How Meryl Streep built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Meryl Streep is a highly acclaimed American actress renowned for her versatility and mastery of accents. Often hailed as one of the greatest actresses of her generation, her career spans over five decades. She has garnered numerous awards, including three Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, eight Golden Globe Awards, four Emmy Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Streep has also received nominations for seven Grammy Awards and a Tony Award, demonstrating her wide-ranging talent and impact on the entertainment industry.
In preparation for her role in The Bridges of Madison County (1995), Meryl Streep viewed Pier Paolo Pasolini's Mamma Roma (1962) for inspiration.
In 2018, Meryl Streep starred in "Mary Poppins Returns", a sequel to the 1964 film "Mary Poppins" starring Emily Blunt.
In 1969, Meryl Streep starred in the play Miss Julie at Vassar College, which gained her attention across the campus, marking a significant moment in her early acting career.
In 1971, Meryl Streep received her AB degree in drama cum laude from Vassar College, marking a significant achievement in her formal education.
In 1975, Meryl Streep had her first professional jobs at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Playwrights Conference and moved to New York City, marking the start of her professional acting career and her transition to the New York theater scene.
In 1975, Meryl Streep made her stage debut in Trelawny of the Wells, marking the beginning of her professional acting career.
In 1975, Meryl Streep received her MFA in drama from Yale, marking the culmination of her formal training in acting.
In 1976, Meryl Streep appeared in the Broadway theatre productions A Memory of Two Mondays and 27 Wagons Full of Cotton.
In 1976, Meryl Streep had an unsuccessful audition for King Kong. She also continued to work on Broadway, appearing in the double bill of 27 Wagons Full of Cotton and A Memory of Two Mondays.
In 1977, Meryl Streep had her first feature film role opposite Jane Fonda in Julia, though her scenes were largely edited out, leading to initial disappointment with film acting.
In 1977, Meryl Streep sang onscreen for the first time in the "Great Performances" telecast of the Phoenix Theater production of Secret Service.
In 1977, Meryl Streep starred in the film Julia, and appeared in The Cherry Orchard on Broadway.
In May 1978, Meryl Streep played the supporting role of Leilah in Wendy Wasserstein's Uncommon Women and Others for PBS's Great Performances.
In 1978, Meryl Streep appeared in The Deer Hunter and Holocaust miniseries.
In 1978, Meryl Streep appeared in The Deer Hunter. This role contributed to her critical acclaim for diverse roles in dramatic films.
In 1978, Meryl Streep won a Primetime Emmy Award for her role in the miniseries Holocaust, marking her first major television award.
In 1979, Meryl Streep appeared in The Seduction of Joe Tynan and Manhattan. Streep later said that Allen did not provide her with a complete script for Manhattan, giving her only the six pages of her own scenes, and did not permit her to improvise a word of her dialogue.
In 1979, Meryl Streep began workshopping Alice in Concert, a musical version of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, with writer and composer Elizabeth Swados and director Joseph Papp.
In 1979, Meryl Streep received her first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as a troubled wife in Kramer vs. Kramer, marking a significant achievement in her career.
In 1979, Meryl Streep starred in Kramer vs. Kramer.
In 1979, Meryl Streep won the Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Kramer vs. Kramer, solidifying her status as a prominent actress.
In December 1980, Alice in Concert, a musical version of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, was performed at New York's Public Theater, with Meryl Streep as the production's "one wonder".
In 1981, Meryl Streep played her first leading role in The French Lieutenant's Woman, a story within a story. She starred alongside Jeremy Irons as contemporary actors enacting both a modern story and a Victorian era drama. Streep developed an English accent for the role, despite feeling like a misfit. The media coverage was described by Streep as "excessive hype".
In 1982, Meryl Streep re-united with Robert Benton for the psychological thriller, Still of the Night, co-starring Roy Scheider and Jessica Tandy. The film was an homage to Alfred Hitchcock's works, however, the chemistry between Streep and Scheider was lacking.
In 1982, Meryl Streep starred in Sophie's Choice, portraying a Polish survivor of Auschwitz in a love triangle. Her emotional performance and Polish accent were highly praised. Streep filmed the emotionally exhausting "choice" scene in one take.
