MERYL Streep has split from her husband of 45 years after a secret "six year separation."
The Devil Wears Prada star, 74, married sculptor Don Gummer, 76, in 1978, and the pair have raised four children together.
Now US publication Page Six has revealed their break-up – with sources insisting they will "always care" for each other.
A statement from much-loved Mamma Mia actress Meryl, released to the publication, read: "Don Gummer and Meryl Streep have been separated for more than six years, and while they will always care for each other, they have chosen lives apart."
The couple are parents to musician Henry (born 1979), actresses Mamie (born 1983) and Grace (born 1986), and model Louisa (born 1991).
They previously lived together in Connecticut.
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Meryl and Don married at her parents' home just six months after meeting, with her spouse originally a pal of her brother.
She sub-letted Don's New York apartment while the visual artist was away travelling.
During his time away, they wrote letters to each other, before falling in love on his return to NYC.
They kept their marriage largely out of the public eye, yet Kentucky-born Don accompanied the actress to many Red Carpet events.
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Meryl opened up to Vogue Magazine back in 2002 and told how the secret to their marriage was "goodwill and willingness to bend — and to shut up every once in a while."
She added: "There's no road map on how to raise a family: It's always an enormous negotiation.
"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."
Meanwhile, on her career success, Meryl's first of many award wins came in 1978 when she won a Primetime Emmy Award for her leading role in the TV mini-series Holocaust.
In the same year she received her first Oscar nomination for The Deer Hunter.
She has gone on to star in countless roles, many prompting major award nominations and wins.
Performances notably include Sophie's Choice, Death Becomes Her, The Devil Wears Prada, Doubt, and The Iron Lady.
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