As the buzz builds around The Devil Wears Prada 2, it’s tempting to think we already know everything about Meryl Streep. After all, this is the woman who is the gold standard of acting; the one who made icy silences more intimidating than shouting ever could.
However, even before she achieved fame as Miranda Priestly, Meryl’s journey toward stardom was equally as remarkable, full of unique twists, missed opportunities, and out-of-the-spotlight moments that often get overlooked.
So here are some lesser-known but particularly interesting facts about Meryl’s life that make her story even more compelling.
“Meryl” isn’t even her real name
Today, Meryl is synonymous with greatness in film and has truly made herself an international superstar. Would you believe that she was given a different first name than the one we call her today? In fact, she was named after Mary Louise Streep, and the nickname was actually coined by her father. It stuck and eventually became one of the most recognizable names in cinema history. Funny how something so casual turned into something so legendary.
Meryl Streep almost pursued law instead of acting
While it’s hard to imagine that Streep ever considered a career as a lawyer, it is true. In fact, she had made the decision to attend law school until she accidentally slept through the days of her exams. What is especially interesting is that this will always remain an “Isn’t that unbelievable back then!” moment, because what would happen if Miranda Priestly had been a lawyer instead of the fashion queen we know today?
She was trained as an Opera singer
For many years prior to her career in movies, Streep was a trained opera singer, and as such, took many voice lessons as a teenager. This operatic background not only explains Streep’s control over her vocal delivery, but also her mastery of voice inflection and her uncanny ability to hold our attention without raising her voice. Even when she whispers, you listen.
She didn’t burst into films; she built up slowly
Unlike the majority of today’s movie stars, Streep’s rise to stardom wasn’t overnight. She started with theatre, followed by a television debut, and finally moved on to movies such as Julia. Streep’s slow-building path to success has led her to have an incredibly solid foundation as an actor.
She lost some major roles early in her career
Many people think that Streep has gotten everything she wanted throughout her career, but that could not be further from reality. Streep lost the opportunity to act in (through rejection) a number of films, including American Gigolo and King Kong. These rejections did not stop her, but rather strengthened her as an actress, ultimately leading her to redefine what it means to be the lead female character in a movie.
Her confidence was built at home
Many times, Streep has given credit to her mother for providing her with a strong sense of confidence from an early age. Streep’s upbringing and belief in her parental figure show through her many roles by her ability to maintain confidence even when acting in very demanding female roles.
She holds an Oscar record that still feels untouchable
Long before The Devil Wears Prada, Streep had already established herself as a force to reckon with. To date, Streep holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations for a single actress (21). It’s not just about quantity, though. It’s about longevity. Few actors stay relevant across decades the way she has.
Why this matters now
Revisiting these details feels especially timely with The Devil Wears Prada 2 on the horizon. Although Miranda Priestly is one of her most famous roles, it is actually only a small portion of a long, long career characterized by hard work, constant growth, and tremendous strength.
Meryl Streep didn’t become Meryl Streep overnight. It was a combination of many steps, doing many different jobs, hitting many rejections, until she finally reached here. Perhaps that is why seeing Meryl perform still excites us so much. We are not just watching a performance but decades of craft, quietly perfected.
