You’ve probably seen her in those elaborate 1880s bustles, navigating the social minefields of old New York. Louisa Jacobson has quickly become a face people recognize, but there’s a weird amount of confusion about where she came from and why her name doesn't match the rest of her family. Honestly, it’s kinda fascinating. She didn't just stumble into HBO’s The Gilded Age by accident; she worked her way through some of the toughest acting schools in the world before anyone even knew who her mother was.
The "Meryl Streep's daughter" tag is a heavy one to carry. Most people assume the path was paved with gold, but if you look at the Louisa Jacobson movies and TV shows list, it’s actually quite lean. She’s been incredibly selective. She isn't doing every B-movie that comes her way. Instead, she’s building a career that feels intentional, focused more on the stage and high-prestige television than on being a generic "it girl."
The Gilded Age: A Breakout That Almost Didn't Happen
Let’s be real for a second. Playing Marian Brook in The Gilded Age was a massive gamble for a TV debut. Marian is often the "straight man" in a world of eccentric aunts and scheming socialites. It’s a tough role because if you play her too quiet, she’s boring; if you play her too loud, she doesn't fit the period.
Louisa actually went through a grueling audition process. She wasn't handed the role on a silver platter. She did self-tapes, multiple callbacks, and even rented out practice space at Ripley-Grier Studios just to nail the character. By the time season 3 rolled around in 2025, she had firmly established Marian as more than just a naive newcomer. She brought a certain modern defiance to the character that keeps the show from feeling like a dusty museum piece.
Working alongside heavyweights like Christine Baranski and Cynthia Nixon is a masterclass in itself. Jacobson has mentioned in interviews that she spent her time on set basically acting like a sponge. From Baranski, she learned how to stay focused between takes, and from Nixon, she learned how to stop putting so much pressure on herself. That’s a pretty elite education right there.
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Why the Name Change?
One of the most searched things about her is the name "Jacobson." If her dad is sculptor Don Gummer and her mom is Meryl Streep, why isn't she Louisa Gummer?
It’s basically a boring union rule.
When she went to join SAG-AFTRA, there was already an actress named Louisa Gummer (a British voiceover artist). Since you can't have two actors with the exact same name in the union, she had to pivot. She chose her middle name, Jacobson, as her professional surname. It actually worked out well—it gave her a bit of distance from the "Gummer" sisters (Mamie and Grace) and let her carve out her own identity before the world realized she was part of the Streep dynasty.
The Move to the Big Screen: Materialists
While TV has been her main home, 2025 was a huge year for her film career. She landed a role in Celine Song’s Materialists. If you haven't seen Song’s previous work (Past Lives), she’s basically the queen of modern relationship dramas.
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In Materialists, Jacobson plays Charlotte. She’s part of a cast that includes Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans. Think about that for a second. Transitioning from a 19th-century period piece to a sharp, A24-style romantic comedy is a huge swing. The movie deals with a professional matchmaker who gets caught in a love triangle, and Jacobson’s performance was noted for being much more grounded and "today" than her work on HBO.
The Stage: Where the Real Work Happens
If you really want to understand her range, you have to look at her theater credits. This is where the wild sentence variation of her career really shows.
- Romeo and Juliet (2019): She played Juliet at The Old Globe. Critics loved it. They said she had the "pulsating impetuosity" of a real teenager.
- Trayf (2022): She had a single scene. Just one. But she reportedly stole the whole show playing a woman confronting the constraints of her religion.
- Trophy Boys (2025): This was a massive departure. She played a male character named Jared. She talked about how playing a teenage boy allowed her to access a "masculine confidence" and take up space in a way she never does as a woman.
She’s a Yale School of Drama grad (MFA, no less), so she’s got the technical chops. She isn't just a "movie star"; she’s a theater geek who happens to be on a hit TV show.
Complete Filmography and Television History
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Gone Hollywood | Trish Sparks | TV Pilot (Unaired) |
| 2022–Present | The Gilded Age | Marian Brook | TV Series |
| 2025 | Materialists | Charlotte | Feature Film |
| 2025 | Today With Jenna & Friends | Guest | Talk Show |
It’s a short list, right? But it’s a high-quality one. Most actors would kill for that kind of hit rate.
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What’s Next for Louisa Jacobson?
As we head through 2026, the buzz is all about The Gilded Age Season 4. There’s also rumors of more Off-Broadway work. She’s recently been exploring the production side of things too, serving as an assistant director for the play Invasive Species in 2024 and helping produce a short film titled ANA.
She’s also been incredibly open about her personal life lately. Coming out as queer in 2024 and sharing her relationship with producer Anna Blundell has added a new layer of authenticity to how she interacts with her fans. It feels like she’s finally comfortable being her full self, both on and off the screen.
If you’re looking to catch up on her work, your best bet is to start with The Gilded Age on Max. It’s the definitive showcase of her ability to hold her own against industry legends. After that, keep an eye out for Materialists on streaming—it’s the best evidence that she isn't just a "period piece" actress.
To stay updated on her career, follow the official casting announcements for the New York theater season, as she frequently returns to the stage between filming schedules. Check the MCC Theater or Yale Rep schedules, as those are her frequent haunts.