Warning: This article discusses topics of abuse and mental health.
Meryl Streepis undoubtedly one of the best actresses of her generation, and there are certain movies from her spectacular career that define her career overall.Streep’s filmography kicks off with 1977’sJulia, her first filmafter starring on the stage for two years, and her role as Anne Marie is the first of several iconic characters of hers.Meryl Streep’s best moviesprove why she is such a talented performer, but not all of these films are necessarily the ones that encapsulate her work altogether.
Streep can turn her hand to any and all kinds of characters. In fact, there are multipleMCU characters Meryl Streep would be perfect for, even though she isn’t known for appearing in superhero movies. Her versatility as an actress has kept her busy for years, and it’s no surprise thatMeryl Streep surpassed a huge Oscar milestone, collecting over21 Academy Award nominations over the years.Streep’s career is layered and highlights how powerful she is in Hollywood, but certain movies of her stand as the most crucial to her development.
8Kramer Vs. Kramer (1979)
Role: Joanna Kramer
The earliest defining movie of Streep’s career is also the reason why she is an Oscar winner in the first place:Kramer vs. Kramer.Streep portrays Joanna Kramer, a neglected wife and mother who walks out on her familyin the opening scenes of the film. Even though Streep doesn’t dominate the screen inKramer vs. Kramer, one of the mostfantastic movies about divorceand heartache, the scenes she does appear in are nothing short of spectacular. Joanna’s battle for custody against her husband is profound and difficult to watch at times, yet engaging, too.
Kramer vs. Kramer
Cast
Kramer vs. Kramer is a drama film directed by Robert Benton, starring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep. Released in 1979, the film follows the story of a man who must adapt to single parenthood after his wife leaves him, only to face a legal battle when she returns for custody of their child. The movie explores themes of family, responsibility, and the impact of divorce.
Streep’s rapport with Dustin Hoffman, who plays Ted Kramer, is astonishing. The tension between the pair as they fight over their son is enthralling, and both are very much deserving of their Oscar wins for their performances. Her accolade is even more impressive becauseKramer vs. Krameris one of Streep’s earliest projects.Streep highlights her talents as an actress as Joanna, who isn’t supposed to be a likable character,but she becomes one that audiences strangely root for and start to empathize with as time goes on.
7Sophie’s Choice (1982)
Role: Sophie Zawistowski
Sophie’s Choiceresults in Streep’s second Academy Award win and her first for Best Actress. Streep plays the titular character in the film,a Polish immigrant and Holocaust survivor who is haunted by her memoriesin a German work camp.Sophie’s Choiceis asad movie guaranteed to make anyone cry, and Streep’s portrayal of a mother forced to make a choice that would destroy any parent is absolutely incredible.
The actress is raw and visibly distressed throughoutSophie’s Choice, to the point that it’s easy to forget that she’s playing a character.Sophie’s Choiceis one ofthe best movies that is told through flashbacks, which makes the two harrowing experiences of the titular character happening at different points in time even more impactful.
Sophie’s Choice
Sophie’s Choice follows the tragic story of Sophie Zawistowski, a Polish immigrant and Holocaust survivor, as she navigates her traumatic past and present life in Brooklyn. She forms a complex relationship with aspiring writer Stingo and her volatile lover Nathan. Through flashbacks, Sophie reveals her harrowing experiences during World War II, leading to a devastating and haunting revelation.
The damaged woman can’t help but think about her children, even though her new lover’s abuse often brings her back to the present, andStreep encapsulates the movie’s themes of grief and mental health beautifully.Sophie’s Choicemay not be the first film that put Streep on the map, but it’s definitely the title that proves that her success withKramer vs. Kramerisn’t just pure luck.
6Out Of Africa (1985)
Role: Baroness Karen Von Blixen
Out of Africais one ofthe best period piece movies of all time, in which Streep takes on the role of Baroness Karen von Blixen. The film focuses onKaren’s life in Kenya from 1914 to 1931and how her personal and romantic life changed throughout this time.Out of Africatruly cements Streep’s name in Hollywood and is one of her biggest commercial successes from the 1980s, so it’s a shock that the film’s cast could have been very different.
