5 Facts About Meryl Streep That Prove Actors Can Also Have Hearts the Size of the Universe

You may know her as the relentless magazine editor from the iconic The Devil Wears Prada or adore her earlier works, such as Sophie’s Choice. Whatever it is, the stunning Meryl Streep has likely never left you feeling indifferent about her persona. However, an outstanding acting career isn’t the only thing Streep should be praised for. Her kind heart and the firm stance she holds when it matters most will probably make you admire Streep even more.

We at Bright Side have collected a list of facts that show what an incredibly kind-hearted person Meryl Streep is, and we want to share them with our readers.

1. She donated her salary from The Iron Lady to the Women’s History Museum.

In 2011, Meryl Streep starred in the historical drama, The Iron Lady. She played the role of Margaret Thatcher, the first female prime minister of the United Kingdom. For the part, Streep received a salary of $1 million, but she didn’t keep a single cent. “I made a million dollars, but I gave it away,” she shared. “I gave it to the National Women’s History Museum that we’re trying to raise money for to build on the mall in Washington because we think that women’s history needs to be told.”

2. She fought for her friend who was sick with cancer.

In the 1970s, Streep, along with her close friend, John Cazale, was working on a film called The Deer Hunter. In the middle of the shooting process, Cazale was diagnosed with lung cancer. The movie producers did not want to spend money to insure Cazale.

However, Streep and her co-star, Robert De Niro, threatened to quit the production process to force the producers to pay. “I was told that if I got rid of John, [they] would shut down the picture,” said Michael Cimino, the director of the film. “It was awful. I spent hours on the phone, yelling and screaming and fighting.” Cazale died 9 months before the movie was released, with Meryl sitting by his side.

3. She’s been concerned about climate change issues for decades.

Long before scientists agreed that human activity is responsible for climate change, and even longer before climate change issues became a part of mainstream discourse, Meryl Streep was calling on people to act and prevent climate change. “Now that I have these children, I’m just crazed about the world’s making it to the next century, so I read all these things about global warming, thermal inversions,” she said in 1988. “I’m trying to find a place where I can contribute.”

4. She supports the #MeToo movement.

Meryl Streep is also attentive to female issues, supporting the #MeToo movement. She believes the movement, which has been so needed for a very long time, is here to stay. “The arc of history may be long, but women’s memories are longer, and the justice coming is long overdue,” she said. “I don’t think we will go backward on this one.”

She also believes that the changes won’t be limited to her industry and Hollywood but will spread throughout society. “The inequity in the power dynamic will be felt right through society, and the corrections will be made inevitably,” she said.

5. She embraces the aging process.

Having been in the industry for decades now, Meryl Streep knows what it’s like to face expectations regarding your appearance. She avoids plastic surgery and other invasive procedures to make her look younger. However, she has witnessed it with her peers. “It’s not just women,” she said. “You’d be amazed at how many men in this industry have gone down that road. I just don’t get it. You have to embrace getting older. Life is precious, and when you’ve lost a lot of people, you realize each day is a gift.”

Additionally, Streep found a positive aspect of natural aging. “The good thing about getting older is that when they actually do cast you, it’s often something interesting,” she shared.

Did you know this side of Meryl Streep? Which fact was the most impressive to you?