Steven Spielberg’s new movie, The Post, features Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks, two of Hollywood’s biggest stars, together on screen for the first time. The movie, set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, tells the story of a conspiracy.
As expected from a Spielberg film, it boasts impressive cinematography, a gripping score, and stunning costumes. Meryl Streep plays Katherine Graham, a notable journalist and publisher of The Washington Post.
Known for her ability to fully embody her characters, Streep has once again undergone a significant transformation for this role. She not only captures the character’s personality but also changes her physical appearance to do them justice. Here’s a look
#1 She was a cheerleader with a penchant for opera
Mary Louise Streep was born in New Jersey in 1949. Her mom gave her the nickname Meryl, named after her grandmother, Mary Louise. From a young age, her parents, especially her mother, nurtured her curiosity by taking her to Broadway shows and museums in New York City. While Meryl was a homecoming queen and cheerleader in high school, her cheerful demeanor was all an act.
During her 2010 Barnard College commencement speech, Streep shared, “In high school, another form of acting took hold of me. I wanted to learn how to be appealing. So I studied the character I imagined I wanted to be. That of the generically pretty high school girl.”
She spent hours reading fashion magazines, straightening her hair, and dreaming of designer clothes. “I worked harder on this characterization really than anyone that I’ve done since.”
At the same time, Streep was also training to be an opera singer, taking lessons with renowned vocal coach Estelle Liebling. Although she didn’t care much for opera, preferring The Beatles and Bob Dylan like many kids her age, she loved singing. She even starred in her high school’s production of “The Music Man.”
#2 As a young actor, her character transformations stole the stage
Young Meryl Streep graduated from Vassar College in 1971 and then went on to study at the prestigious Yale School of Drama. While at Yale, she performed with the Yale Repertory Theatre, starring in a variety of plays.
She appeared in productions like “The Idiots Karamazov,” where she wore ghastly makeup to play Constance Garnett and contemporary spoofs like “The Shaft of Love.” Even before earning her M.F.A. in 1975, Streep’s talent was well recognized. Film critic David Edelstein noted in New York Magazine that a Yale Drama School instructor had called her “the greatest actress in America.”
Streep landed her first Broadway role in the play “Trelawny of the ‘Wells'” before moving to New York City. Her next play, Tennessee Williams’ “27 Wagons Full of Cotton,” showcased her remarkable ability to physically transform for a role. To portray the tawdry yet innocent Baby Doll, Streep wore prosthetic breasts and an old house dress. Her performance was a hit and even impressed Williams himself.
#3 She became an unlikely movie star with Kramer vs. Kramer
By the late 1970s, Meryl Streep was already making a name for herself in the theater world, but she soon transitioned to the screen. Her move to film wasn’t driven by a mere desire to become a Hollywood star. In 1976, she auditioned for the remake of “King Kong,” where Italian producer Dino De Laurentiis reportedly mocked her looks and intelligence.
Jessica Lange got the part, but Streep didn’t let this setback deter her. She continued her theater work and was cast in Shakespeare‘s “Measure for Measure,” co-starring with John Cazale. Their chemistry was undeniable both on and off stage.
The co-stars quickly became a real-life couple, but their relationship was intense and tragically short-lived. In 1977, the same year Streep made her film debut in “Julia,” Cazale was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Streep took on work like the TV mini-series “Holocaust” to help pay for Cazale’s medical bills and had the chance to co-star with him in the Vietnam War movie “The Deer Hunter.
Sadly, Cazale passed away in 1978, but his death partly influenced her casting in what would become her breakout film, “Kramer vs. Kramer.” Despite the tense on-set relationship between Streep and Dustin Hoffman, the film became a generational touchstone and swept the Academy Awards, earning Streep her first Oscar.
#4 Streep solidifies her Hollywood power status with serious costume dramas
Meryl Streep won her first Oscar for playing Joanna Kramer in Kramer vs. Kramer, but she soon shifted to period-piece dramas that showcased her incredible character-acting skills. In 1981’s The French Lieutenant’s Woman, she transformed into two characters: Sarah, a 19th-century Englishwoman, and Anna, a contemporary American actress.
While Streep excelled in both roles, wearing Sarah’s authentic Victorian wardrobe proved challenging. She told the CBC that although making a costume drama was fun, wearing a corseted dress made of nine yards of green wool for hours was extremely painful and uncomfortable.
The next year, Streep took on a different kind of role in Sophie’s Choice, playing the complex title character, a Polish immigrant in the 1940s who survived the Holocaust. Her glamorous curls, bright red lips, and flouncy dresses added a layer of sensuality that masked her deep internal suffering.