Out of Africatruly cements Streep’s name in Hollywood and is one of her biggest commercial successes from the 1980s
The bookMeryl Streep: Anatomy of an Actordiscusses Sydney Pollack’s concerns that Streep lacked enough sex appeal. Thankfully, the actress proves otherwise, and it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role. Although her success inOut of Africahad caused her going rate to soar, it’s justifiable.
Out of Africa
Out of Africa, directed by Sydney Pollack, is a romantic drama based on the autobiographical novel by Karen Blixen. Set in early 20th-century Kenya, the film stars Meryl Streep as an aristocratic woman who runs a coffee plantation. The narrative explores her romantic entanglements with a big-game hunter, played by Robert Redford, alongside the challenges she faces in a foreign land.
The journey of self-discovery and the important lessons Karen learns about falling in love are brilliantly translated throughStreep’s subtle yet strong body language and facial expressions.Surprisingly,Out of Africais one ofMeryl Streep’s more underrated movies, but it’s still an important title in her filmography and one that sees her talents receive the praise it deserves.
5Death Becomes Her (1992)
Role: Madeline Ashton
Streep stars opposite Goldie Hawn inDeath Becomes Her, an amazing film about two rivals who come across a potion that gives them the gift of eternal youth.Death Becomes Herisa classic movie that is still memorable nowadays. EvenSabrina Carpenter’s “Taste” music video references Streep’s 1992 movie, proving that the actress is relevant to every generation.
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Streep’s attempts at comedy movies from the ‘90s aren’t the greatest, butDeath Becomes Heris a turning point for the actress. Streep’s Madeline and Hawn’s Helen are zany and full of energy, and the rapport between the two is the driving force of the film. The actress truly lets go while playing Madeline and embraces a wilder side that isn’t particularly notable in her earlier works.
Death Becomes Her
In Death Becomes Her, directed by Robert Zemeckis, Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn play rivals who discover a potion granting eternal youth, leading to unforeseen consequences. Bruce Willis stars as the beleaguered spouse caught in their tumultuous, supernatural competition.
Madeline’s camp and free attitude are fantastic, and it makes sense thatDeath Becomes Herhas become such a prominent movie in the LGBTQ+ community,especially because of how the characters fight against unfair beauty and aging standards in a world that rejects them. Ultimately,Death Becomes Herestablishes Streep as a queer icon.
4Adaptation (2002)
Role: Susan Orlean
It’s easy to forget that Streep is inAdaptationbecause Nicolas Cage is such a scene-stealer, buther performance as Susan Orlean is a fascinating one.Adaptationis a trippy and mind-bending movieabout a non-fiction book being adapted for the silver screen, and Streep’s character is a fictionalized version ofThe Orchid Thief’s author.
Streep’s third Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress was for her performance as Susan Orlean inAdaptation.
While the events that play out during Orlean’s side of the narrative aren’t historically accurate, audiences believe them to be true because of Streep’s compelling acting. Orlean is a reserved writer who falls in love with the titular criminal of her book, John Laroche. Streep is primarily known for playing bold and strong-willed personalities, so Orlean is a refreshing change of pace.
Adaptation.
Adaptation is a metafictional film directed by Spike Jonze, featuring Nicolas Cage in dual roles as screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and his fictional twin brother Donald. Released in 2002, the film chronicles Kaufman’s struggle to adapt Susan Orlean’s book The Orchid Thief while wrestling with personal and professional crises.
The character is unpredictable and is the source of multiple plot twists inAdaptation, but the climax of the film shows Streep at her best. The tense swap scene, in which Orlean decides that Nicolas Cage’s Charlie needs to die to keep her secret affair under wraps, is a profound and underrated moment from Streep.The real Orlean has referred to Streep’s portrayal as “one of [her] favorite performances by [Streep],”which is the highest compliment the actress could receive (viaGQ).