In 1982, Meryl Streep won her second Academy Award, this time for Best Actress, for portraying a Holocaust survivor in Sophie's Choice, further solidifying her reputation as a leading actress.
In 1983, Meryl Streep played Karen Silkwood, a nuclear whistleblower, in the biographical film Silkwood. Streep connected with Silkwood personally and met with people close to her, realizing each person perceived her differently. Her portrayal was considered "brilliant" by Newsweek, although Pauline Kael believed she was miscast.
In 1983, Meryl Streep starred in Silkwood.
In 1984, Meryl Streep starred in Silkwood. This role contributed to her critical acclaim for diverse roles in dramatic films.
In 1984, Meryl Streep starred opposite Robert De Niro in the romance Falling in Love, which was poorly received.
In 1985, Meryl Streep starred in the British drama Plenty as a fighter for the French Resistance during World War II. Roger Ebert praised her subtle portrayal of an unbalanced woman. She also starred in Out of Africa as Karen Blixen, which established her as a Hollywood superstar.
In 1986, Meryl Streep co-starred with Jack Nicholson in the drama Heartburn.
In 1987, Meryl Streep discussed her approach to acting, describing it as a collection of techniques learned from various teachers, emphasizing the role of danger and excitement in her process.
In 1988, Meryl Streep starred in Evil Angels as Lindy Chamberlain, an Australian woman convicted of her infant daughter's murder. Filmed in Australia, Streep won several awards for her performance. Vincent Canby of The New York Times called her performance "another stunning performance".
In 1989, Meryl Streep lobbied for the lead role in Evita but dropped out due to a salary dispute. She then starred in She-Devil, a satire about societal obsession with beauty, which marked a departure from her dramatic roles. Richard Corliss of Time wrote that Streep was the "one reason" to see it.
In 1990, Meryl Streep keynoted the Screen Actor's Guild National Women's Conference, emphasizing the decline in women's work opportunities, pay parity, and role models within the film industry. She criticized the film industry for downplaying the importance of women.
In 1990, Meryl Streep starred in Postcards from the Edge, a comedy-drama.
In 1990, Meryl Streep starred in the film Postcards from the Edge, for which Carrie Fisher wrote the screenplay, based on her book.
In 1991, Meryl Streep starred in Defending Your Life, a comedy-fantasy.
In 1992, Meryl Streep starred with Goldie Hawn in the black comedy, Death Becomes Her. The seven-month shoot was the longest of Streep's career. Special prosthetics were designed to age her due to her allergies to cosmetics. Although a commercial success, Streep's contribution to comedy was generally not well-received by critics, and Streep vowed never to work again on a film with heavy special effects.
In 1993, Meryl Streep appeared in The House of the Spirits, set in Chile during Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship. The film was not well-received by critics, with some considering it one of the worst performances by the cast.
In 1996, Meryl Streep starred as the estranged sister in "Marvin's Room", an adaptation of Scott McPherson's play. Streep recommended Diane Keaton for a role in the film. The film was well received, and Streep earned a Golden Globe nomination for her performance.
In 1997, Meryl Streep received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress for her performance in "...First Do No Harm".
In 1998, Meryl Streep appeared in "Dancing at Lughnasa", an adaptation of the Broadway play. She also played a housewife dying of cancer in the movie "One True Thing", which received positive reviews.
In 1999, Meryl Streep starred in the music drama "Music of the Heart", receiving nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for her performance.
On December 11, 2001, Meryl Streep co-hosted the annual Nobel Peace Prize Concert with Liam Neeson in Oslo, Norway, to honor the United Nations and Kofi Annan.
In 2002, Meryl Streep starred in "Adaptation.", portraying Susan Orlean, and won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. She also appeared in "The Hours" alongside Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore, and they jointly won a Silver Bear for Best Actress.
In 2002, Meryl Streep starred in Adaptation.
In 2003, Meryl Streep starred in HBO's adaptation of "Angels in America", receiving her second Emmy Award and fifth Golden Globe for her performance in multiple roles.
In 2003, Meryl Streep starred in the miniseries Angels in America.
In 2003, Meryl Streep won another Primetime Emmy Award for her role in the miniseries Angels in America, adding to her accolades for television work.
