She’s one of the most critically lauded actresses of all time, and now Meryl Streep will add another award to her numerous trophies: a Princess of Asturias Award.
The Princess of Asturias Foundation has announced that Streep is the recipient of this year’s Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts. The prize will be presented later this year by Princess Leonor, heir to the Spanish throne.
“Few actresses in American film history have the versatility of Meryl Streep, an actress with a wide range of registers and a mastery of all genres, including comedy, drama and musicals, among others,” said Pedro Almódovar in a statement shared by the Foundation after Streep’s win was announced. “She does it all so well and all so naturally and truthfully. Meryl Streep is a truly worthy recipient of this year’s Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts.”
Almódovar, a celebrated Spanish filmmaker, won the same award in 2006.
According to the Foundation’s website, its 2023 jury decided unanimously to award Streep “for dignifying the art of acting and ensuring that ethics and coherence transcend through her work, with the virtue of emphasizing that human beings, and specifically women, must resound and attract attention on the basis of their uniqueness, of their being different.”
In her six decades in the film business, Streep has won three Oscars from 21 nominations (the most of any actor); two BAFTAS from 15 nominations; and three Emmys from five nominations. If she wins a Grammy, she will achieve the rare feat of an ‘EGOT’ — winning all four major entertainment awards.
The Princess of Asturias Awards are presented annually in 13 categories: the arts, humanities and communications, social sciences, sports, literature, international cooperation, technical and scientific research, and concord.
The awards seek to promote cultural, scientific and societal achievements and strengthen the link between the principality of Asturias and the heir to the Spanish Crown who holds the title of Prince or Princess of Asturias.
Streep’s win was the first announced this year, the rest will be announced weekly until 14 June.
The Princess of Asturias Awards will be presented in Oviedo, in the principality of Asturias, in October. Princess Leonor, as Princess of Asturias, will attend the presentation.
