Meryl Streep Quotes

Powerful Meryl Streep for Daily Growth

About Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep, born Mary Louise Streep on June 22, 1949, in Summit, New Jersey, is an acclaimed American actress renowned for her versatility and depth in portraying a wide range of characters across various genres and periods. Raised by academic parents, Meryl's early life was heavily influenced by the arts. Her father, Harry William Streep Jr., was a pharmaceutical executive, and her mother, Mary Wolf Wilkinson, was an artist and philanthropist. Streep attended Vassar College but dropped out before graduating to join the Massachusetts Kirby Theatre. Streep made her professional acting debut on Broadway in 1975, followed by her film debut the same year with a minor role in 'Julia.' However, it was her portrayal of artist Sybil Songin in 'The Deer Hunter' (1978) that earned her first Academy Award nomination. Over the next four decades, Streep has become one of Hollywood's most celebrated actresses. Her career highlights include roles as Sophie Zawistowski in 'Sophie's Choice' (1982), which earned her an Academy Award, and her portrayal of singer Karen Carpenter in 'Rumor Has It...' (2005). Streep also gave memorable performances in films like 'The Iron Lady' (2011), 'Out of Africa' (1985), 'Silkwood' (1983), and 'Mamma Mia!' (2008). In addition to her acting prowess, Streep is known for her political activism and support for various social causes. In 2017, she delivered a powerful speech criticizing the Trump administration at the Golden Globe Awards. Streep continues to act in film and television, with her latest role being Ricki Falkner in 'The Prom' (2020). Her influence on cinema is undeniable, and her legacy as one of the greatest actresses of all time continues to grow.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"You take your life in your own hands, and what happens? This so-called friendly world knocks it out of them."

Meryl Streep's quote suggests that taking control of one's life and making decisions based on personal ambition can lead to encounters with the harsh realities of the world, which may challenge or even shatter those initial aspirations. It implies that while seizing life opportunities is empowering, it also exposes us to potential adversity and setbacks. However, these hardships should not deter us from living our lives boldly and pursuing our dreams. Instead, they serve as learning experiences that help us grow stronger and wiser.

"I don't want to be a star. I want to be an actress."

Meryl Streep, in this quote, expresses her desire to embrace the artistry of acting rather than the fame or status associated with being a "star". She aims to deeply engage in her craft, focusing on the essence of becoming an excellent actress by delivering compelling performances, as opposed to seeking recognition or superficial glory. This perspective highlights the significance of artistic growth over fleeting popularity, emphasizing the pursuit of authenticity and passion within one's chosen profession.

"The only thing that makes you profile-raising is doing work that you love."

This quote by Meryl Streep suggests that the key to standing out or becoming prominent in any field is by pursuing and excelling at work that one loves. It implies that when individuals are passionate about their work, they tend to be more dedicated, creative, and innovative, which often leads to recognition and success. This perspective encourages people to follow their heart and passions rather than solely focusing on gaining attention or status.

"The truth is, everyone is different. And the beauty of that is we get to choose who we want to be."

This quote emphasizes the individuality of each person and our ability to shape our own identity. It suggests that every individual has their unique qualities and characteristics, which makes them beautiful in their own way. Moreover, it encourages us to take ownership of our lives by choosing who we want to be. Essentially, Meryl Streep is inviting us to embrace our differences and use them as a means to express ourselves authentically and live life on our own terms.

"I'm a very lucky woman, and I don't take it for granted for one second."

This quote expresses Meryl Streep's profound gratitude for her success and fortune in life. She acknowledges that she is fortunate, not only because of her professional achievements but also because there are many opportunities, breaks, and blessings that she has received which may not have been given to others. In essence, she appreciates her luck daily and does not take it for granted, understanding the preciousness of what she has achieved.

You can't get spoiled if you do your own ironing.

- Meryl Streep

Own, Get, Your, Spoiled

Disney, who brought joy, arguably, to billions of people, was, perhaps, or had some... racist proclivities. He formed and supported an anti-Semitic industry lobby. And he was certainly, on the evidence of his company's policies, a gender bigot.

- Meryl Streep

Some, Evidence, Brought, Bigot

Integrate what you believe in every single area of your life. Take your heart to work and ask the most and best of everybody else, too.

- Meryl Streep

Work, Everybody, Area, Integrate

I have a holistic need to work and to have huge ties of love in my life. I can't imagine eschewing one for the other.

- Meryl Streep

Love, My Life, Other, Holistic

It's amazing how easily people are led to fury and chaos. Unhappy people with guns are not going to make this country great.

- Meryl Streep

Chaos, Country, Guns, Fury

I was offered, within one year, three different witch roles. It was almost like the world was saying - or the studios were saying - 'We don't know what to do with you.'

