Meryl Streep is one of the most acclaimed and decorated actresses of her generation. She has received over 800 award nominations and has won over 400 awards, including 3 Academy Awards, 8 Golden Globes, 2 Emmys, and a Tony Award.
Despite her immense success and fame as an actress, Streep has generally kept her personal life, including her religious views, private. Based on the limited information available, here is what is known about Meryl Streep’s religion:
Meryl Streep’s Religious Background
Meryl Streep was born Mary Louise Streep on June 22, 1949 in Summit, New Jersey. Her father, Harry William Streep Jr., was a pharmaceutical executive and her mother, Mary Wolf Wilkinson, was a commercial artist and art editor. Streep’s father had Swiss-German ancestry while her mother was of Irish, English, and German descent.
Streep was raised in Bernardsville, New Jersey in a middle-class Presbyterian family. As a child, she regularly attended Sunday school and church services with her family at the Presbyterian church in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. In interviews, Streep has mentioned that she sang in the church choir as a child.
When speaking of her religious upbringing, Streep has stated:
“I was brought up a Presbyterian. I remember the ‘now I lay me down to sleep’ prayers my mother taught us, and the innumerable hours spent in Sunday school under the tutelage of Mrs. Moffat, who tried valiantly to instill Christian values into what I am afraid was a mind impervious to them.”
So while Streep was raised in a devout Presbyterian family, her statement hints that she may not have fully embraced the Christian faith herself as a child.
Does Meryl Streep Still Practice Presbyterianism?
In adulthood, Meryl Streep moved away from the traditional Presbyterian faith she was raised in. In interviews she has suggested that while she still holds some Christian values from her upbringing, she considers herself more spiritual than religious.
When asked in a 2015 interview if she was a believer, Streep responded:
“I follow no doctrine. I don’t belong to a church or a temple or a synagogue or an ashram.”
She went on to say:
“I have a desire to be balanced. I think that’s godly — integrity and honesty and a willingness to take responsibility. That’s what’s really godly to me.”
Based on these comments, it seems Meryl Streep has moved towards a more general spirituality not tied to any specific organized religion or church. She strives for virtuous qualities like integrity, honesty and responsibility which she considers “godly” without adhering to a strict religious doctrine.
Streep has also stated that while she doesn’t belong to a specific church, she occasionally attends Quaker meetings with her husband. The Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, is a Christian movement focused on direct spiritual experience rather than rituals or doctrine. This likely appeals to Streep’s view of being “spiritual but not religious.”
So in summary, while Meryl Streep was raised Presbyterian, she now identifies more generally as spiritual without following any particular religious tradition. She admires virtuous qualities which she considers godly, but does not adhere to Christian doctrine.
What are Meryl Streep’s Views on Religion?
Based on her public statements, Meryl Streep takes a humanistic and pluralistic approach to religion. She has emphasized the importance of spiritual values like love, empathy and compassion.
In a 2017 interview, Streep expressed the following viewpoint:
“So I’ve always been really, deeply interested, in religion. I really have been. Just because I wasn’t brought up with it doesn’t mean I’m devoid of the possibility of the solace from it. And the community of it. I really believe in belief. I think that’s a really important thing. And when you look around the world, you see people do such wonderful things, and are capable of such horrible things in the name of religion. It’s fascinating. It’s just fascinating.”
This quote reveals that while Streep is not religious herself, she is fascinated by religion and is open to the value it provides for communities and individuals in terms of solace, meaning and ethics. She seems to have a pluralistic appreciation of the diverse religious traditions in the world.
Streep went on to emphasize the commonality between faiths:
“But the one thing I do think about is that in every religion, to me, underneath it all is just love. Love is the fundamental thing.”
Meryl Streep sees love as the core foundation that unifies humanity beyond religious divisions. This aligns with her humanistic spirituality focused on virtuous qualities and transcendent experiences over specific doctrines.
Has Meryl Streep Been Involved in Any Religious Controversies?
For the most part, Meryl Streep has avoided major controversies related to religion. However, she did receive some criticism from Catholic groups for her portrayal of a nun in the 2008 film Doubt.
In the film, Streep played Sister Aloysius Beauvier, a strict school principal who confronts a priest suspected of improper behavior with a male student. Some Catholic leaders accused the film of being anti-Catholic and portraying nuns in a negative light.
