14 things you probably didn't know about Meryl Streep

Zoë MillerJun 22, 2020, 21:56 IST

Meryl Streep's first name isn't actually Meryl.Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty

Meryl Streep's first name is actually Mary. Meryl is a nickname her father gave her.
Streep was a cheerleader and high school, and she was born and raised in New Jersey.
Streep has won multiple Grammy awards and has been nominated for 21 Oscars.

For decades, Meryl Streep has sung and acted in dozens of iconic films. Her dynamic career ranges from musicals like "Into the Woods" to emotional films like "Kramer vs. Kramer."

But even if you've closely followed her acting work, you may not know much about her.

Here are some surprising things you might not have known about Meryl Streep.

Meryl Streep's real first name isn't Meryl.

Meryl is just a nickname. John Phillips/Getty Images

Streep was born and raised in New Jersey.

Meryl Streep grew up in Somerset County, New Jersey. REUTERS/Fred Prouser

In high school, she was a cheerleader.

Meryl Streep was in musicals in high school, too. Julien Hekimian/WireImage/Getty Images

She has applied to trademark her name.

It was filed in 2018. Christopher Polk/Getty Images

She's married to a sculptor.

Meryl Streep and Don Gummer at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2014. Getty Images

Two of her daughters are also actresses.

From left, Mamie Gummer, Grace Gummer, and Louisa Gummer. Getty Images

Streep has an advanced degree from an Ivy League university.

Meryl Streep earned an MFA from the Yale School of Drama. Michael Buckner/Getty Images

Streep, who has appeared in musical movies like "Mamma Mia" and "Into the Woods," trained in opera as a teen.

Meryl Streep sang quite a bit in "Mamma Mia." Universal Pictures

She has been nominated for five Grammy Awards.

Meryl Streep has received Grammy nominations for her work narrating children's books. Christopher Polk/Getty

Before she transitioned to film, Streep was in many plays and musicals.

Meryl Streep in "Mother Courage and Her Children." Enveualtacultura/YouTube

Her first film role was in the 1977 movie "Julia."

In "Julia," Meryl Streep acted alongside Jane Fonda and Vanessa Redgrave. Fox

The first major award she won was an Emmy for her performance in a 1978 miniseries.

Meryl Streep and James Woods in "Holocaust." Titus Productions

She has been nominated for a record-breaking 21 Academy Awards.

Meryl Streep at the Oscars in 2017. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Streep has been known to go all-out when getting into character.

Meryl Streep wrote her own speech for "Kramer vs. Kramer." Columbia

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