- Meryl Streep

Year, Within, Studios, Witch

Grace, respect, reserve, and empathetic listening are qualities sorely missing from the public discourse now.

- Meryl Streep

Respect, Listening, Reserve

The interesting thing about being a mother is that everyone wants pets, but no one but me cleans the kitty litter.

- Meryl Streep

Parenting, Everyone, Pets, Litter

You just have to keep on doing what you do. It's the lesson I get from my husband; he just says, Keep going. Start by starting.

- Meryl Streep

Lesson, Doing, Going, Starting

Everything we say signifies; everything counts, that we put out into the world. It impacts on kids, it impacts on the zeitgeist of the time.

- Meryl Streep

World, Counts, Zeitgeist, Impacts

Having been let out of the barn once, I know I wouldn't be happy if I were home all the time.

- Meryl Streep

Happy, Been, Having, Barn

Service is the only thing that's important about love. Everybody is worried about 'losing yourself' - all this narcissism. Duty. We can't stand that idea now either... But duty might be a suit of armor you put on to fight for your love.

- Meryl Streep

Love, Idea, Everybody, Worried

I had this sort of idolatry for certain actors who preceded me, people who inspired me, so I'm honored to be that way for young actors.

- Meryl Streep

Young, Had, Idolatry, Young Actors

Leave me to the thing I love. I love acting. But being called 'the greatest living actress' - a designation not even my mother would sanction - is the opposite of good or valuable or useful. It is a curse for a working actor.

- Meryl Streep

Love, Mother, Good, Designation

Don't give up or give in in the face of patronising ridicule, amused disdain, or being ignored.

- Meryl Streep

Face, Give, Ignored, Ridicule

There's no road map on how to raise a family: it's always an enormous negotiation.

- Meryl Streep

How, Always, Road Map, Map

There are improbable things suspended in space, like the earth.

- Meryl Streep

Earth, Like, Things, Suspended

Personality is immediately apparent, from birth, and I don't think it really changes.

- Meryl Streep

Personality, Changes, Think, Apparent

I get a trickling few scripts that I'm lucky enough that some of them are great. I don't get loads of scripts.

- Meryl Streep

Lucky, Some, Loads, Scripts

Some people are filled by compassion and a desire to do good, and some simply don't think anything's going to make a difference.

- Meryl Streep

Desire, Think, Some, Make A Difference

I'm a pain in the ass to all of the costume designers with whom I work because I have very strong feelings about the subject.

- Meryl Streep

Pain, Very, Designers, Costume

Nobody can swashbuckle a quick-witted riposte like Emma Thompson. She's a writer, a real writer, and she has a relish for the well-chosen word.

- Meryl Streep

She, Real, Like, Relish

I can't do a lot of things, like golf. I don't like golf. I mean, I really don't, because I tend to like things that I can do right away. If I can't do it right away, I don't like it.

- Meryl Streep

Right, Away, Like, Right Away

People at agencies and studios, including the parent boards, might look around the table at the decision-making level and feel something is wrong if half their participants are not women. Because our tastes are different, what we value is different. Not better, different.

- Meryl Streep

Parent, Half, Tastes, Table

Instant gratification is not soon enough.

- Meryl Streep

Enough, Soon, Gratification, Instant Gratification

Chris Cooper is one of my favorite actors in the world. I've seen him in most everything he's done.

- Meryl Streep

Him, Done, Seen, Cooper

I have a very good life - I'm lucky enough not to be deprived.

- Meryl Streep

Enough, Lucky, Very, Deprived

My job is usually to express emotion as freely as possible.

- Meryl Streep

Possible, Emotion, Express, Freely

Enough people write about me every day without even interviewing me.

- Meryl Streep

Interviewing, About, Even, Enough People

I'm thrilled when I get nominated. I don't count how many and I don't remember how many I've had. I just know it's a lot.

- Meryl Streep

Count, Had, Many, Thrilled

I'm really interested in the collaborative thing. It's what makes it scary because you never know what it's going to end up like. But you hope. You put yourself in the hands of the best people you can find, and you're completely dependent on the kindness of strangers and their commitment. It's like this mutual delusion.

- Meryl Streep

Best, Hands, Delusion, Dependent

I didn't really like opera. I liked cheerleading and boys and, later, smoking. So my opera career was cut short when I was 15. My dad got sick, and we couldn't afford the lessons, so I stopped and became a cheerleader and wrecked my voice.