Streep received Oscar nominations for both films, winning her second Academy Award for Sophie’s Choice. Despite criticism from Hollywood stalwart Katharine Hepburn, who wasn’t a fan of Streep’s intellectual approach to acting, it was clear that Streep had become a formidable star in her own right.
#5 She proved she could play contemporary, too
Sure, Meryl Streep quickly built a strong reputation with her historical dramas, but she also proved she could excel in contemporary films. By the early 1980s, Streep was on a career roll, and it wasn’t by accident.
Talking to the American Film Institute in 1983, she said, “I’m always afraid to turn down jobs. I would never turn one down if it looked like I could do it. I’ve taken every good part that came along.”
Streep became known for her remarkable physical transformations and uncanny accent work, but she showed she could bring the same level of craftsmanship and detail to modern characters.
In the 1983 drama Silkwood, she sported a mullet to play real-life nuclear facility employee and union activist Karen Silkwood. The costume helped inform her performance, with Streep channeling the character through cowboy boots and jean jackets, a stark contrast to the hoop skirts and bonnets from her recent roles.
She kept things contemporary in the 1986 comedic drama Heartburn, based on writer Nora Ephron’s relationship with journalist Carl Bernstein. Streep continued her streak with another modern role in 1988’s A Cry in the Dark, portraying Lindy Chamberlain, an Australian woman wrongfully convicted of killing her child. The New York Times praised Streep’s performance in A Cry in the Dark for its depth and acting prowess.
#6 Streep made hair washing seriously sexy in Out of Africa
Meryl Streep didn’t earn her Hollywood fame as a sex symbol, but she certainly brought a sensual yet tasteful touch to the screen in the 1985 film Out of Africa.
In this movie, Streep plays Karen Blixen, a Danish woman who moves to Africa in the early 20th century and falls for big-game hunter Denys Finch Hatton, played by Robert Redford.
Based on Blixen’s memoir (published under her pen name, Isak Dinesen), Out of Africa is filled with breathtaking landscapes, longing looks, and underlying desires.
One memorable scene stands out for its simple intimacy: when Karen’s hair gets tangled, Denys offers to wash it for her. As he gently scrubs and lathers her hair while reciting poetry, the moment becomes a deeply intimate and sensual experience for Karen. Interestingly, Streep was almost overlooked for the role by director Sydney Pollack.
In a 1997 interview, Streep revealed, “I’d heard that Sydney thought I was a very good actress but wasn’t sure if I was sexy enough.”
Determined to make an impression, she wore a low-cut outfit to her audition. “It was cheap, but it worked,” she said, showcasing her strategic approach to landing the role.
#7 Streep surprised audiences with her campy comedic talents
By the late 1980s, Meryl Streep was widely recognized as one of Hollywood’s most powerful dramatic actors, but she had a comedic side that was ready to shine. In 1991, she told The New York Times that she had always wanted to try comedy but hadn’t found anything she thought was funny until 1989’s She-Devil. In this film, Streep embraced the campy role of Mary Fisher, a wealthy romance novelist.
After She-Devil, Streep embarked on a comedy streak. She appeared in Postcards from the Edge, based on Carrie Fisher’s relationship with her famous mother, Debbie Reynolds. She also starred alongside comedian Albert Brooks in the afterlife fantasy film Defending Your Life.
Streep’s comedic prowess reached new heights with Death Becomes Her, where she played aging actress Madeline Ashton in a special-effects-heavy satire.
The film showcased her sharp comic timing and wit, with effects that literally made her head turn. Although Death Becomes Her didn’t perform spectacularly at the box office upon its 1992 release, it has since gained popularity as a beloved cult classic.
#8 She became a full-fledged action hero
In the 1990s, Meryl Streep made a surprising yet successful shift in her career, stepping into the role of a bona fide action hero. Before starring in The River Wild, Streep’s career was seen as being in a bit of a middle-aged slump.
The 1994 thriller features Streep as Gail Hartman, a former river guide who must navigate dangerous white-water rapids while being pursued by armed thieves. Streep explained to The New York Times that she was drawn to the outdoor adventure elements of the film and was astonished that she was cast in the role. She had expected the part to go to someone younger and stronger.
Streep committed to the role with impressive dedication, training for months and performing many of her own stunts. Her rowing coach, Elizabeth H. O’Leary, praised Streep’s remarkable ability and determination, noting that Streep quickly mastered rowing techniques.
O’Leary told The Harvard Crimson, “Meryl Streep is an absolutely remarkable woman. She came having learned little about rowing, but it wasn’t so much that I had to teach her. She sees it and she can do it.” Despite her skills, Streep admitted to CBS 8 San Diego that she was driven by fear and adrenaline, pushing herself to her limits.
