Being born the daughter of Meryl Streep can’t be easy. That last name carries the weight of legend, and every artistic step inevitably draws comparisons. But Louisa Jacobson, the youngest of the family, raised quietly in Connecticut, decided not to run from her heritage. She chose art as her path — and little by little, she has been building a career that feels entirely her own.

At first, Louisa tried to escape what seemed inevitable. She studied psychology at Vassar and could have taken a different route. But the theater pulled her in. She trained in London at the British American Drama Academy and earned her MFA at the prestigious Yale School of Drama, a breeding ground for respected actors, including her mother. Soon came her first stage roles — Native Son, The Member of the Wedding, Romeo and Juliet. Enough for critics and directors to notice that she was not just “Meryl’s daughter,” but an actress deeply committed to her craft.

The big turning point came in 2022, when Julian Fellowes cast her as Marian Brook in HBO’s The Gilded Age. Louisa had auditioned against seasoned young actresses and won the central role, among them her castmate Taissa Farmiga — the orphan arriving in Gilded Age New York, trying to carve out a place among her aristocratic aunts. In many ways, it mirrored her own position: a newcomer surrounded by giants like Christine Baranski and Cynthia Nixon. But it worked. On screen, Louisa balanced innocence and determination, quickly winning over audiences.

The early reviews were cautious, wondering if she could hold her own against such an accomplished cast. But with each season, her Marian grew in depth — and Louisa in confidence. By 2023, she and her castmates were sharing a Screen Actors Guild nomination for Ensemble in a Drama Series, proof that her work was no longer flying under the radar.

Meanwhile, theater remained her space for experimentation. In Los Angeles, she stood out in Trayf. In 2024, she worked Off-Broadway as assistant director on Invasive Species. And this year, she dives into Trophy Boys, a project that challenges convention and reaffirms her search for unexpected roles.

If television gave her visibility, cinema is now opening its doors. Louisa appears in Materialists, directed by Celine Song — the filmmaker behind Past Lives — alongside Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal. A major leap for someone who, not long ago, carried the label of “newcomer.”

But perhaps her most defining step has been personal. In 2023, during Pride Month, Louisa publicly shared her queer identity and her relationship with designer Anna Blundell. The gesture added a new dimension to her image and earned her the Human Rights Campaign’s Visibility Award. In an industry still shaped by image pressures and silence, Louisa chose to show herself fully.

Now, in 2025, she returns as Marian in The Gilded Age season three, promising twists and new directions for the character — while solidifying her place as an artist who moves between TV, theater, and film with equal intention. From her mother’s shadow, Louisa Jacobson has learned to shine with her own light.