of Africa earned her another Academy Award nomination as she starred alongside Robert Redford.
Streep’s career expanded from then, but in the early 2000s, she had versatility in her work and showcased roles that many seemed so unexpected and jaw-dropping. One of the roles that made Streep a memorable Hollywood star is the role of Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada (2006). She played a fashion magazine editor in which all of her employees held her to a statuesque pedestal for her beauty and poise, but displayed otherwise through her personality; in other words, they were afraid to challenge her. Streep received another Academy Award nomination as well as a Golden Globes nomination. The role of Priestly was rumored to be inspired by Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue. The movie is based on the novel written by Lauren Weisberger, who used to work for Wintour.
“Meryl Streep is one of my favorite actresses!” said senior Emma DiPietro. “She’s amazing in Mamma Mia! and The Devil Wears Prada. The range of her acting is marvelous and it’s proven with her Oscar wins! My favorite quote from The Devil Wears Prada is ‘Everybody wants to be us.’”
Through Streep’s talents from Broadway, she was able to showcase her ability to sing and dance in the film adaptation of the musical Mamma Mia! (2008), which takes inspiration from the songs of ABBA. Musicals have been a film genre that Streep has “dipped her toe” many times and has given memorable roles no matter the character. In the film Into the Woods (2014), based on the original Broadway musical with songs by Stephen Sondheim, Streep played the Witch. She later played the role of Dee Dee Allen in The Prom (2020), another Broadway musical that was adapted to screen. The narcissistic Dee Dee Allen showcased a role that Streep had never played, which differentiates who she is in real life.
“I love Meryl Streep,” said sophomore Sofia McGinnis. “She’s the Broadway performer for movies. My favorite films include Into the Woods and The Prom as she makes the roles feel like a Broadway performance. She acts with song and belts her heart out. She is a 10/10 actress!”
Today, Streep is slowly making her way into TV as she is currently starring in Only Murders in the Building (2021) alongside Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Steve Martin. Not only is Streep versatile and diverse with the roles she chooses to portray, but she is choosing wisely what will make a lasting impact on her career and name. Is Streep the best actress in the world? Her filmography speaks for itself.