Meryl Streep

Easily the most highly regarded American film actress alive, Meryl Streep has been honored with a record-breaking 13 Academy Award nominations since her powerful debut in the 1977 drama 'Julia'. Known for her perfectionistic approach to acting and her striking vocal abilities, particularly in mastering accents, Streep has carved a place for herself alongside legends like Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn.

Streep was born on June 22, 1949 in Summit, New Jersey and raised in nearby Bernardsville where she attended high school before receiving a degree in drama from Vassar College. Also a trained singer, Streep was convinced that acting was in her future and enrolled in Yale's prestigious School of Drama where she earned an M.F.A. Streep made her debut in 'Julia' playing third wheel to Jane Fonda and Vanessa Redgrave. Her impressive performance in the film led to roles in the TV mini-series 'Holocaust' and in 1978's Oscar-winner 'The Deer Hunter', for which she received her first Academy Award nomination. At the time Streep was engaged to 'Deer Hunter' and 'Godfather' star John Cazale, who tragically died of bone cancer before their marriage. She soon married sculptor Don Gummer, with whom she has four children and has remained with for nearly 30 years.

After winning a Supporting Actress Oscar for 1979's 'Kramer vs. Kramer', Streep was a hot commodity in Hollywood and became the most successful and acclaimed actress of the 80s. Some of her greatest roles from this period were 'The French Lieutenant's Woman', 'Silkwood', 'Out of Africa', 'Ironweed', 'A Cry in the Dark', and her third film with director Mike Nichols, 'Postcards from the Edge', all of which earned her Oscar nominations. In 1983 Streep won the Best Actress Oscar for 'Sophie's Choice' in a performance widely considered to be one of the best of the last 30 years. Streep's incredible devotion to the role of Sophie made it one of the most invigorating and heartbreaking performances of her career.

Streep branched out into comedy in the early 90s, starring with Roseanne Barr in 'She-Devil' and with Goldie Hawn in the memorable 'Death Becomes Her'. She also starred in her first-ever action film, Curtis Hanson's rousing adventure 'The River Wild'. Of course, Streep continued appearing in powerful dramatic roles as well, including Clint Eastwood's popular tear-jerker 'The Bridges of Madison County' and 'Marvin's Room', a touching family drama that co-starred Diane Keaton and Leonardo DiCaprio. The 21st century has seen the enormously gifted actress continue her streak of impressive performances with 'Adaptation', 'The Hours', 'The Manchurian Candidate', the HBO mini-series of Tony Kushner's acclaimed play 'Angels in America', and a hilarious role in 'Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events'. 2006 has seen her in Robert Altman's terrific 'A Prairie Home Companion' and the summer's surprise blockbuster 'The Devil Wears Prada'. The latter film has been heralded as Streep's greatest comic performance to date, and her hilarious head-butting with the stunning Anne Hathaway has made it a gem amidst the endless heap of tired summer action flicks.

Truly a living legend, Streep thankfully is showing no signs of retiring early. Her next film is 2007's 'Dark Matter', which concerns a Chinese college student's difficulties while studying in America. Among many others, Streep is also slated to star with Indian superstar Aishwarya Rai in 'Chaos', and as the President of the United States alongside Robert De Niro in the comedy 'First Man'.