Streep, Meryl (Mary Louise), 1949-
US actress

Born in Summit, New Jersey, she graduated from Vassar College and Yale Drama School before making her New York stage debut in The Playboy of Seville (1969). She appeared in summer stock, off-Broadway and in Trelawney of the Wells (1975). Her film debut in Julia (1977), The Deerhunter (1978) and Kramer vs. Kramer (1979, Academy Award) established her as a first-rank star. She has consistently expanded her range, showing sensitivity and a facility with accents in a series of acclaimed characterizations in films like The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981), Sophie's Choice (1982), for which she won a second Academy Award, Silkwood (1983), Out of Africa (1985), Ironweed (1987), A Cry in the Dark (1988) Postcards From the Edge (1990), The House of the Spirits (1994) and Before and After (1996).