Generation Genius

Background:

One only need look at Meryl Streep's long list of Oscar nominations to realize she is in a league all her own. With the uncanny ability to emerge herself within her characters, she possesses an acting talent rarely seen. From comedy to drama Meryl's remarkable span of characters have earned her 13 Academy Award nominations, making her one of the greatest actresses of all time and so far, the best actress of our generation. She now has more nominations than any actor in Hollywood's history, with Katharine Hepburn previously holding the record at 12.

Meryl is an actor, wife, mother of 4, intelligent, attractive and still going strong. Meticulous in her craft, devoted to her family, Meryl is an outstanding actor and busy lady. Actor Diane Keaton refers to Meryl as "my generation's genius."

"You can't get spoiled if you do your own ironing." Meryl Streep

"There are some days when even I think I'm overrated, but not today." Meryl Streep, from Emmy acceptance speech for Angels in America (2003).

Degrees in Drama

Childhood and Family:

Talented Mary Louise Streep was born on June 22, 1949 in Summit, New Jersey, to parents Harry (pharmaceutical company executive) and Mary (commercial artist). She has a younger brother named Dana.

In Bernardsville High School in Bernardsville, NJ., Meryl Streep became interested in acting and appeared in several school productions. She maintained good grades, was voted Homecoming Queen, and was a cheerleader. Streep furthered her drama education by attending Vassar College in New York, where she studied English and Drama and graduated in 1971, Dartmouth College in New Hamshire and Yale University in Connecticut where she graduated in 1975.

In September of 1978 Meryl married Donald J. Gummer (sculptor). They have four children: Henry (born 1979), Mary (born 1983), Grace (born 1986) and Louisa (born 1991).

Academy Quality Acting

Career:

After college Meryl began her career with off-Broadway in New York. On Broadway she was nominated for a Tony for Tennessee Williams' 27 Wagons Full of Cotton. From her starting moments in acting, Meryl excelled.

Some of Meryl's early work includes TV's Secret Service (1977), The Deadliest Season (1977) and the mini series Holocaust (1978) for which she earned an Emmy. Her performance in the highly praised war drama The Deer Hunter (1978, starring Robert De Niro, John Savage and Christopher Walken) would start her on her legacy of Oscar nominations.

Meryl's list of movie accomplishments is astounding. In the 1970's Meryl continued in movies like Woody Allen's Manhattan (1979), The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979) and the hugely successful Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), also starring Dustin Hoffman.

In the 80's Meryl's career included roles in The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981), Still of the Night (1982) and her phenomenal performance as Sophie in the heartbreaking movie Sophie's Choice (1982), also starring Kevin Kline and Peter MacNicol. Meryl's amazing career continues with roles in Silkwood (1983), Falling in Love (1984), Plenty (1985), Out of Africa (1985), Heartburn (1986), Ironweed (1987), A Cry in the Dark (1988), and She-Devil (1989).

Meryl is an unstoppable force and the 1990's proved to be no exception to her remarkable acting career. Roles in such feature films as: Postcards from the Edge (1990), Defending Your Life (1991), Death Becomes Her (1992), The House of the Spirits (1993), The River Wild (1994), The Bridges of Madison County (1995), Before and After (1996), Marvin's Room (1996), Dancing at Lughnasa (1998), One True Thing (1998), Chrysanthemum (1999) and Music of the Heart (1999).

Meryl's career is nothing less than remarkable. In 2002 she starred with Nicolas Cage in the drama Adaptation; Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore in the drama The Hours (2002); Al Pacino in the mini series Angels in America (2003); Denzel Washington and Liev Schreiber in The Manchurian Candidate (2004); and Jim Carrey and Jude Law in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004).

Meryl will soon be seen Prime (2005), Dark Matter (2005), Flora Plum (2005), Conquistadora (2005), Chaos (2006) and the comedy A Prairie Home Companion (2006).

Awards:

• Emmy, Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie, Angels in America, 2004
• Golden Globe, Best Supporting Actress, Adaptation, 2003
• Independent Features Project, Gotham Award for Lifetime Achievement, 1999
• Women in Film Crystal Award, 1998
• People's Choice, World Favorite Movie Actress, 1990
• People's Choice, Favorite Movie Actress, 1990
• Cannes Film Festival, Best Actress, A Cry in the Dark, 1990
• People's Choice, Favorite Movie Actress, 1989
• People's Choice, Favorite Movie Actress, 1983
• Oscar: Best Actress, Sophie's Choice, 1982
• Golden Globe, Best Actress in a Motion Picture (drama), Sophie's Choice, 1982
• New York Film Critics Circle, Best Actress, Sophie's Choice, 1982
• Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Best Actress, Sophie's Choice, 1982
• Oscar, Best Supporting Actress, Kramer vs. Kramer, 1979
• Golden Globe, Best Supporting Actress, Kramer vs. Kramer, 1979
• Los Angeles Film Critics Association, Best Supporting Actress, Kramer vs. Kramer, The Seduction of Joe Tynan and Manhattan, 1979
• New York Film Critics Circle, Best Supporting Actress, The Seduction of Joe Tynan and Kramer vs. Kramer, 1979
• National Board of Review, Best Supporting Actress, The Seduction of Joe Tynan, Manhattan and Kramer vs. Kramer, 1979