A 2016 inquiry by New Yorker staff writer Michael Schulman into the early life of acclaimed actress Meryl Streep has resurfaced, prompting renewed interest in her formative years. The tweet from The New Yorker highlighted Schulman's poignant question: > “Who was Meryl Streep before she was the unsinkable queen of acting?” Michael Schulman wrote, in 2016. “Was she ever just an aimless twentysomething, trying to make her way in the world?” This question formed the core of his critically acclaimed biography, "Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep."
Michael Schulman, a long-standing contributor to The New Yorker since 2006, specializes in arts and culture, with a focus on profiles and long-form interviews. His 2016 biography, "Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep," delves into the actress's artistic coming-of-age during the 1970s, tracing her journey from her suburban New Jersey upbringing through her pivotal years in New York's theater scene. The book sought to humanize the icon by exploring her lesser-known path to stardom.
Before her widespread fame, Mary Louise Streep, born in 1949, attended Vassar College and later the Yale School of Drama, graduating in 1975. During this period, she was deeply immersed in the New York theater world, developing her craft and gaining recognition among her peers. This era, often overlooked by the public, laid the groundwork for her unparalleled versatility and technical prowess.
Streep made her professional stage debut in 1975 with The Public Theater's production of Trelawny of the 'Wells', quickly earning a Tony Award nomination for her role in 27 Wagons Full of Cotton in 1976. Her early career was marked by intense dedication to stage work, including performances in Shakespearean plays, before her breakthrough film roles in Julia (1977), The Deer Hunter (1978), and Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), which cemented her transition to screen acting.
Schulman's work, as highlighted by The New Yorker's tweet, offers valuable insight into the transformation of a young, aspiring actress into one of the most celebrated figures in cinematic history. By exploring her experiences before becoming the "greatest living actress," the biography provides a comprehensive understanding of the influences and challenges that shaped Meryl Streep's extraordinary career.