Career Timeline of Meryl Streep: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Meryl Streep built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Meryl Streep is a highly acclaimed American actress, widely regarded as one of the best of her generation due to her versatility and mastery of accents. Over her five-decade career, she has amassed numerous awards, including three Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, eight Golden Globe Awards, four Emmy Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. She has also been nominated for seven Grammy Awards and a Tony Award, showcasing her diverse talents across various entertainment mediums.
1962: Influence of Mamma Roma
In 1995, While preparing for her role in 'The Bridges of Madison County', Meryl Streep viewed Pier Paolo Pasolini's film Mamma Roma (1962) for inspiration, drawing influence from Italian film stars such as Sophia Loren and Anna Magnani.
1969: Acted in Miss Julie at Vassar College
In 1969, Meryl Streep acted in the play Miss Julie at Vassar College, gaining attention across the campus.
1970: Enrolled as a visiting student at Dartmouth College
In 1970, Meryl Streep enrolled as a visiting student at Dartmouth College.
1971: Received AB in Drama from Vassar College
In 1971, Meryl Streep received her AB in drama cum laude from Vassar College.
1975: Stage Debut in Trelawny of the Wells
In 1975, Meryl Streep made her stage debut in Trelawny of the Wells.
1975: Received MFA in Drama from Yale
In 1975, Meryl Streep received her MFA in drama from Yale.
1975: First Professional Jobs and Move to New York City
In 1975, Meryl Streep's first professional job was at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Playwrights Conference. She also moved to New York City and was cast in Trelawny of the Wells.
1976: Taxi Driver's Impact and King Kong Audition
In 1976, Robert De Niro's performance in Taxi Driver profoundly impacted Meryl Streep, inspiring her acting aspirations. She also auditioned for, but was not cast in, King Kong.
1977: First feature film role in Julia
In 1977, Meryl Streep had her first feature film role in Julia. Though most of her scenes were cut, she credits Jane Fonda for opening doors for her as an actress.
1977: Phoenix Theater production of Secret Service
In 1977, Meryl Streep sang onscreen for the first time in the "Great Performances" telecast of the Phoenix Theater production of Secret Service.
May 1978: Wendy Wasserstein's Uncommon Women and Others
In May 1978, Meryl Streep played the supporting role of Leilah in Wendy Wasserstein's Uncommon Women and Others for PBS's Great Performances.
1978: The Deer Hunter release
In 1978, Meryl Streep appeared in The Deer Hunter.
1978: Emmy Award for Holocaust
In 1978, Meryl Streep won a Primetime Emmy Award for her role in the miniseries Holocaust.
1979: Roles in The Seduction of Joe Tynan and Manhattan
In 1979, Meryl Streep appeared in The Seduction of Joe Tynan and Manhattan.
1979: Workshop on Alice in Concert
In 1979, Meryl Streep began workshopping Alice in Concert, a musical version of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.
1979: Academy Award for Kramer vs. Kramer
In 1979, Meryl Streep received her first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Kramer vs. Kramer.
December 1980: Alice in Concert at Public Theater
In December 1980, Alice in Concert, starring Meryl Streep, was put on at New York's Public Theater.
1981: Leading role in The French Lieutenant's Woman
In 1981, Meryl Streep played her first leading role in The French Lieutenant's Woman, co-starring with Jeremy Irons. She developed an English accent for the part and found the media coverage at the time excessive.
1981: Interview discussing acting prospects
In a 1981 interview, Meryl Streep commented on the limited opportunities for actresses in their mid-forties and the need to carefully select roles when planning to have children.
1982: Sophie's Choice release
In 1982, Meryl Streep starred in the drama Sophie's Choice, portraying a Polish survivor of Auschwitz. Her performance and Polish accent were praised. She filmed the "choice" scene in one take, finding it emotionally exhausting.
1982: Still of the Night and Sophie's Choice
In 1982, Meryl Streep starred in the psychological thriller Still of the Night with Roy Scheider and Jessica Tandy, which received mixed reviews. She also starred in Sophie's Choice, portraying a Polish survivor of Auschwitz.
