In an era where celebrity breakups often make headlines for all the wrong reasons, Meryl Streep and her estranged husband, Don Gummer, have set a refreshing example. The two perfected the art of the discreet separation. In 2023, it was revealed by Page Six that the couple had quietly parted ways after a long marriage and raising four children together. A representative for Streep confirmed that she and Gummer had been living apart since 2017, a fact that had eluded both fans and possibly some close friends. Speculation about Streep’s love life emerged, linking her romantically with her “Only Murders in the Building” co-star, Martin Short. “Meryl couldn’t help but fall for Martin,” a source told Page Six. “He is a gentleman, he keeps her laughing and is an all-around positive person. She loves being around him.”
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Looking back, there were subtle indicators that the marriage between Meryl Streep and Don Gummer might not last forever, despite its longevity. One such sign was their absence from public events together since their appearance at the 2018 Oscars. Additionally, rumors suggested that Streep, much like her “Devil Wears Prada” character, Miranda Priestly, often prioritized her work over her personal life. In a 2002 interview with Vogue, Streep reflected on her marriage, citing “goodwill and willingness to bend — and to shut up every once in a while” as keys to their union. She acknowledged the challenges of balancing a career and family, saying, “There’s no road map on how to raise a family: It’s always an enormous negotiation.” She added, “But I have a holistic need to work and to have huge ties of love in my life. I can’t imagine eschewing one for the other.”
Streep has openly discussed the dynamic of her family life, often crediting Gummer with taking a more hands-on role in raising their children while she traveled for work. In a 2019 interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Streep praised Gummer for “always being happy to look after the children,” which eased her guilt about being away. She elaborated on their parenting styles, noting that Gummer played the role of the good cop, while she often took on the bad cop persona. “Teamwork is everything. My husband Don was … very involved,” she shared. “He was a little more relaxed when it comes to raising kids.” Contrastingly, she described herself as “more of a tiger mom.”
Inside Meryl Streep and Don Gummer’s marriage
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In hindsight, there were several red flags that seemed to hint that Meryl Streep and Don Gummer’s marriage was never going to last despite being together for a really long time. One of those supposed red flags was that the two had not been seen in public since their last red carpet appearance at the 2018 Oscars. There were also rumors that, not unlike her character as the hashtag girl boss Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada,” Streep’s work often took precedence over her marriage and personal life. In 2002, she offered a rare insight into her relationship with Gummer in a candid interview with Vogue. “Goodwill and willingness to bend — and to shut up every once in a while,” Streep said when asked what the key is to their successful union. “There’s no road map on how to raise a family: It’s always an enormous negotiation.” She went on, “But I have a holistic need to work and to have huge ties of love in my life. I can’t imagine eschewing one for the other.”
Streep has also admitted that her ex-husband had been more involved in raising the kids and managing their household while she would often travel for work. Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald in 2019, she credited Gummer for “always being happy to look after the children” so that she’d feel a little less guilty about being away from home. At the time, she also opened up about their parenting styles, saying Gummer tended to be the good cop while she often played the bad cop. “Teamwork is everything. My husband Don was … very involved,” Streep told the paper. “He was a little more relaxed when it comes to raising kids.” As for her, “I was more of a tiger mom.”