Top News

Quote of the day by Meryl Streep: 'You don't have to be famous, just make your mother and father proud of you'
ET Online | March 26, 2026 7:57 PM CST

Synopsis

Meryl Streep, celebrated for her acting prowess and numerous accolades, including three Academy Awards, once shared that making parents proud is the true measure of success. Her personal life saw profound love and loss with actor John Cazale, followed by marriage to Don Gummer and raising four children. Streep also maintains a close relationship with Carrie Fisher's family.

Listen to this article in summarized format

Loading...
×
Meryl Streep married sculptor Don Gummer. (Pic credits- @merylstreep)

Related

  • Quote of the day by actress Anne Hathaway: ‘I used to believe that love was finding someone who would lead you through deep water’
  • Quote of the day by Tom Cruise: ‘I don’t just sit there and worry about it, I just start doing it; the fear you feel is the unknown, it’s what you don’t know’
  • Quote of the day by Mother Teresa: 'The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and feeling of being unloved'
American star Mary Louise “Meryl” Streep has long been admired for her versatility and remarkable command over accents, often described as the finest actress of her generation. She stepped into films with Julia and quickly built a reputation for depth and range. Over the years, she has received 21 Academy Award nominations, winning three. Her first Oscar came for Best Supporting Actress in Kramer vs. Kramer. She later won Best Actress for her performances in Sophie's Choice and The Iron Lady.

Her filmography spans powerful dramas like The Deer Hunter, Out of Africa and The Post, as well as lighter, beloved hits such as The Devil Wears Prada and Mamma Mia!. Despite global fame and unmatched acclaim, Streep once shared a simple truth: “You don't have to be famous. You just have to make your mother and father proud of you.”

The quote gently shifts the idea of success away from public applause and toward personal values. It reminds us that recognition is not the only measure of achievement. Making the people who raised you proud often comes from integrity, hard work and kindness. In everyday life, that perspective can help anchor ambition with humility, keeping priorities clear even in moments of triumph.


Meryl Streep’s personal journey

In 1976, Meryl Streep met actor John Cazale during a production of William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure at the Delacorte Theatre. Their relationship deepened quickly, but it was soon tested when Cazale was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1977. Streep remained by his side, caring for him until his death in March 1978.

Six months later, she married sculptor Don Gummer. Together, they built a family, raising four children: musician Henry Wolfe Gummer, born in 1979, and actresses Mary Willa “Mamie” Gummer, born in 1983, Grace Jane Gummer, born in 1986, and Louisa Jacobson Gummer, born in 1991.



The family settled in a private estate in Connecticut in 1985, later purchasing a mansion in Brentwood, Los Angeles, in 1990 before eventually returning to Connecticut. In 2023, reports stated that Streep and Gummer had been separated for more than six years. Their last public appearance together was at the 90th Academy Awards in 2018.

Streep also shares a close bond with Carrie Fisher’s family and is the godmother of Fisher’s daughter, Billie Lourd.

( Originally published on Feb 16, 2026 )


READ NEXT
Cancel OK