Meryl Streep Thought She Was ‘Too Ugly’ To Be An Actress

by Rosemina Nazarali

Meryl Streep tells girls to stop thinking about their weight.

Meryl Streep revealed something some might think unfathomable while accepting an honorary doctorate at Indiana University. The 64-year-old actress admitted that she shared many of the same insecurities as other females and once thought she wasn't attractive enough to become an actress.

"I think I was probably like every other girl who puts on a princess dress and expects everyone to pay full and total attention. And most of us grow out of that. I was always in plays, but I thought it was vain to be an actress," she said. "Plus, I thought I was too ugly to be an actress. Glasses weren't fabulous then."

Streep went on to advise girls to stop paying so much attention to their looks.

"For young women, I would say, don't worry so much about your weight. Girls spend way too much time thinking about that, and there are better things."

She added that people should embrace the things that make us different, rather than try to hide or change them.

"For young men, and women, too, what makes you different or weird, that's your strength. Everyone tries to look a cookie-cutter kind of way and actually the people who look different are the ones who get picked up. I used to hate my nose. Now I don't. It's okay."

It seems Streep had nothing to worry about all those years ago. After graduating from Yale School of Drama in 1975, she has earned herself 18 Oscar nominations and three wins.