- Meryl Streep

Voice, Career, Became, Cheerleader

I don't know very much about, honestly, about the Middle East, and yet I've played a lot of different people from a lot of different cultures. The thing that I notice is that we're all - there is a core of humanity that travels right through every culture. And, after all, we're all from Africa originally.

- Meryl Streep

Through, Very, About, Different Cultures

I go to a lot of movies where people are all around me laughing, and I feel like I'm from outer space because I find it dangerous and stupid and horrible and degrading to women and all these things.

- Meryl Streep

Stupid, Feel, Dangerous, Laughing

It's bizarre that the produce manager is more important to my children's health than the pediatrician.

- Meryl Streep

Manager, Important, Bizarre, Pediatrician

The progression of roles you take strings together a portrait of an actor, but it's a completely random process.

- Meryl Streep

Random, Actor, Take, Together

I have a very clear understanding of what my voice is. It's like a B voice. It hovers around B-minus, B-plus. I have great friends who are wonderful singers, and I know I'll never be able to do that. But singing through a character is something I can do.

- Meryl Streep

Voice, Through, Very, Great Friends

All that attention to the perfect lighting, the perfect this, the perfect that, I find terribly annoying.

- Meryl Streep

Attention, Perfect, Find, Annoying

Acting is not about being someone different. It's finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself in there.

- Meryl Streep

Myself, Someone, Apparently, Similarity

How you first meet the public is how the industry sees you. You can't argue with them. That's their perception.

- Meryl Streep

Industry, Argue, Them, Perception

Hillary Clinton has taken some fire over 40 years of her fight for families and children. How does she do it? That's what I want to know. Where does she get her grit and her grace? Where do any of our female firsts, our pathbreakers, where do they find that strength?

- Meryl Streep

Strength, Some, Clinton, None

People say, When you have children, everything changes. But maybe things are awakened that were already there.

- Meryl Streep

Changes, Say, Maybe, Awakened

Don't waste so much time thinking about how much you weigh. There is no more mind-numbing, boring, idiotic, self-destructive diversion from the fun of living.

- Meryl Streep

Waste, Weigh, Idiotic, So Much Time

I think the most liberating thing I did early on was to free myself from any concern with my looks as they pertained to my work.

- Meryl Streep

Work, Think, I Think, Early

I believe in imagination. I did Kramer vs. Kramer before I had children. But the mother I would be was already inside me.

- Meryl Streep

Believe, Before, Had, Kramer

The aggregate of everybody's emotion, it's such a powerful thing. You can see it in the Trump rallies, where people - I just know, in their living rooms, would be better people - are driven to the worst possibilities by the bloodlust in a crowd. It just gets ginned up, and they're outside of themselves.

- Meryl Streep

Possibilities, Everybody, Rallies

I have a pretty good idea of what I am not good at and have it front and centre of my consciousness every minute I am doing it.

- Meryl Streep

Doing, Consciousness, Pretty, Front

The reason I chose the movies that I did was based on where they were being filmed.

- Meryl Streep

Movies, Reason, Based, Chose

I have four to five months, tops, per year to give to my acting work.

- Meryl Streep

Give, Year, Months, Per

I don't know why I don't watch a lot of movies; I can barely keep up with the things my friends are in. There isn't enough time in life.

- Meryl Streep

Friends, Enough, Why, Enough Time

When I was a kid, when I was 16, 17, I'd come home from high school, and my dad collected all of Barbra Streisand's records. And she was very young then. I think she probably had three records out, and she was 21, and we had them all. And I knew every single song, every breath, every elision, every swell. And I sang along to it.

- Meryl Streep

Records, I Think, Very, Streisand

For me, clothes are kind of character; I don't follow fashion or understand trends.

- Meryl Streep

Character, Me, Kind, Trends

There are wonderfully talented actresses. It's a really rich field. There isn't as rich a field of material.

- Meryl Streep

Field, Material, Wonderfully, Talented

Sometimes with my children, I remember exactly how I felt as the child in this situation, not just how it feels to be me.

- Meryl Streep

Sometimes, I Remember, Feels, Situation

What does it take to be the first female anything? It takes grit, and it takes grace.

- Meryl Streep

Grit, Take, Does, Female

I think we all think we sound really good in the shower, where there's that nice reverb, and the water's drowning you out, and there is some liberation in the freedom of being totally alone and really going for it.

- Meryl Streep

Think, Shower, Some, Liberation

I know movies are a function of our dream world. And when you project yourself on screen, it's easier to project yourself into what you were, not what you are.

- Meryl Streep

Project, Screen, Our, Easier

If I am not confident that I can portray the character perfectly on screen, I won't even try.

- Meryl Streep

Confident, Screen, Perfectly, Portray

The great gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy.

