How much is Meryl Streep worth?
| Net Worth: | $150 Million |
|---|---|
| Profession: | Professional Actress |
| Date of Birth: | June 22, 1949 |
| Country: | United States of America |
| Height: | 1.68 m |
About Meryl Streep
Often described as the “best actress of her generation”, Streep is particularly known for her versatility, accents and style.
She’s done dramas, comedies, action, thrillers, suspense films and mysteries. There isn’t much Meryl hasn’t done and there isn’t much she’s produced that the Academy hasn’t adored. No stranger to the Oscar podium, and the loser cam, Meryl is a picture of class and grace any way the dice lands.
The actress, who holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations, is the leading lady in films like Sophie’s Choice, Out of Africa, The Devil Wears Prada and Doubt.
Meryl Streep is one of the most well received and awarded actresses of all time. In 2004, she has been awarded the AFI Life Achievement Award, in 2008 the Gala Tribute from the Film Society of Lincoln Center and in 2011 Kennedy Center Honor for Streep’s contribution to American culture.
“In acting, living in the moment is the whole point. The trick is to live in the moment in your own life, but it’s not easy.” — Meryl Streep
“Streep”
Mary Louise Streep was born on June 22, 1949, in New Jersey to artist Mary Wilkinson Streep and pharmaceutical executive Harry William Streep, Jr. Meryl’s father was of German and Swiss descent with lineage going back to Loffenau.
Streep’s great-great-grandfather, Gottfried Streeb, immigrated to the United States and one of her ancestors served as mayor (the surname was later changed to “Streep”).
Paint On Wrinkles
The signs of Meryl’s early interest in acting were not subtle. As a child she would draw wrinkles on her face and wear “old lady” sweaters pretending to be her grandmother. Although this may not have been the most flattering portrayal of grandma Streep, it was clear to the whole family that Meryl Streep dreamed of being in the center of attention.
She longed for the stage and act and portray different characters. It was not money that motivated Meryl Streep, although today she is one of the richest actresses in the world.
Rather Meryl had a mind for theater which is where she got started very young.
In her school’s theater productions Meryl went from glasses-wearing awkward teen, to one of the most popular girls at school with a newfound confidence she acquired from the stage.
Streep was in many school plays while in high school, yet she was far more interested in serious theater acting in the play Miss Julie at Vassar College in 1969. Streep’s drama professor Clinton J. Atkinson noted, “I don’t think anyone ever taught Meryl acting. She really taught herself.”
Streep demonstrated an early ability to mimic accents and to quickly memorize her lines. If you have watched Out of Africa her line “I had a farm in Africa” is an iconic example of how Meryl Streep has mastered accents.
Meryl went on to attend the all-girls Vassar College where she studied drama and English, then transferred to Dartmouth to pursue playwriting and costume design. After graduation, she spent a few months waitressing, but headed to Yale’s School of Drama to continue building her acting repertoire by appearing in more than 30 plays and musicals while at the prestigious school.
In 1975 she graduated from Yale and moved to the big city where she was invited to join Joseph Pappe’s New York Shakespeare Festival and star in countless Shakespeare in the Park productions.
The Oscar Hunter
The rising star kept to her theater roots and went on to land starring roles on Broadway in The Happy End and Alice in the Palace. Meryl transitioned to the silver screen in her first feature film, Julia, in 1977. But it was Meryl’s next acting venture that really got her name circulating in the industry. The project was Holocaust, a TV miniseries that earned her an Emmy.
Meryl went on to star in The Deer Hunter, landing her the first, of many, Academy Award nominations, Woody Allen’s Manhattan and Kramer vs Kramer alongside Dustin Hoffman. The quirky actress took home Best Actress gold for the latter at the 1979 Oscars, then promptly forgot her golden man on top of a toilet at the ceremony venue.
Also in 1979, Streep began workshopping Alice in Concert, a musical version of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the show was put on at New York’s Public Theater from December 1980. Streep was called the production’s “one wonder” by Frank Rich of The New York Times.
By 1980, Streep had progressed to leading roles in a number of well received films. Her popularity soared and she was featured on the cover of Newsweek magazine with the headline “A Star for the 80s”; Jack Kroll commented.
In Art and In Family
Meryl Streep met Don Gummer a sculptor whose apartment she was renting. The pair started dating before they married in 1978 and welcomed son, Henry, to the family the following year.
In 1983 Meryl would give birth to her first daughter, Mary Willa, a second, Grace, in 1986 and third, Louise, in 1991.
Meryl’s Choice
But during her whirlwind romance and adding new members to the family, Meryl still found time to hit the set and produce another handful of show-stopping, award-winning beauties: The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981), Sophie’s Choice (1982), Out of Africa (1985) and Death Becomes Her (1992).
In 2002, Meryl got raw in the Spike Jonze flick, Adaptation alongside Nicolas Cage. The film would land Meryl her 12th Oscar nomination, as would her following flick, The Hours. After another trifecta of critically acclaimed flicks (girl really knows how to pick ‘em) Meryl went on to star in The Devil Wears Prada in which she portrays a fashion editor who coins the “holier than thou” phrase, “That’s all.”
Showing no signs of slowing down, Meryl got back to her singing roots in Mamma Mia! (2008) and got cooking in Julie & Julia (2009) in another Oscar-nominated role as beloved television chef Julia Child. It brought her nomination count to an incredible 16.
She’s been nominated for more Academy Awards (and ironically lost more) than any other actor or actress and her resume of hit after hit is nearly flawless.
Meryl’s deep appreciation for the craft of acting and her thoughtful input in the roles she brings to life is unrivaled. She has been lauded as the best living actress in the industry and we couldn’t agree more. Hats off to you, Meryl.
Summing Up
Meryl Streep is one of the most well received, highly decorated actresses the world has ever seen. Often referred to as the greatest actress of all time and key to her success seems to be her early passion and natural gift. As of 2023, Meryl Streep’s net worth is estimated to be $150 million dollars.
Considered self-taught in acting and the description of style and grace, Meryl surprised us again with 2021 movies “Babylon” and “Wicked”.