In 2004, Meryl Streep starred in "The Manchurian Candidate" remake and played Aunt Josephine in "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events", which won an Academy Award for Best Makeup. She also narrated the film "Monet's Palate".
In 2005, Meryl Streep starred in the comedy film "Prime", playing a psychoanalyst. The film was a modest commercial success.
In August and September 2006, Meryl Streep starred in The Public Theater's production of "Mother Courage and Her Children" at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park. Around the same time, she starred in Robert Altman's final film, "A Prairie Home Companion".
In 2006, Meryl Streep starred in "The Devil Wears Prada", earning critical acclaim and a record-setting 14th Oscar nomination. The film became her biggest commercial success at the time.
In April 2007, the release of "Dark Matter", in which Meryl Streep portrayed a wealthy university patron, was shelved out of respect for the victims of the Virginia Tech shooting.
In 2007, Meryl Streep appeared in "Evening" alongside her daughter Mamie Gummer and starred in "Lions for Lambs" with Robert Redford. Both films received lukewarm reviews.
In 2007, Meryl Streep starred in The Devil Wears Prada.
In October 2008, after Streep starred in Mamma Mia!, her rendition of the titular song rose to popularity on the Portuguese music charts, peaking at number eight. Additionally, in 2008, Streep was nominated for a Grammy Award for her work on the Mamma Mia! soundtrack.
In 2008, Meryl Streep starred in "Mamma Mia!", a film adaptation of the musical based on ABBA's songs. It became her highest-grossing film to date, earning her another Golden Globe nomination.
In 2008, Meryl Streep starred in both Doubt and Mamma Mia!. These roles contributed to her critical acclaim for diverse roles in both dramatic and comedic films.
In 2008, the film "Dark Matter" received negative to mixed reviews upon its limited release.
In 2009, Meryl Streep starred in "Julie & Julia" and "It's Complicated", receiving Golden Globe nominations for both. She won the Golden Globe for "Julie & Julia" and received her 16th Oscar nomination for it. She also voiced Mrs. Felicity Fox in "Fantastic Mr. Fox".
In 2009, Meryl Streep voiced a character in Fantastic Mr. Fox.
In 2010, President Barack Obama awarded Meryl Streep the National Medal of Arts, recognizing her contributions to the arts.
In 2011, Meryl Streep received her third Academy Award, winning Best Actress for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady, marking another milestone in her acclaimed career.
In 2011, Meryl Streep starred in "The Iron Lady", a biographical film about Margaret Thatcher. She portrayed Thatcher during the Falklands War and her retirement years. Streep's performance was highly praised, earning her awards, although the film received mixed reviews.
On October 4, 2012, Meryl Streep donated $1 million to The Public Theater in honor of Joseph Papp and Nora Ephron.
In 2012, Meryl Streep starred in "Hope Springs", a romantic comedy-drama. She played a middle-aged woman attending marriage counseling with her husband, played by Tommy Lee Jones. The film received mostly positive reviews.
In 2013, Meryl Streep starred in "August: Osage County," a black comedy-drama. Streep played the matriarch of a dysfunctional family and received positive reviews, along with Golden Globe, SAG, and Academy Award nominations.
In 2013, Meryl Streep starred in August: Osage County. This role contributed to her critical acclaim for diverse roles in dramatic films.
In July 2014, it was announced that Meryl Streep would portray Maria Callas in Master Class, but the project was later pulled after director Mike Nichols's death in November of the same year.
In 2014, Meryl Streep appeared in The Homesman.
In 2014, Meryl Streep established two scholarships at the University of Massachusetts Lowell: the Meryl Streep Endowed Scholarship for English majors, and the Joan Hertzberg Endowed Scholarship for math majors.
In 2014, Meryl Streep played a community leader in "The Giver", a film adaptation of a young adult novel set in 2048. She also had a role as a preacher's wife in the period drama film "The Homesman".
In 2014, President Barack Obama awarded Meryl Streep the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.
In April 2015, Meryl Streep funded a screenwriters lab for female screenwriters over forty years old, called the Writers Lab.
In 2015, Meryl Streep identified as a humanist and supported the Equal Rights Amendment, sending letters to members of U.S. Congress with the book "Equal Means Equal".