The success of The River Wild not only boosted Streep’s earning power but also restored her status in Hollywood, proving she was far from being washed up.
#9 Streep reached fashion icon status with The Devil Wears Prada
Meryl Streep continued to impress audiences throughout the 2000s with standout roles, including her acclaimed performance in the TV mini-series Angels in America. However, it was her role as Miranda Priestly, the fashion magazine editor in The Devil Wears Prada, that cemented her iconic status once again.
Despite her impressive track record, some people doubted Streep’s suitability for the part, thinking she might not be funny enough (a clear oversight of her comedic success in the early ’90s).
In The Devil Wears Prada, Streep played the icy editor of the fictional Runway magazine. Her perfectly styled white hair, piercing gaze, and commanding presence led many to draw comparisons between her character and Anna Wintour, the real-life editor of Vogue. However, Streep revealed that her inspiration came from a mix of powerful men rather than Wintour.
She told Variety, “The voice I got from Clint Eastwood. He never, ever raises his voice and everyone has to lean in to listen, and he is automatically the most powerful person in the room. But he is not funny. That I stole from [director] Mike Nichols.” Streep also mentioned, “The walk, I’m afraid, is mine.”
Interestingly, Streep kept Miranda’s sunglasses from the film, perhaps as a subtle nod to Wintour’s signature accessory.
#10 She reminded the world she can sing
Though Meryl Streep trained as an operatic vocalist in her youth, she only showcased her singing talents in musical films during the 2000s and 2010s. Interestingly, she missed out on musical stardom in the ’90s when Madonna took the role of Eva Perón in the film adaptation of Evita.
At the time, Streep was clearly disappointed, commenting to The New York Times, “I could rip her throat out. I can sing better than she can if that counts for anything.” However, Streep’s chance to shine came with the 2008 film Mamma Mia! In this sun-soaked adaptation of the ABBA musical, she effortlessly performed hits like “Mamma Mia!” and “Money, Money, Money.
Streep returned to musical films in 2014 with her role as the Witch in Into the Woods. Singing Stephen Sondheim’s intricate music required intense preparation. At the film’s premiere, she told The Wall Street Journal:
“I really worked hard to get my voice back. I used to have a pretty good voice. And then, you know, when you’re in your 20s, you’re smoking and you’re an idiot, and you’re screaming at kids in your 30s.”
Her vocal prowess in songs like “Last Midnight” clearly demonstrated the effort she put into her preparation.
#11 She reminded the world she can sing
Some of Meryl Streep’s most impressive transformations came later in her career when she took on the roles of two influential and very different real-life women. In the 2009 film Julie & Julia, Streep portrayed pioneering chef and cookbook author Julia Child. According to Child’s former protégé Sara Moulton, Streep perfectly captured Child’s distinctive voice, awkward body language, and assertive demeanor.
For Streep, stepping into Child’s shoes wasn’t easy. She admitted in an interview with The Telegraph, “To cook well takes practice and to be honest I feel much more confident about my acting skills than my cooking skills.” However, she also told Fresh Air that she became a better cook after working on the role.
In 2011, Streep took on another powerful figure, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, in The Iron Lady. Portraying Thatcher was not just about capturing her notable political achievements but also exploring the later years of her life. Streep discussed with Film4 how the film delves into “What it’s like to be an old lady and ignored by society in general. What it’s like to lose power.” Streep’s remarkable physical and emotional transformation into Thatcher earned her and her longtime makeup artist, Roy Helland, Oscars for their work.
#12 Streep’s marriage ends, but her rumors about her dating life heat up
Meryl Streep has spent nearly half a century perfecting her craft on screen while keeping her personal life largely private. She married sculptor Don Gummer in 1978, shortly after the death of her longtime love, John Cazale.
Together, they had four children and moved their family from Connecticut to New York. The discreet nature of Streep’s marriage made the announcement of her separation from Gummer, after over 40 years together, particularly surprising.
In 2023, Streep’s representatives confirmed to People magazine that she and Gummer had been separated for six years. Speculation about the reasons for their split ranged from the nature of their relationship to their demanding work schedules.
Despite acknowledging her separation publicly, rumors quickly surfaced that Streep had moved on with someone new. She was soon linked romantically to her Only Murders in the Building co-star Martin Short.
Although Short’s representatives denied any romantic involvement, stating they were just friends, the two were seen engaging in couple-like activities, including dining at the trendy restaurant Giorgio Baldi and attending a Broadway show together.
