WhereIsAtlas · Film
Meryl Streep
The most Oscar-nominated actor in history, still commanding dramatic and comedic roles well into her seventies
Active — Meryl Streep is still one of the most active and celebrated actors in the world — the record holder for Academy Award nominations, still starring in major films and reprising her iconic role in the Devil Wears Prada sequel.
Meryl Streep was born in 1949 in Summit, New Jersey, and trained as an actor at Yale before breaking into film in the 1970s. She quickly became known for an uncanny ability to transform into characters, winning her first Oscar for Kramer vs. Kramer (1979). Her career has been defined by a remarkable run of acclaimed performances — Sophie's Choice, Out of Africa, The Deer Hunter and Adaptation, among many others. She is the most Oscar-nominated actor in history, with 21 acting nominations and three wins, and has also earned numerous Golden Globes and other honours. Streep has been equally at home in serious drama and broad comedy, from The Devil Wears Prada and Mamma Mia! to Florence Foster Jenkins and The Iron Lady, for which she won her third Best Actress Oscar. She remains a powerhouse in Hollywood and a vocal figure in public life. Well into her seventies, Streep continues to take on major roles. She has repeatedly been called the greatest actress of her era, and her influence on the craft and on the industry shows no sign of fading.
Quick facts
- Born
- June 22, 1949, Summit, New Jersey
- Oscar record
- 21 nominations — the most ever for an actor
- Oscar wins
- Kramer vs. Kramer, Sophie's Choice, The Iron Lady
- Known roles
- The Devil Wears Prada, Mamma Mia!, The Deer Hunter
- Style
- Remarkable physical and vocal transformation
- Now
- Still starring in major films in the 2020s
- Legacy
- Widely called the greatest actress of her generation
Sources
- Meryl Streep - Wikipedia — Wikipedia (2026-09-05)
- Meryl Streep — Movies, TV Shows, Age, Oscars, Devil Wears Prada, Husband, Biography, & Facts (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Meryl-Streep)
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