1982: Academy Award for Sophie's Choice
In 1982, Meryl Streep won her second Academy Award, this time for Best Actress, for her portrayal of a Holocaust survivor in Sophie's Choice.
1983: Portrayal of Karen Silkwood in Silkwood
In 1983, Meryl Streep played Karen Silkwood in the biographical film Silkwood. She met with people close to Silkwood to understand her personality. Her characterization was considered "brilliant" by Jack Kroll of Newsweek.
1984: Falling in Love release
In 1984, Meryl Streep starred opposite Robert De Niro in the romance Falling in Love, which was poorly received.
1985: Plenty release
In 1985, Meryl Streep portrayed a fighter for the French Resistance in the British drama Plenty. Roger Ebert praised her portrayal of an unbalanced woman with gentleness and charm.
1985: Release of Out of Africa
In 1985, Meryl Streep starred as Karen Blixen in Out of Africa, opposite Robert Redford. Despite initial doubts from director Sydney Pollack, Streep secured the role and delivered a performance praised by Stanley Kauffmann. The film was a commercial success and earned Streep an Academy Award nomination.
1986: Co-starred in Heartburn
In 1986, Meryl Streep co-starred with Jack Nicholson in the drama Heartburn.
1987: Starred in Ironweed
In 1987, Meryl Streep starred in Ironweed with Jack Nicholson, singing onscreen for the first time since 1977.
1988: Starred in Evil Angels
In 1988, Meryl Streep starred in Evil Angels, playing Lindy Chamberlain. She won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress, Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival, and the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress for her performance.
1989: Dropped out of Evita and starred in She-Devil
In 1989, Meryl Streep dropped out of Oliver Stone's adaption of Evita due to salary disputes. She then starred in the comedy She-Devil, a satire about societal obsession with beauty.
1990: Screen Actor's Guild National Women's Conference
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 both on screen and off.
1990: Roles in Postcards from the Edge
In 1990, Meryl Streep starred in the comedy-drama Postcards from the Edge.
1991: Roles in Defending Your Life
In 1991, Meryl Streep starred in the comedy-fantasy Defending Your Life.
1992: Death Becomes Her release
In 1992, Meryl Streep starred with Goldie Hawn in the black comedy Death Becomes Her. She rewrote scenes and endured a lengthy shoot with special effects, which she later disliked.
1993: Starred in The House of the Spirits
In 1993, Meryl Streep appeared in The House of the Spirits, which was poorly received by critics.
1995: Release of The Bridges of Madison County
In 1995, Meryl Streep starred in The Bridges of Madison County, directed by Clint Eastwood. Despite disliking the novel, she found the script compelling and gained weight for the role, emulating Italian film stars. The film was a box office hit and critically acclaimed.
1995: The Bridges of Madison County release
In 1995, Meryl Streep starred in The Bridges of Madison County.
1996: Starring in Marvin's Room
In 1996, Meryl Streep played the role of the estranged sister in Marvin's Room, a film adaptation of the play by Scott McPherson, where she starred alongside Diane Keaton. She also recommended Keaton for her role in the movie. Streep's performance in the film earned her a Golden Globe nomination.
1997: Starring in ...First Do No Harm
In 1997, Meryl Streep starred in ...First Do No Harm, which earned her a second Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie.
1998: Starring in Dancing at Lughnasa and One True Thing
In 1998, Meryl Streep appeared in Dancing at Lughnasa alongside Michael Gambon and Catherine McCormack, which was an adaptation of a Broadway play. She also played a housewife dying of cancer in One True Thing, which met with positive reviews.