- Meryl Streep

Empathy, Gift, Great Gift, Beings

All an actor has is their blind faith that they are who they say they are today, in any scene.

- Meryl Streep

Faith, Blind, Blind Faith, They Say

I have a very busy life, and not many people who have a career and four kids go out a lot to the movies.

- Meryl Streep

Career, Go, Very, Busy Life

I'm older. There's some sort of seniority. As a matter of fact, the seniority ebbs as you get older.

- Meryl Streep

Fact, Some, Get, Older

I couldn't care less about fashion. If I had taken any clothes home, they would have remained in my closet for the rest of their existence.

- Meryl Streep

Rest, About, Remained, Clothes

Expensive clothes are a waste of money.

- Meryl Streep

Money, Waste, Expensive, Clothes

I remember, as I was hovering around 40, I thought each movie would be my last, really.

- Meryl Streep

Thought, I Remember, Movie, Hovering

Motherhood has a very humanizing effect. Everything gets reduced to essentials.

- Meryl Streep

Mom, Effect, Very, Reduced

You can't strategize falling in love, can you? It's never worked. People love you the most and set you up, and it doesn't work because you can't predict these things. You fall in love serially.

- Meryl Streep

Love, Falling, Set, Love You

It's a good thing to imagine yourself doing something you think you can't. I do that every day because, basically, if I had it my way, I'd just stay home and think about what I'm having for supper.

- Meryl Streep

Doing, Every Day, About, Good Thing

I don't like to be gone all weekend and at night too. Because for 20 years, I've had children who are in school.

- Meryl Streep

Night, Weekend, Like, Gone

I need to go where people are serious about acting.

- Meryl Streep

Go, Need, About, Serious

It is well that the earth is round that we do not see too far ahead.

- Meryl Streep

See, Far, Too, Round

Obsession is an attractive thing. People who are really, really interested and good at one thing and smart are attractive, if they're men.

- Meryl Streep

Attractive, One Thing, Smart

I think your self emerges more clearly over time.

- Meryl Streep

Think, Over, I Think, Emerges

Interestingly, young people don't come to you for advice. Especially the ones who are related to you.

- Meryl Streep

Advice, Young, Come, Related

I'm curious about other people. That's the essence of my acting. I'm interested in what it would be like to be you.

- Meryl Streep

Curious, Other, Like, Acting

My feeling about fears is, if you voice your fears, they may come true. I'm superstitious enough to believe that.

- Meryl Streep

Voice, May, About, Superstitious

You can't suppress the things that make us human. It's pointless to try.

- Meryl Streep

Try, Pointless, Things, Suppress

America doesn't reward people of my age, either in day-to-day life or for their performances.

- Meryl Streep

Reward, Day-To-Day Life, Performance

I think you have to listen to the people who are deeply unhappy. You have to find the source of it and not overreact to the craziness in it.

- Meryl Streep

Think, Source, I Think, Listen

I am a humanist. I am for nice, easy balance.

- Meryl Streep

Balance, I Am, Am, Humanist

You win an Oscar, it can double the audience that you had before.

- Meryl Streep

Audience, Double, Before, Oscar

The more you are in this business, the more humbled by it you become.

- Meryl Streep

Business, You, More, Humbled

Men should look at the world as if something is wrong when their voices predominate. They should feel it.

- Meryl Streep

Men, World, Should, Voices

I let the actions of my life stand for what I am as a human being. Contend with that, not the words.

- Meryl Streep

Words, My Life, Human Being, Actions

I can't stand most things that I see.

- Meryl Streep

See, Most, Things, I See

Show business has been really, really good to me because I can work and take a lot of time off, and I'm extremely undisciplined person.

- Meryl Streep

Work, Business, Been, Undisciplined

I didn't have any confidence in my beauty when I was young. I felt like a character actress, and I still do.

- Meryl Streep

Beauty, Young, Still, Actress

I know what I do and what it means to me and where its sources lie, and that's mine. It still is mine.

- Meryl Streep

Still, Mine, Means, Lie

I think I'm not a natural performer; I think I'm an actor.

- Meryl Streep

Think, Actor, I Think, Performer

I always feel like I can't do it, that I can't go through with a movie. But then I do go through with it after all.

- Meryl Streep

Through, Always, Like, Movie

Every single decision I make about what material I do, what I'm putting out in the world, is because of my children.

- Meryl Streep

Decision, About, Putting, Material

I want to feel my life while I'm in it.

- Meryl Streep

My Life, Want, Feel, While

The work is the most fun; it seems illicit how much fun it is.

- Meryl Streep

Work, How, Most, How Much

I'm never so sure as I was in my mid-20s.

- Meryl Streep

Never, Sure

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