You might have heard of this actress; her name is Meryl Streep. She's kind of a big deal. Like, "has-an-entire-room-full-of-awards" kind of big deal. She's been churning out complex performances in Hollywood for over 40 years. If you haven’t gotten around to watching any of her films yet — well, we hope the rock you’re living under has air conditioning. She's basically film royalty and you know you're in for a treat when you see her name on the marquee. We could sit here all day and try to pick her best performances, but let's be real, they're all amazing. We did the hard work and narrowed it down to our top 20 favourite Meryl Streep films. Get ready to be inspired (or intimidated).
In this tense family drama, Streep plays Joanna Kramer, a woman who leaves her husband (Dustin Hoffman) and young son, only to return later to fight for custody. Streep brings an elegance and poignancy to the role, crafting a character who is both sympathetic and flawed. Streep wrote her own dialogues for the courtroom scene adding depth and raw emotions to Joanna’s lines – making her more than just a woman who abandoned her family. The film won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and Streep won her first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Streep's portrayal of Sophie Zawistowski, a Polish immigrant who survived a Nazi concentration camp but must confront the traumas of her past, is widely regarded as one of the greatest performances in film history. Her emotionally devastating monologue in which she must make a hard choice is a showcase of her immense talent and range. She screams, and no sound comes out - the silence is deafening. The film won Streep her second Academy Award for Best Actress, and she gave a performance that was nothing short of heartbreaking.
Streep stars as Karen Blixen, a Danish woman who moves to Kenya in the early 20th century to run a coffee plantation. Along the way, she falls in love with a big-game hunter (Robert Redford) and navigates the complex social dynamics of colonial Africa. Streep’s subtle and nuanced performance anchors the otherwise problematic film that doesn’t care to address the ugly realities of colonialism. Streep brings her humanity to this sweeping love story, set in the vast landscape of Africa – it works only because of her.
Streep plays Lindy Chamberlain in A Cry in the Dark (or Evil Angels), a woman who was wrongfully convicted of murder after her baby daughter was taken by a dingo in the Australian Outback. Based on a real case, Lindy had become the most hated woman in the country after being found guilty, but her life sentence was commuted to three years in light of a newly discovered piece of evidence. In 1988, the same year A Cry in the Dark was released, both parents were found not guilty of being involved in the death of their daughter. The film was controversial at the time, but Streep’s performance was universally praised and earned her another Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
In Defending Your Life, Streep plays Julia, a woman who passes away and enters Judgment City, a place where souls are judged based on their accomplishments in life. Albert Brooks, who wrote and directed this film, cast Streep to play herself (something only she could do). Her performance in this film is unique and charming, showcasing her ability to bring depth and warmth to even the most surreal of roles. The film also raises some pertinent questions about how we choose to live our lives. One of Streep’s most underrated films, Defending Your Life is a must-watch for everyone who’s a fan of philosophical comedies.
Just as Hollywood began to stereotype Streep as an actress only capable of pathos, Streep took on this dark comedy. She played Madeline Ashton, a vain and ambitious actress who will go to great lengths to maintain her youth and beauty. She opens by singing “I See Me!” a befitting reply to a reductive industry as Madeline sings – I see me... and I like what I see. Streep's larger-than-life performance in this film was both terrifying and hilarious, cementing her status as a true Hollywood icon.
In The Bridges of Madison County, Streep played Francesca Johnson, a lonely wife who finds the love of a lifetime in a brief but intense affair with a National Geographic photographer (Clint Eastwood) who is visiting the area on assignment. Streep imbues her character with quiet yearning and regret, creating a love story that is both tumultuous and unforgettable. She embodies every aspect of Francesca’s longing, from the way her hands fix Robert’s (Eastwood) collar, to how her eyes search for him through the cracks of the wooden bridge. In Bridges, Streep does what she does best – she makes you cry for Francesca, and every other love that couldn’t be.
One True Thing tells the story of a woman named Kate (Streep) who is diagnosed with cancer and her daughter, Ellen, who leaves her job to care for her. The film explores the fraught nature of mother-daughter relationships, marriage and infidelity, love, hate, acceptance and everything in between. Streep commits to playing every ache in Kate’s frail body. She goes through a massive transformation battling her cancer, and you can almost see her entire rib cage when she has to be lifted out of the bathtub. Towards the end, even the light in her eyes dims. A painful performance that sinks your heart earned her another Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
Based on a true story, Music of the Heart, has Streep playing Roberta Guaspari, a violin teacher who helped create a music program for underprivileged students in Harlem. She pours herself into mentoring her students, her eyes sparkle with passion and determination. The film highlights the importance of arts education and the transformative power of music. Streep learned to play the violin for her role and it earned her yet another Oscar nomination for Best Actress. The final sequence fills you with pride and joy as Music of the Heart hits all the right notes.