1999: Starring in Music of the Heart
In 1999, Meryl Streep portrayed Roberta Guaspari in the music drama Music of the Heart. Streep's performance in the film earned her nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
December 11, 2001: Co-hosting Nobel Peace Prize Concert and returning to the stage
On December 11, 2001, Meryl Streep co-hosted the annual Nobel Peace Prize Concert with Liam Neeson in Oslo, Norway. The same year, she returned to the stage for the first time in more than twenty years, playing Arkadina in The Public Theater's revival of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull.
2002: Starring in Adaptation. and The Hours
In 2002, Meryl Streep portrayed Susan Orlean in Adaptation. and won her fourth Golden Globe. That year, she also appeared in The Hours alongside Nicole Kidman and Julianne Moore. The three leading actresses won a Silver Bear for Best Actress for their performance.
2003: Starring in Angels in America
In 2003, Meryl Streep starred in HBO's adaptation of Tony Kushner's play Angels in America, receiving her second Emmy Award and fifth Golden Globe for her performance.
2003: Emmy Award for Angels in America
In 2003, Meryl Streep won a Primetime Emmy Award for her role in the miniseries Angels in America.
2004: Acting in The Manchurian Candidate and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
In 2004, Meryl Streep starred in The Manchurian Candidate alongside Denzel Washington and played the supporting role of Aunt Josephine in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.
2005: Starring in Prime
In 2005, Meryl Streep starred in the comedy film Prime, playing Lisa Metzger, the psychoanalyst of a businesswoman played by Uma Thurman.
September 2006: Starring in Mother Courage and Her Children
In September 2006, Meryl Streep starred onstage in The Public Theater's production of Mother Courage and Her Children at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park.
2006: Starring in The Devil Wears Prada
In 2006, Meryl Streep starred in The Devil Wears Prada, portraying Miranda Priestly, a role that earned her critical acclaim and numerous award nominations, including her 14th Oscar bid and another Golden Globe.
2006: The Devil Wears Prada release
In 2006, Meryl Streep starred in The Devil Wears Prada.
2007: Acting in Evening and Lions for Lambs
In 2007, Meryl Streep starred in Lajos Koltai's drama film Evening and Robert Redford's Lions for Lambs.
2008: Starring in Doubt
In 2008, Meryl Streep starred in Doubt, a drama about a nun who accuses a priest of pedophilia. The film received five Academy Awards nominations.
2008: Release of Dark Matter
Meryl Streep's movie Dark Matter, initially scheduled for release in 2007, was released in 2008. The drama received negative to mixed reviews.
2009: Starring in Julie & Julia and It's Complicated
In 2009, Meryl Streep played chef Julia Child in Julie & Julia and starred in It's Complicated alongside Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. She won a Golden Globe for Julie & Julia, and received her 16th Oscar nomination for it. She also lent her voice to Fantastic Mr. Fox.
2009: Julie & Julia and It's Complicated releases
In 2009, Meryl Streep starred in Julie & Julia and It's Complicated.
2011: Starred in The Iron Lady
In 2011, Meryl Streep starred in "The Iron Lady", a British biographical film about Margaret Thatcher, directed by Phyllida Lloyd. Streep's performance as Thatcher earned her widespread acclaim and several awards, though the film received mixed reviews. Former advisers, friends, and family of Thatcher criticized Streep's portrayal of her as "inaccurate" and "biased".
2011: Academy Award for The Iron Lady
In 2011, Meryl Streep won her third Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.
October 4, 2012: Donated $1 million to The Public Theater
On October 4, 2012, Meryl Streep donated $1 million to The Public Theater in honor of both its late founder, Joseph Papp, and her friend, the author Nora Ephron.
2012: Starred in Hope Springs
In 2012, Meryl Streep starred in the romantic comedy-drama film "Hope Springs", directed by David Frankel. She played a middle-aged woman attending marriage counseling with her husband, played by Tommy Lee Jones. The reviews for the film were mostly positive, especially for Streep and Jones' performances.
2013: Starred in August: Osage County
In 2013, Meryl Streep starred in "August: Osage County", a black comedy-drama based on Tracy Letts's play. Streep played the matriarch of a dysfunctional family reuniting in their familial house, and her performance received positive reviews, garnering her awards nominations.
