About Meryl
Q: Is it true that Meryl's real name is Mary Louise?
A: Yes.
Q: Where and when was Meryl born?
A: Meryl was born in New Jersey on June 22, 1949.
Q: Why don't you have more personal information about Meryl here?
A: What I will tell you is that Meryl and the artist Don Gummer married in 1978 and they have four children. Meryl is well known for being an extremely dedicated Mom. . . and is often asked who her greatest influence has been. She has said that person is her 'greatest producer', her Mother:
My mother was and is my role model. Not precisely for what she did in her life, but for the way she's always done everything. She always started the day singing, she loves a good joke, she has energy and verve, wit and great natural graciousness. Everybody loves my mom because she is the Will Rogers of Women; she puts people at their ease and can diffuse any awkward social situation with a witty aside or a joke at her own expense. I've always admired this ability to lighten the atmosphere when she enters the room, and I think the best role models for women and girls are people of either gender who are fruitfully and confidently themselves, who bring light into the world.
With the exception of the Quotes which Meryl has given from time to time about what her family means to her, please understand that out of the utmost respect for Meryl and her family's privacy, these paragraphs are all the 'family information' you will find here at MSO.
Q: I'm an aspiring actor/actress. Can Meryl send me some advice on acting?
A: An audience member asked Meryl that same question during a television interview. Here is Meryl's answer:
Get a good education,
know as much as you can about everything,
and listen - and look at the world - you know - feelingly.
The "Streep Essentials"
Meryl's answers to questions in preparation for her AOL chat:
Education: Vassar College, 1971, BA; Yale School of Drama, 1975, MFA.
Top item on her to-do List: "To remember where I put the list"
Her favorite movie: "Waiting for Guffman"
Likes most about fame: "You can usually get a table."
Likes least about fame: "Fame drives a wedge between me and just about everyone I meet–an artificial little fence we chat over. Everybody's friendly, everybody's nice, but it's an obstruction."
One person in history she'd like to meet: "My daughter had this question for an essay and I thought her answer was the best, so I'm stealing it. I'd like to talk (if we could talk) to Lucy, the earliest known female hominid, evidence of whose existence the Leakeys discovered in East Africa."
Favorite things: "My favorite things change constantly. Today my favorite thing was the pale lavender (I think they're) columbine that grow wild by the side of the road . . . the most delicate, fragile, mighty beauty."
Staple in daily routine: Coffee
One wish: "To have 729 more wishes!"
The Streep Line: One branch of the Streep family, who were Spanish Jews, emigrated to Holland in the 15th century. On their immigration documents, instead of signing their names, they drew a line. Streep means "line" or "stripe" in Dutch.
Affiliations: Co-founded Mothers & Others, an environmental advocacy group for parents.
Contacting Meryl
Q: I would like to contact/write Meryl Streep. How do I go about it?
A: You may write to Meryl in care of her agent, Kevin Huvane, at this address:
Ms. Meryl Streep
Creative Artists Agency
2000 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Causes Meryl Supports
Q: Where can I find out more about the causes Meryl supports?
A: Meryl supports many causes, a list of them with details can be found here at MSO by clicking on the Activist tab above.
Q: Do you think Meryl would be interested in representing our group?
A: Only Meryl can answer that for you. Please write Meryl at the address listed above.
Movie-Specific Q/A
Postcards From The Edge
Q: Is the soundtrack available?
A: As of this writing, the answer is no.
{The} Hours
Q: Do you know the name of the beautiful piece Clarissa is listening to while preparing for the party?
A: On the DVD commentary for the film, you can hear Meryl talk about how this piece came to be included in the film. Entitled "BEIM SCHLAFENGEHEN" (A Time To Sleep), from "Four Last Songs," music by Richard Strauss, lyrics by Herman Hesse. Performed by Jessye Norman, Soprano. Gewandhaus Orchestra, Leipzig, Kurt Masur, Conductor. more details »
One True Thing
Q: What were Kate Gulden's two favorite movies shown in the film?
A: "To Kill A Mockingbird" and "South Pacific".
Sophie's Choice
Q: The music in Sophie's Choice was beautiful. Do you have details?
A: Here you go: Johann Sebastian Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's
"Eine Kleine Nachtmusic K 525," Ludwig van Beethoven's "Symphony #6 in F Major, Op. 68 'Pastoral'" and "Symphony #9 in D Minor, Op. 125 'Choral'," Georg Frederic Handel's "The Water Music Suite in F Major," Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy's "Lieder Opus 30 #1," Robert Schumann's "About Foreign Lands and People," Johann Strauss's "Voices of Spring Opus 410," and Eric Coates' "Sleepy Lagoon."
Artificial Intelligence
Q: Did Meryl provide the voice for the Blue Fairy?
A: Yes, she did.
Set Dressing
Q: I was watching {insert movie name} and noticed photographs in the background, are those real photos of Meryl?
A: In some films, yes. One True Thing (in the entryway); Postcards (by Doris' piano. Also look for a photo of Meryl and Robert DeNiro from Falling in Love on Marty Weiner's office wall), Music of the Heart (some in the opening credits are real, some are not), Death Becomes Her (on the piano), to name a few.
Rare Television Performances
Q: I'm looking for a copy of "Uncommon Women and Others,"
"Secret Service," or _________, do you have a copy of it or know where I could find one?
A: You may now pre-order several of Meryl's rare videos at the Broadway Theatre Archive.
Books on Meryl
"Meryl Streep: A Critical Biography"
"Meryl Streep: The Reluctant Superstar"
"The Meryl Streep Story"
Where can I find Meryl's prints at Mann's Chinese Theatre?
Does Meryl have a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
About MSO
Q: When was MSO created?
Q: I heard a rumor that Meryl is going to do (insert film name here) with (insert movie star name here). Is that true?
Credits
Q: Have there been any books published about Meryl?
A: To the best of my knowledge, there have several, they are all, however, out of print:
Eugene E. Pfaff, Jr., and Mark Emerson
Hardcover (December 1987)
Diana Maychick
Nick Smurthwaite
On September 25, 1994, Meryl was honored with a place at the Forecourt of the Stars (pictured above). You'll find them to the left of comedienne/actress Whoopi Goldberg and right above Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr (The King and I). Planning a trip or need directions? Visit the Theatre online for more information.
YES. Meryl received her star (the 2,119th) on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on September 16, 1998, at the time One True Thing was released. Her star is located at 7018 Hollywood Boulevard. 
Buying/Selling Meryl Streep Memorabilia
If you are looking for pricing information (either as buyer or seller), the best advice is to do a search for a similar item on ebay and see what it's going for, and price your item (or bid) accordingly. A word regarding autographs -- I have seen many auctions on ebay in the past that definitely do not look authentic, so buyer beware. Be sure to request a Certificate of Authenticity. The autograph on this page is a good example of Meryl's writing style.
Q: Does Meryl Know About MSO?
Q: Does she ever visit the website?
Q: Have you ever met Meryl Streep?
A: The answer to all three questions is yes. :-)
A: MSO first went online in February of 1997.
A: Only when Meryl has signed on to do a project will the information be posted on MSO.
Last modified: 7.15.2008