In 2015, Meryl Streep starred in "Ricki and the Flash", playing a rock musician and grocery store checkout worker. She also played Emmeline Pankhurst in "Suffragette", a film about the British suffragette movement.
In March 2016, Meryl Streep signed a letter asking for gender equality throughout the world.
In 2016, Meryl Streep delivered a speech at the Democratic National Convention in support of presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
In 2016, Meryl Streep starred in "Florence Foster Jenkins", a biopic about an opera singer with no sense of tone who wants to perform publicly. She won the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actress in a Comedy for her performance and received Academy Award, Golden Globe, SAG, and BAFTA nominations.
In 2016, Meryl Streep starred in Florence Foster Jenkins.
On April 25, 2017, Meryl Streep publicly supported the campaign to free Oleg Sentsov, a Ukrainian filmmaker, who was jailed in Siberia. She was photographed with Ukrainian lawmaker Mustafa Nayyem at the PEN America Annual Literary Gala, holding a "Free Sentsov" sign where Sentsov received the 2017 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write award.
In 2017, Meryl Streep starred as Katharine Graham in Steven Spielberg's "The Post", a political drama about the publication of the Pentagon Papers. The film received positive reviews and earned Streep multiple nominations.
In 2017, Meryl Streep starred in The Post. This role contributed to her critical acclaim for diverse roles in dramatic films.
In 2018, Meryl Streep briefly reprised her role in "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" and played a supporting role in "Mary Poppins Returns". She also collaborated with 300 women to set up the Time's Up initiative.
In 2018, Meryl Streep collaborated with 300 women in Hollywood to set up the Time's Up initiative to protect women from harassment and discrimination.
In 2019, Meryl Streep starred in Little Women and the drama series Big Little Lies.
In 2019, Meryl Streep starred in the second season of the HBO drama series "Big Little Lies". She also starred in the Netflix movie "The Laundromat" and played Aunt March in Greta Gerwig's "Little Women".
In 2020, Meryl Streep starred in Let Them All Talk.
In 2021, Meryl Streep starred in "Don't Look Up" for Netflix, playing a comical role as the President of the United States.
In 2022, Meryl Streep served as an executive producer on "Sell/Buy/Date", directed by Sarah Jones.
In 2023, Meryl Streep acted in the Apple TV+ anthology series "Extrapolations", and began playing Loretta Durkin in the Hulu comedy series "Only Murders in the Building".
In 2023, Meryl Streep appeared in the Hulu comedy-mystery series Only Murders in the Building, further diversifying her roles in television.
In 2025, Meryl Streep attended the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special, in which she acted in an alien abduction skit portraying the mother of Colleen Rafferty, played by Kate McKinnon. It marked Streep's first SNL appearance.
The social science fiction film "The Giver", in which Meryl Streep played a community leader, is set in 2048. The movie recounts the story of a post-apocalyptic community without war, pain, suffering, differences or choice, where a young boy is chosen to learn about the real world.
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
Home Box Office HBO is an American pay television service...
Steven Spielberg is a highly successful American filmmaker who played...
Apple TV is a digital media player and microconsole by...
Saturday Night Live SNL is a late-night live sketch comedy...
Viola Davis is a highly acclaimed American actress and film...
34 minutes ago Alex Michelsen's Wimbledon Debut: Finance Rejection, Unique Hobby, and Kecmanovic Match Preview
34 minutes ago Trump's Executive Order Against Perkins Coie Blocked: Appeals Rejected by the Judge
35 minutes ago Hurricane Forecasting Threatened: Defense Department Cuts Crucial Satellite Weather Data for NOAA.
35 minutes ago Bobby Bonilla Day: The Story Behind the Infamous Contract and its Legacy
35 minutes ago Jessica Pegula's Wimbledon 2025 Schedule, Opponent Prediction: Cocciaretto Match on July 1
2 hours ago Molly Qerim departs ESPN's First Take, shares reason, and flaunts NBA style on social media.
Jupiter is the fifth and largest planet from the Sun...
A blue moon is defined in several ways most commonly...
Candace Owens is an American conservative and far-right political commentator...
Kelley O'Hara is a celebrated American former professional soccer player...
Zohran Kwame Mamdani is a Uganda-born American politician representing New...
Cristiano Ronaldo often called CR is a Portuguese professional footballer...