Louisa Jacobson Gummer, daughter of acclaimed actress Meryl Streep, has publicly come out as a lesbian. The 33-year-old actress shared the news with her followers by posting heartfelt photos with her partner, producer Anna Blundell, on social media. In her post, Louisa wrote, “blessed to be entering the Joyful New Era bb,” accompanied by heart and rainbow flag emojis. This announcement was made during Meryl Streep’s 75th birthday weekend on June 22, with one follower commenting, “Coming out at your mom’s birthday is so iconic!”
Louisa graduated from the Yale School of Drama with an MFA in acting and is best known for her role as Marian Brook in HBO’s period drama series “The Gilded Age.” Her coming out post received widespread support, including from Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose, who commented, “live queen.” Louisa’s career in acting began with her professional debut as Mary Dalton in Yale Repertory Theatre’s production of “Native Son” in 2017. She also starred as Juliet in “Romeo and Juliet” at The Old Globe in 2019 before making her television debut in “The Gilded Age.”
In 2022, Louisa was dating actor Jonathan Higginbotham, whom she met at Yale School of Drama. Reflecting on their relationship, she told Vanity Fair, “It’s great in a way. We share this strange career together and can complain about the same things. He knows so deeply what it is that I do.” She added, “It’s always a tricky thing to navigate the different stages of one’s career. The imbalances that might exist during one time will flip and go the other way at another time. You just have to go with the flow and be really supportive of one another.”
Professionally, Louisa uses her middle name, Jacobson, as her surname, since there is already an actress named Louisa Gummer. This is in line with Screen Actors Guild (SAG) rules that prevent members from using professional names that are too similar to those of other members.
Louisa’s parents, Meryl Streep and Don Gummer, announced their separation in October after being married for 45 years. In a statement shared with Page Six, the couple revealed they had been living apart for more than six years but would continue to care for each other. Streep and Gummer, who married in 1978, have four children: Henry, Mamie, Grace, and Louisa, and five grandchildren.
Meryl and Don were first introduced by Meryl’s brother in 1978, shortly after the death of Meryl’s then-boyfriend, actor John Cazale. The pair grew close, and Don offered Meryl his apartment when he was away. Their relationship blossomed from friendship to romance, leading to their marriage six months later. Reflecting on their long-lasting marriage, Meryl once told Vogue that the secret was “goodwill and willingness to bend – and to shut up every once in a while.”
Louisa has continued to build her acting career, earning a nomination alongside her castmates for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2023 for “The Gilded Age.” She will also make her big screen debut in Celine Song’s A24 romantic comedy “Materialists,” which stars Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans.
Meanwhile, Louisa’s partner, Anna Blundell, has produced several high fashion campaigns for brands like Tory Burch, Chloe, and Versace, including a recent campaign featuring Anne Hathaway. The couple’s public announcement has been met with warmth and support from friends, family, and fans alike.