Inside Meryl Streep's very secret relationship with Martin Short: Friends finally reveal how pair bonded through trauma... incredible measures they take to hide the truth... and why there is 'no doubt they are in love'

One of Hollywood's happiest couples is seemingly also the most low-profile.

Meryl Streep and Martin Short, both 76, stunned the world when they were first seen canoodling back in 2024, with fans feverishly expecting them to go public, desperate for details on the A-list sweethearts. 

Their playful chemistry as on-screen lovebirds Loretta Durkin and Oliver Putnam in Hulu series Only Murders in the Building further added fuel to the fire, and yet the two acting greats have never officially confirmed their relationship, with their representatives repeatedly denying any suggestion of romance.

But then again, theirs has also been a courtship marked by tragedy, with Short rocked by the death of his daughter Katherine age 42 in February, which brought up painful memories of losing his wife Nancy Dolman to cancer in 2010. Through it all was Streep, a rock during his heartbreak who seperated from her own husband, sculptor Don Gummer, in 2017.

So strong and in love seem Streep and Short that the esteemed actress is now said to be thinking of winding down her movie career so they can enjoy their twilight years together. 

'Meryl has been able to do what she has wanted for quite a while, but she is doing that even more because she doesn't have anything else to prove,' an inside source told the Daily Mail, adding that the decorated actress does not 'need any other awards or fanfare.'

As she closes in on 80, Streep's main focus is said to be 'enjoying life and being happy,' which she is doing by spending 'lots of time' with her beau, who 'makes her laugh constantly.'

'He has invigorated her life so deeply, and loves the love that they share, and now wants to be surrounded by it at all costs,' our insider said.

Three-time Oscar winner Streep - who most recently reprised her role as Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada sequel - will still to 'do gigs here and there' along with voice work, but her focus moving forward is Short, who she affectionately calls 'Marty', sources said.

The notoriously private actress - who has three adult daughters and a son with Gummer, who she married back in 1978 - only revealed in October 2023 that she had secretly separated from her husband six years prior.

Short was married to his late wife Nancy from 1980 until her death from ovarian cancer in August 2010. They had three children together.

In 2019, the actor movingly said that Dolman is still with him and their three children 'all the time,' calling their marriage a 'triumph' and saying he still communicates with her 'all the time.' 

Streep and Short connected during their time filming comic-crime series Only Murders in the Building and they have only 'grown closer by working together and dealing with the challenges of life, especially after his daughter [Katherine's] passing,' our insider said.

'Martin knows all too well about loss,' the insider added. 'When he lost Nancy to cancer, that was the most life-altering thing that had ever happened to him, so when his daughter died, those same feelings came back and opened some emotional wounds that he never wanted to revisit.'

Katherine died by suicide in February after a long battle with mental illness.

'But this time around, he had Meryl, Steve [Martin, also a co-star] and other friends are really there for him,' the source continued. 'Meryl has been such a force and impact to his life, and has absolutely taken on the role of Martin's rock.' 

It helps that their children are all fond of each other and 'happy that their parents have found someone they really enjoy.'

The Oscar-winning actress and Saturday Night Live alum might be keeping their relationship under wraps, but it is certainly not top secret. In fact, they held hands publicly at a promotional event for Only Murders in the Building last August and dined together at Los Angeles hot spot Giorgio Baldi in August, which is beloved by celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Rihanna.

Streep and Short have been spotted on other dates in recent weeks too, including at LA's Chateau Marmont hotel earlier this month.

According to a second insider, they were 'holding hands under the table' as they 'dined in the garden.'

The famous hotel on Sunset Boulevard has a strict no photos policy in the garden, which helps make their celebrity clientele feel comfortable.

Keen to allow Streep and Short their privacy, the second insider told the Daily Mail that the hotel staff 'keep an eagle eye out for anyone who so much as raises their phone to take pictures. If they see it's about to happen, they rush over and stop the person.' 

The couple, who left the hotel date separately around 11pm, were said to be 'acting like teens' and 'whispering to each other,' making it 'obvious they're more than friends.'

'After all the tragedies Martin's been through, with so many people close to him dying, it was beautiful to see him so happy,' the insider said.

'What was interesting is that they've both been denying they're in a romantic relationship. But seeing them inside the Chateau there's no doubt they are in love.'