Home / Arts and Entertainment / Meryl Streep Tried to Refuse an Emmy: The Story
Meryl Streep Tried to Refuse an Emmy: The Story
27 Nov
Summary
- Meryl Streep attempted to decline an Emmy for her role in 'Holocaust'.
- She believed artistic performances shouldn't compete for awards.
- Sudden fame led to unsettling public attention after the miniseries.

In 1978, Meryl Streep's role in the miniseries 'Holocaust' earned her an Emmy nomination, but she attempted to refuse the award. Streep felt that creative performances should exist independently and not be pitted against one another in a competitive award system. This stance stemmed from a deep conviction about the integrity of artistic craft.
The recognition for 'Holocaust' also brought Streep's career into sharp focus, leading to a rapid rise in fame. This sudden public attention proved to be a challenging aspect of her newfound celebrity. She experienced unsettling encounters, such as being recognized and harassed on the street based on the miniseries' title.
This period highlighted Streep's early struggles with the dual nature of fame—the professional accolades versus the personal impact of public scrutiny. While she later accepted other Emmy awards, the memory of trying to decline one remains tied to her questioning of award systems and the peculiar trajectory of her early career.




