Meryl Streep

Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep, born on June 22, 1949, is an American actress and singer who has worked in theatre, television, and film. She is widely regarded as one of the most talented and respected actresses of the contemporary era.

Streep made her professional stage debut in 1971's "The Playboy of Seville", before her screen debut in the television movie "The Deadliest Season" in 1977. In that same year, she made her film debut with "Julia". Both critical and commercial success came quickly with roles in "The Deer Hunter" (1978) and "Kramer vs. Kramer" (1979), the former giving Streep her first Oscar nomination and the latter her first win. She later won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in "Sophie's Choice" (1982).

Streep has received 17 Academy Award nominations, winning two, and 26 Golden Globe nominations, winning eight, more nominations than any other actor in the history of either award. Her work has also earned her two Emmy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Cannes Film Festival award, five New York Film Critics Circle Awards, five Grammy Award nominations, a BAFTA award, an Australian Film Institute Award and a Tony Award nomination, amongst others. She was awarded the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2004.