To say Meryl Streep
is one of the best actors Hollywood has ever seen would be an understatement. She has nearly 100 credits on IMDb, the most Academy Award nominations of any actor, with three Oscars won as well. She has starred in popcorn blockbusters, dark comedies, and some of the most harrowing dramas ever made. To have a resume that includes films like She-Devil, Sophie’s Choice, and Mamma Mia! is a clear indication of her unlimited range.
As well as a slew of fascinating fictional characters, Streep has also played her fair share of real people. Whether in serious biopics or slightly embellished and fictionalized films, her ability to immerse herself in someone else’s life is uncanny. The people she has portrayed get to live on through her performances, and their story is able to reach millions of viewers throughout the world.
10
Music Of The Heart (1999)
As Roberta Guaspari
Music of the Heart is an uplifting musical drama that tells the true story of violinist Roberta Guaspari, who was responsible for starting the Opus 118 Harlem School of Music. The film follows her life after she breaks up with her husband and takes a position teaching underprivileged children. She learns more about herself and philanthropy as she tries to help hold a concert fundraiser to raise money for her charges. There is a rousing musical finale and epilogue which sums up the impact the teacher had.
The supporting cast is packed with big names like Angela Bassett, Gloria Estefan, and Kieran Culkin, who make for a very cohesive ensemble. Music of the Heart has its poignant moments as well as a few very heartwarming ones, and Guaspari is a very inspiring subject for the film. It has a respectable score of 63% on Rotten Tomatoes, and, like many Meryl Streep films, earned her an Oscar nomination.
9
Suffragette (2015)
As Emmeline Pankhurst
This rousing historical drama Suffragette tells the story of the rise of the suffragette movement, which fought for women’s rights, through the eyes of a young laundry worker played by Carey Mulligan. Her struggle leads her to become more and more militant, and she ultimately ends up in jail. Meanwhile, Meryl Streep plays Emmeline Pankhurst, one of the most prominent figures in the feminist movement of the 1910s, working toward getting women the vote.
Though her time on the screen is brief, Streep is responsible for inspiring and guiding the main protagonists, which is a fitting role for the esteemed star. The film allows some much-needed insight into an important movement that happened not that long ago in the grand scheme of things and depicts what life was like for women merely a few generations earlier.
8
A Cry In The Dark (1988)
As Lindy Chamberlain
A Cry in the Dark
- Release Date
-
November 11, 1988
- Runtime
-
120 Minutes
The film is also known as Evil Angels and recounts the true story of a couple vacationing in the Australian outback when their baby is taken by a wild animal. A press frenzy follows, and suspicion quickly falls on the mother, Lindy Chamberlain. For the role, Streep had to handle the emotions of a woman losing her child, while dealing with the relentless accusations, all while attempting an Australian accent. It secured her another Academy Award nomination.
It was a huge news topic of the time, and the film does a very thorough job of marrying the story as read in the papers with a more emotional look at what the family was actually going through. It includes one of the most infamous movie quotes — “The dingo took my baby!” — which is essentially a summary of the story. A Cry in the Dark‘s high score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes is a good indicator of the quality of this classic film.
7
Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
As Florence Foster Jenkins
When a true story seems more outlandish than fiction, it’s a sign of a very interesting character. And, Florence Foster Jenkins is certainly a fascinating historical figure. The flamboyant socialite, played with delicious flair by Streep, has a lofty dream of singing opera for an adoring crowd. Her life of privilege and never being told “no” emboldens her to pursue this by holding a recital at Carnegie Hall despite being completely tone-deaf.
Florence Foster Jenkins
- Release Date
-
May 6, 2016
- Runtime
-
110 minutes
- Director
-
Stephen Frears
- Writers
-
Nicholas Martin
While it may seem like a straightforward comedy, and Streep does get to show off her comedic timing with the support of an equally camp Hugh Grant, there is more to the story than just bad singing. As had become standard, an Oscar nomination for Best Lead Actress was inevitable, especially deserved for the second part of the film. A Rotten Tomatoes score of 88% reflects just how much of an entertaining film this is.
6
Julie & Julia (2009)
As Julia Child
Julie & Julia
- Release Date
-
August 7, 2009
- Runtime
-
123 Minutes
- Director
-
Nora Ephron
- Producers
-
Amy Robinson, Dana Stevens, Donald J. Lee Jr., Eric Steel, J.J. Sacha, Laurence Mark
With Amy Adamas as Julie, Julie & Julia follows two women who live about 50 years apart. One is Julia Child, an unabashed and fearless American woman who enrolls at Le Cordon Bleu to learn all about French cooking. Meanwhile, Julie works a stressful job and decides to start a blog where she tries all the recipes from Julia Child’s cookbook. The film uses the two timelines to intertwine at just the right moments, making it very clever and poignant.
