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Oscar Winner Meryl Streep Is Distantly Related to the Founder of Pennsylvania, More Fun Facts
Meryl Streep returns as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada 2. Discover 10 surprising facts about the iconic three-time Oscar winner.
Acclaimed actress Meryl Streep is stepping back into the stilettos of cutthroat magazine editor Miranda Priestly for The Devil Wears Prada 2. The three-time Oscar winner recalls the excited attention from fans of the first flick while shooting the sequel in New York City: “It felt jubilant, when I first got out on Sixth Avenue — where we filmed 20 years ago and nobody was interested. I got changed, got out of my camper and just heard this roar!” Streep told Vogue.
Here are 10 things you don’t know about Martin Short’s 76-year-old galpal.
1. Her real name is Mary Louise Streep — but she’s long gone by Meryl, which was made up by her father.
2. She is the second cousin, seven times removed, of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, according to E! News.
3. At age 12, the young soprano began taking opera lessons from famed vocal coach Estelle Liebling — but quit singing after four years, Vogue reported.
4. In high school, she was a cheerleader and was crowned homecoming queen in her senior year.
5. After graduating from Vassar College, she pursued an MFA from the Yale School of Drama, where she appeared in performances with classmate pal Sigourney Weaver, according to E!.
6. Streep had applied to law school, but accidentally slept through her alarm on the morning of her interview, which she took as a sign to pursue acting instead.
7. According to Elle, she’s the godmother of Billie Lourd, daughter of late Star Wars legend Carrie Fisher, who was a close friend.
8. Known for her keen ability to mimic accents, Streep studied Polish and German for her Academy Award–winning role in Sophie’s Choice, she revealed to Entertainment Tonight.
9. After filming 2006’s The Devil Wears Prada, she donated her character’s wardrobe to a charity auction — but reportedly kept Miranda’s signature sunglasses.
10. She’s been an avid knitter since her teen years and taught the craft to Doubt costar Amy Adams on the set of the 2008 drama, Streep revealed on The Kelly Clarkson Show per My Talk 107.1.