Streep defended the film, stating that while it explored provocative themes, it was not meant as an attack on the Catholic church. She responded to the criticism by saying:
“To me it’s a dignified portrait of some people who think they’re doing good, think they’re doing right and yet they’re tripping over their own — you know, the navigation between their humanity and the rules. And I thought that was just a tremendously interesting subject.”
While Streep encountered some religious criticism for this role, she maintained that the film’s purpose was to explore complex human struggles rather than to disparage Catholicism. Overall, this remains one of the only major instances where Streep’s acting roles have created controversy related to religion.
What Role has Religion Played in Meryl Streep’s Acting Career?
While Meryl Streep herself is not conventionally religious, she has played various religious roles across her acting career. Her ability to portray faith-based characters authentically is a testament to her acting prowess.
Some of the major religious roles Meryl Streep has taken on include:
- Sophie’s Choice (1982) – Streep won an Academy Award for playing a Polish Catholic Holocaust survivor haunted by her time in the Auschwitz concentration camp.
- A Cry in the Dark (1988) – Streep was nominated for an Oscar for her role as Seventh-day Adventist Lindy Chamberlain, who was wrongfully convicted of killing her baby in the famous “dingo baby” case.
- Angels in America (2003) – In this Emmy-winning HBO miniseries, Streep played multiple roles including a strict Orthodox rabbi.
- Doubt (2008) – As mentioned previously, Streep was nominated for an Oscar for playing a Catholic nun who suspects wrongdoing by a priest.
- The Iron Lady (2011) – In her Oscar-winning performance as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Streep convincingly depicted Thatcher’s background as the daughter of a Methodist lay preacher.
- The Laundromat (2019) – In this Netflix film, Streep briefly portrayed a Christian woman who lost her husband in the collapse of a “prosperity gospel” church.
Through these and other roles, Meryl Streep has proven her ability to authentically portray a wide spectrum of religious backgrounds despite not being particularly religious herself. Her acting skill allows her to inhabit diverse characters with nuance and sensitivity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Meryl Streep was raised in a Presbyterian family, she now identifies herself as spiritual rather than conventionally religious. She admires the virtues and community religion can foster, and sees love as the common basis of faiths. Streep takes a pluralistic and humanistic view of religion, though she encountered minor controversy for her Catholic nun portrayal in Doubt.
Despite her lack of personal religiosity, Streep’s acting mastery has allowed her to compellingly inhabit a variety of religious roles across her storied career. So in essence, while religion plays a major part in many of her most acclaimed performances, in her own life Meryl Streep considers herself more spiritual than religious.
Frequently Asked Questions About Meryl Streep’s Religion
What church was Meryl Streep raised in?
Meryl Streep was raised in a Presbyterian family and attended a Presbyterian church in Bernardsville, New Jersey as a child. She sang in the church choir growing up.
What religious tradition does she follow now?
Streep considers herself more spiritual than religious currently. She does not follow any particular religious doctrine or belong to any church, though she sometimes attends Quaker meetings.
Does Meryl Streep consider herself a Christian?
While Streep was raised Presbyterian and occasionally still attends Quaker services, she does not strictly identify as Christian now. She has moved towards a more general spirituality not defined by any particular religion.
What did Meryl Streep say about religion in Doubt?
When criticized by some Catholics for her nun portrayal in Doubt, Streep defended the film as exploring complex human struggles rather than attacking faith itself. She did not intend the role as anti-religious.
Has Meryl Streep spoken about her spirituality publicly?
Yes, Streep has given several interviews where she described herself as “spiritual but not religious.” She values spiritual virtues like integrity and compassion without adhering to a specific doctrine.
Did Meryl Streep receive religious training as a child?
Growing up, Streep regularly attended Presbyterian church services and Sunday school. This Protestant Christian upbringing instilled some lasting values, though she moved away from organized religion as an adult.
What religions has Meryl Streep portrayed on screen?
Some of the major religious roles Streep has portrayed include Presbyterian, Catholic, Seventh-day Adventist, Orthodox Jewish, and Methodist characters. Her acting skill allows her to authentically inhabit diverse faiths.