Nora Ephron is able to discuss themes of xenophobia, sexism, and depression within this ultimately uplifting film, which also features many moments of joy and laughter. Child’s larger-than-life personality is brought to life by Streep with a focus on her innate optimism and enthusiasm. A box office success, it made $129.5 million globally and received yet another Academy Award nomination for Streep.
5
Silkwood (1983)
As Karen Silkwood
Silkwood
- Release Date
-
January 27, 1984
- Runtime
-
131 Minutes
- Director
-
Mike Nichols
- Writers
-
Nora Ephron, Alice Arlen
A biographical thriller, Silkwood recounts the story of a union worker who was employed at a plutonium processing plant. The high-risk, low-paying job was fraught with danger as the staff had to deal with very toxic materials. Each scene where they go through the radiation checks leaves audiences on the edge of their seats, so when the counter finally detects something, fear emanates from the screen.
Streep proceeds to tell the story of a determined whistleblower who stops at nothing to find the truth behind the haphazard processes at her place of employment. There is a determined desperation to her quest for the truth, but it’s a necessary quest nonetheless. The film’s score of 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and Streep’s Oscar-nominated performance are great reasons to see the film, but the story itself is both gripping and important.
4
The Iron Lady (2011)
As Margaret Thatcher
The Iron Lady
- Release Date
-
January 6, 2012
- Runtime
-
105minutes
- Director
-
Phyllida Lloyd
- Writers
-
Phyllida Lloyd
Historical biographies have many limitations since there is a lot of factual information that needs to be included. To create a compelling story, it should balance all the important historical events with some more personal insight that allows audiences to connect with what’s happening on-screen. The Iron Lady does so through flashbacks. This allows Streep to show the infamous British Prime Minister at different stages of life, with the help of Alexandra Roach as the youngest incarnation.
There is a lot of history to tackle in the life of this boundary-breaking woman. From her unwavering ambition to her softer family side, Streep can add facets to a political figure who still instills mixed feelings and controversy. Her portrayal of the Conservative party leader won rave reviews and awards buzz was almost instant. It made $116 million at the box office and secured Streep her third and most recent Oscar.
3
Adaptation (2002)
As Susan Orlean
Spike Jonze’s quirky comedy-drama follows the quest of an anxious and neurotic screenwriter to adapt Susan Orlean’s non-fiction novel The Orchid Thief into a screenplay. There is so much to love about this unexpected film within a film. It’s as funny as it is stressful and as witty as it is morose. Nicolas Cage plays twins and Streep plays various versions of the journalist.
The plot of Adaptation descends into a whirlwind of fact and fiction, and even an inverted reality which leaves audiences scratching their heads, in a good way. Chris Cooper, Tilda Swinton, and Judy Greer all co-star, and the writing is as fresh now as it was over two decades ago. In fact, the film received many award nominations, not only for Streep but for the screenplay as well. It also has a stellar 90% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
2
The Post (2017)
As Katharine Graham
Political thrillers such as The Post, when done well, are able to grip audiences from start to finish despite depicting events that can be easily researched on one’s phone or computer. All the President’s Men, Spotlight, and The Post have all become blueprints on how to take a web of intrigue and create a coherent story that feels like a mystery or puzzle to solve. As the first female publisher of The Washington Post, Katharine Graham was forced to make very tough decisions in a male-dominated field.
The film discusses the freedom of the press and the importance of standing by one’s principles, and with the likes of Streep, Tom Hanks, and Steven Spielberg involved, it does so in an engrossing way. It has an 88% Rotten Tomatoes score and made $193.8 million worldwide. With Oscar nominations for Best Actress and Best Picture, it received plenty of critical praise as well.
1
Out Of Africa (1985)
As Karen Blixen
Out of Africa
- Release Date
-
December 20, 1985
- Runtime
-
161 Minutes
- Director
-
Sydney Pollack
- Writers
-
Kurt Luedtke
Romance, war, and sprawling scenery fill the screens in this Sydney Pollack-directed drama. Streep takes on the role of a Danish woman who marries a philandering baron and moves to Nairobi. Based on Blixen’s autobiographical novel, the film depicts the various chapters in her tumultuous life. From trying to run a coffee farm to falling in love with the charismatic but free-spirited Denys, played by the charismatic and free-spirited Robert Redford.
It’s an epic film in every aspect, pulling on the heartstrings and showing how hard women had to work to make it in a male-dominated world. To think this was all taken from real-life experience makes it all the more extraordinary. The film swept the Academy Awards, winning for Best Picture, Director, and Screenplay, with Meryl Streep receiving a nomination as well. It also made hundreds of millions at the box office and remains one of Streep’s most iconic films.
Meryl Streep
- Birthdate
-
June 22, 1949
- Birthplace
-
Summit, New Jersey, USA
- Professions
-
Actress, Singer
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