3The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Role: Miranda Priestly
Miranda Priestly inThe Devil Wears Pradais by far Streep’s most recognizable villain. Streep’s portrayal of the brutal Runway magazine editor is dry and sharp, and even though she is the antagonist of the film, she is far more intriguing than Anne Hathaway’s Andy. Priestley’s constant snapping and demands to her staff are absolutely iconic, andStreep immediately dominates every scene she features inwith just the slightest nod of her head or glaring look.
The Devil Wears Pradahas a massive cultural impact, and many who aren’t familiar with Streep’s earlier work frequently discover her through this movie.
The Devil Wears Pradahas a massive cultural impact, and many who aren’t familiar with Streep’s earlier work frequently discover her through this movie.The Devil Wears Pradais also why Streep is a record-breaking Oscar nominee, with Priestly earning her fourteenth nomination.Miranda Priestly’s savage quotes inThe Devil Wears Pradaare a great example of why the character is so memorable.
The Devil Wears Prada
Based on Lauren Weisberger’s novel, The Devil Wears Prada stars Anne Hathaway as Andrea Sachs, an aspiring journalist who, after landing a job with top New York fashion designer Miranda Priestly, gets drawn deeper and deeper into the cutthroat world of the fashion industry. Meryl Streep stars alongside Hathaway as Miranda Priestly, with a further cast that includes Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci, and Simon Baker.
Everything about Priestly, from her diction to her movement, is addictive and enthralling,and this is thanks to Streep. The actress makes one of the best performances ever look effortless, and she also proves that despite her long-spanning career, her talents never falter.The Devil Wears Prada 2is finally coming, and audiences are excited for Streep to bring back Priestly.
2Mamma Mia! (2008)
Role: Donna Sheridan
Mamma Mia!is easily Streep’s most notable title in recent years, and her stint as Donna Sheridan is completely legendary.Streep’s performances inMamma Mia!and its sequel are perfect examples thathighlight just how varied an actress she is,specifically the musical side of cinema. Singing roles in movies specifically aren’t too common for her, despite coming from a theatrical background.
However,Meryl Streep’s singing voice inMamma Mia!is fantastic, and it allows audiences who have never seen her on the stage a chance to experience her melodious tones. Donna is beautifully flawed but easy to invest in, and her dedication to her daughter Sophie is a part of the character that many relate to.
Even inMamma Mia! Here We Go Again, in which Streep takes a backseat and only appears as the spirit of the late Donna, the actress knows how to make the most of her limited screen time. It’s unclear whether Donna will return inthe highly anticipatedMamma Mia! 3, but Streep’s prominence in the first two films in the franchise argues thatone of her most famous characters deserves to be reprised.
1The Iron Lady (2011)
Role: Margaret Thatcher
The Iron Lady, one ofthe best biopic movies ever,sees Streep as one of the most harrowing Prime Ministers in British history, Margaret Thatcher. The film is also the result of Streep’s third and most recent Oscar win, although she is yet to add another accolade from the Academy after this. Although the film is critiqued for how Thatcher is perceived,Streep offers one of the most realistic interpretations of the politician.
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Thatcher’s life and career isn’t glamorous, and it overlaps with some rather dark times in British history, but Streep approaches it with plenty of truth and grit. Although Streep isn’t British, her accent is smooth and works well, which is a difficult feat that many American actors have failed to achieve.
The Iron Lady
The Iron Lady is a biographical drama based on British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, portrayed by Meryl Streep. The film explores Thatcher’s rise to power, her policies, and her legacy, as well as her struggles with dementia in her later years.
However, the most powerful part of her performance is in the later half of the film, when Thatcher has dementia.The Iron Ladyis heartbreakingly reflective of the harsh realities of the condition, but Streep’s enactment of it is respectful and astonishingly natural. The film proves thatMeryl Streepis an actress like no other, and regardless of the character she is presented with, it’s impossible for her not be a total success.