In this meta-comedy, Streep plays a fictionalized version of real-life author Susan Orlean, whom screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (also played by Nicholas Cage) is attempting to adapt for the big screen. Streep is both funny and poignant in her portrayal, capturing Orlean’s idiosyncrasies while also expressing a genuine sense of artistic passion. It is incredible how from her very first shot, you’re sure this woman you’re seeing is a writer – just by the way she walks. A feat perhaps only Streep can achieve. Streep got an Oscar nomination, and creator Charlie Kaufman managed to secure a nomination for himself and also his non-existent, fictional twin brother.
In The Hours, Streep played Clarissa Vaughan, a modern-day version of the character Clarissa Dalloway from Virginia Woolf’s novel Mrs. Dalloway. Clarissa is a publisher living in New York City who is planning a party for her friend Richard, a poet dying of AIDS. Streep's portrayal of Clarissa is nuanced and complex, conveying both her strength and vulnerability as she navigates the challenges of caring for Richard, as well as her own relationships and regrets. The film was a critical success, and Streep’s performance earned her yet another Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
In this comedic drama, Streep plays Miranda Priestly, a legendary fashion editor who terrorizes her hapless assistant, played by Anne Hathaway. Streep’s performance is a tour-de-force of sharp-tongued wit and icy poise, making Miranda both a feared paragon of style and a vulnerable human being. Streep brilliantly encapsulates Miranda's cold, calculating personality, and her relentless pursuit of perfection. Miranda never raises her voice and that’s precisely why she invokes such terror in her employees – a trait Streep stole from Clint Eastwood. Every look is measured, every line is iconic.
Streep shines in this ensemble piece as Sister Aloysius Beauvier, the stern head of a Catholic school who becomes convinced that a parish priest (Late Philip Seymour Hoffman) has sexually abused a student. The showdown between Streep and Hoffman is so intense, you might have to lie down afterwards. Streep plays the character with an iron will and a palpable sense of righteous certainty, creating a nuanced portrayal of faith, morality, and doubt.
Meryl Streep's performance in Mamma Mia! undoubtedly showcased her remarkable versatility as an actress. She brought a new level of charm and humor to the role of Donna Sheridan, the free-spirited mother of the bride-to-be. At 60, you see Streep jumping and leaping and doing a split mid-air, singing her heart out to ABBA chartbusters! A summer in Greece, three dads, Dancing Queen(s), and lots of inappropriate jokes - what’s not to love. Streep can truly do it all.
In Julie and Julia, Streep portrays famous chef Julia Child with incredible accuracy and grace. Her spot-on accent and nuanced performance captured the essence of Child's larger-than-life personality, and her scenes with co-star Stanley Tucci (who plays the husband we all need) were a delight to watch. An inspiring film that brings a smile to your face and an incredible Streep who lights up every frame she is in – Julie and Julia is one of those movies that can motivate you to start cooking.
In this biopic of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Streep delivers an astonishing transformation, mastering Thatcher’s accent, mannerisms, and delivering an unforgettable performance that won her another Academy Award. The film portrays Thatcher’s divisive legacy as well as her personal struggles with loss and professional obstacles, and in Streep’s capable hands the former Prime Minister is not only a political figure, but a complex and deeply human one.
Streep heads an all-star cast in this adaptation of Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play. She plays Violet Weston, the matriarch of a dysfunctional Midwestern family who gathers together after a tragedy, only to confront years of buried resentments and secrets. Streep navigates the character's bipolar mood swings and multiple addictions with impressive bravura and depth. You resent Violet, but you can’t look away.
As the Witch in Into the Woods, Streep brought a new level of complexity and depth to the character. Her powerhouse vocals and emotional depth brought the iconic Stephen Sondheim songs to life in a way that only Streep could. In an interview, Sondheim himself said that Streep found colours in his music that he didn’t know existed. Streep’s Witch is cruel, but she’s also wise. The musical has some profound advice for all of us, it’s definitely worth heeding.
Streep's performance in Florence Foster Jenkins was nothing short of remarkable. She played the titular character, a wealthy socialite with a passion for singing - despite the fact that she had absolutely no talent. Streep's portrayal of Jenkins was both comedic and heartwarming. Florence inflicts (Streep’s own choice of words) her vocals on her audience, and we listen carefully as she sings off-key. We hope against all hope that she will reach that note, that she will get better. Spoiler alert: she doesn’t. The final scene however, fills your eyes with tears of hope and joy. Streep makes sure you see Florence for who she really is – an artist. It earned her critical acclaim and a well-deserved Oscar nomination.
Streep was a standout in this musical comedy, playing a self-centered and egotistical Broadway actress who decides to help a high school student who has been banned from attending prom with her girlfriend. With her sharp comedic timing and powerhouse vocals, Streep gave one of the most memorable performances in the film. Streep sings “It’s Not About Me” , a song that is almost entirely about her, and you can’t help but laugh in awe of her ability to not take herself too seriously — even after all these years.