Meryl Streep has the Sun in Cancer exactly joined to Uranus, the Moon in Taurus at the top of the chart and Leo rising: an actor known for vanishing into other people, with a chart that keeps surprising.

She was born Mary Louise Streep at 8:05 in the morning on 22 June 1949 in Summit, New Jersey. Astro-Databank rates the time AA, from the birth record. She studied at Vassar College and the Yale School of Drama, and worked on the New York stage before her first film roles in the late 1970s.

Sun in Cancer, joined to Uranus

Cancer is the sign of feeling, memory and care. Her Sun sits in its very first degree, exactly joined to Uranus, the planet of surprise and originality. It is an unusual pairing: deep feeling delivered in ways no one sees coming. Directors and fellow actors often describe her choices in a scene as unexpected and alive. Both planets sit in the 11th house of friends, groups and ensembles, and she has always worked well in a company.

Moon in Taurus in the 10th house, square Pluto

The Moon is the emotional self, and in the 10th house, the top of the chart, emotions are on public view. That is a working description of an actor. Taurus is steady and grounded, and she is known for a calm, practical approach on set. The Moon also makes a close square to Pluto, the planet of depth and transformation, which sits in her 1st house. It describes emotional intensity of a very high order, the kind she brought to Sophie's Choice (1982), which won her the Oscar for best actress.

Leo rising, with Pluto in the 1st house

Leo rising is warm, commanding and made for an audience. With Pluto, the planet of transformation, in the 1st house, it can also change shape completely. She is famous for doing exactly that: a Polish accent in Sophie's Choice, a Danish one in Out of Africa (1985), and Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady (2011), which brought her third Oscar.

Mercury and Mars in Gemini: the voices

Mercury and Mars sit together in Gemini, the sign of voices, languages and quick changes. It is the aspect of a mind that picks things up by ear, and an ear for accents became one of her trademarks. Saturn in Virgo, sextile her Sun, adds the discipline: the long preparation behind the ease. She went on to sing in Mamma Mia! (2008) and Into the Woods (2014).

An Aries Midheaven

The Midheaven, the public role, is in Aries, the sign of firsts. She holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations of any actor, with 21.

Compare your chart with hers

If you share her Cancer Sun or her Leo rising, you may know the pull between deep feeling and a natural sense of the stage. Add your details below to see how your chart meets hers.