2013: August: Osage County release
In 2013, Meryl Streep starred in August: Osage County.
July 2014: Announced to portray Maria Callas in Master Class
In July 2014, it was announced that Meryl Streep would portray Maria Callas in Master Class, but the project was pulled after director Mike Nichols's death in November of the same year.
2014: Starred in The Giver and The Homesman
In 2014, Meryl Streep played a community leader in "The Giver", a film adaptation of the young adult novel. Also in 2014, she had a small role in the period drama "The Homesman", playing a preacher's wife.
2014: Into the Woods release
In 2014, Meryl Streep starred in Into the Woods.
April 2015: Funded the Writers Lab for female screenwriters
In April 2015, Meryl Streep funded a screenwriters lab for female screenwriters over forty years old, called the Writers Lab, to be run by New York Women in Film & Television and the collective IRIS. It was the only one of its kind in the world for female screenwriters over forty years old.
2015: Starred in Ricki and the Flash and Suffragette
In 2015, Meryl Streep starred in Jonathan Demme's "Ricki and the Flash" as a rock musician. Also in 2015, she played Emmeline Pankhurst in the period drama "Suffragette", about the British suffragette movement.
March 2016: Signed a letter asking for gender equality
In March 2016, Meryl Streep, among others, signed a letter asking for gender equality throughout the world, in observance of International Women's Day; this was also organized by One Campaign.
2016: Florence Foster Jenkins release
In 2016, Meryl Streep starred in Florence Foster Jenkins.
2016: Starred in Florence Foster Jenkins
In 2016, following her duties as president at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival, Meryl Streep starred in "Florence Foster Jenkins", directed by Stephen Frears. She played the titular role of a tone-deaf opera singer, earning critical acclaim and several award nominations.
2017: Starred in The Post
In 2017, Meryl Streep starred as Katharine Graham in Steven Spielberg's political drama "The Post", about The Washington Post's publication of the Pentagon Papers. The film received positive reviews, and Streep earned her 31st Golden Globe nomination and 21st Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her performance.
2018: Reprised role in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and starred in Mary Poppins Returns
In 2018, Meryl Streep briefly reprised her role in the musical sequel "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" and played a supporting part in "Mary Poppins Returns".
2018: Collaborated 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.
2019: Starred in Big Little Lies and The Laundromat and Little Women
In 2019, Meryl Streep starred in the second season of the HBO drama series "Big Little Lies", as well as "The Laundromat" and "Little Women". She played Mary Louise Wright in "Big Little Lies", and she was praised for her performance and received an Emmy nomination. She also starred in the Netflix movie "The Laundromat" and played Aunt March in Greta Gerwig's "Little Women".
2019: Role in Big Little Lies
In 2019, Meryl Streep took a role in the HBO drama series Big Little Lies.
2020: Voiced a role in Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth and starred in The Prom and Let Them All Talk
In 2020, Meryl Streep voiced a role in the Apple TV+ animated short film "Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth". She also starred in "The Prom" on Netflix, and "Let Them All Talk" on HBO Max.
2021: Starred in Don't Look Up
In 2021, Meryl Streep starred in "Don't Look Up" for Netflix, playing the role of the fictional President of the United States. The movie is directed by Adam McKay.
2022: Served as executive producer on Sell/Buy/Date
In 2022, Meryl Streep served as an executive producer on "Sell/Buy/Date", directed by Sarah Jones.
2023: Acted in Extrapolations and Only Murders in the Building
In 2023, Meryl Streep acted in the Apple TV+ anthology series "Extrapolations" and in the third season of the Hulu comedy series "Only Murders in the Building". She received a Golden Globe, and Primetime Emmy Award nomination and won a Critics' Choice Television Award for Only Murders in the Building.
2023: Role in Only Murders in the Building
In 2023, Meryl Streep took a role in the Hulu comedy-mystery series Only Murders in the Building.
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