Cover Meryl Streep as the intimidating fashion editor Miranda Priestly in the ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ earned her a Best Actress nomination at the Academy Awards. (Photo: IMDB)
Meryl Streep as the intimidating fashion editor Miranda Priestly in the ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ earned her a Best Actress nomination at the Academy Awards. (Photo: IMDB)
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From haunted mothers to iron-willed nuns, these nine performances show exactly why Meryl Streep remains in a class of her own
Meryl Streep, who celebrated her birthday on June 22, has spent decades setting the standard for excellence on screen. With 21 Academy Award nominations and three wins, the acting legend remains the most nominated performer in Oscar history. But behind the accolades is a clear arc: steady, deliberate artistic growth. These nine Oscar-recognised performances reveal how Streep, now 76, transformed from a promising newcomer into cinema’s most revered actress, one groundbreaking role at a time.
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Joanna Kramer in ‘Kramer vs. Kramer’ (1979)
Above Meryl Streep infused empathy and emotional complexity into Joanna Kramer, earning the actress her first Oscar win
Meryl Streep’s first Oscar win, for Best Supporting Actress, came from a role that could have easily remained a one-dimensional villain. In the source novel, Joanna Kramer is portrayed as a conflicted woman who walks out on her family, unsympathetic by design. But Streep pushed to reshape the character, infusing her with empathy and emotional complexity. It was an early sign of what would become a hallmark of her career: refusing to reduce difficult women to clichés, and instead insisting on their full humanity.
Sophie Zawistowski in ‘Sophie’s Choice’ (1982)
Above Streep’s portrayal of Holocaust survivor Sophie Zawistowski showcased the psychological impact of trauma
This performance became the cornerstone of Streep’s legendary status. As Holocaust survivor Sophie Zawistowski, she delivered a pioneering portrayal of the psychological impact of trauma that silenced critics who had perceived coldness in her technical approach. Learning to speak fluent Polish and German, Streep created a character whose devastating choice became a cultural touchstone. The film’s centrepiece scene—where Sophie must choose which child lives—demonstrated how her meticulous preparation unlocked overwhelming emotional truth, earning her the Best Actress trophy, her second Oscar.
Karen Silkwood in ‘Silkwood’ (1983)
Above As real-life activist Karen Silkwood, Streep committed to truth over likability (Photo: IMDB)
As real-life activist Karen Silkwood, Streep committed to truth over likability (Photo: IMDB)
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Streep was drawn to real-life activist Karen Silkwood precisely because she was a complicated woman. Rather than sanitising the character, she embraced Silkwood’s flaws and tenacity, portraying a woman committed to exposing safety issues at a nuclear plant, even if it meant being seen as difficult. This performance marked a defining trait of her work: refusing to make challenging women more palatable for audience sympathy. Instead, she committed to truth over likability, establishing her reputation as an actress willing to explore the complexities of female experience.
Karen Blixen in ‘Out of Africa’ (1985)
Above The historical biopic ’Out of Africa’, where Merly Streep played author Karen Blixen (A.K.A. Isak Dinesen) proved Streep’s ability to anchor a Hollywood blockbuster
In a significant pivot from intense character studies, Streep embraced the grand romance of this Oscar-winning film. As Danish author Karen Blixen (better known by her pen name, Isak Dinesen), she portrayed a woman who was independent, elegant and fearless—qualities that resonated with audiences and critics alike. This sweeping epic proved Streep’s versatility, proving she could anchor a blockbuster while maintaining her artistic integrity.
Francesca Johnson in ‘The Bridges of Madison County’ (1995)
Above In the blockbuster ‘The Bridges of Madison County’, Meryl Streep delivered a performance praised for its restraint
At 45, Streep delivered a mid-career reinvention that showcased a new kind of virtuosity. As Italian war bride Francesca Johnson, she moved away from overt transformations, delivering a performance praised for its raw honesty and restraint. Director Clint Eastwood, who also played her love interest in the film, fought studio pressure to cast a younger actress, recognising that Streep’s mature presence was essential. Through stillness and internal emotion, she revealed a raw humanity that proved she could be devastatingly effective without grand displays.
Susan Orlean in ‘Adaptation’ (2002)
Above Streep’s audacious performance in ‘Adaptation’, where she played a fictionalised version of author Susan Orlean, became a commentary on celebrity
In Charlie Kaufman’s labyrinthine film, Streep played a fictionalised version of writer Susan Orlean. The real Orlean was initially horrified by the script until learning Streep would portray her. As the character spirals into drug addiction and murder plots, Streep cleverly deconstructs her prestigious persona. This audacious performance became a commentary on celebrity and authenticity, proving her willingness to subvert expectations and examine the nature of performance itself.
Miranda Priestly in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ (2006)
Above Critics praised Streep for bringing grace and vulnerability to her now-iconic portrayal of Miranda Priestly in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’
Miranda Priestly became one of Meryl Streep’s most indelible creations, a character she modelled using Clint Eastwood’s quiet authority rather than simply imitating Anna Wintour. Critics praised her for bringing a surprising sense of grace and vulnerability to the intimidating fashion editor. The performance was so commanding that it transcended comedy to earn Streep a Best Actress nomination, helping legitimise comedic roles as worthy of serious awards consideration while creating a cultural touchstone.
Sister Aloysius in ‘Doubt’ (2008)
Above As Sister Aloysius in ‘Doubt’, Streep created a masterclass in moral ambiguity
As the rigid Sister Aloysius, Streep portrayed the embodiment of the difficult woman archetype—a character driven by unshakable certainty based on suspicion rather than proof. In this adaptation of John Patrick Shanley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, she created a masterclass in moral ambiguity. Her final confession, “I have such doubts”, reveals not uncertainty about guilt but a crisis of faith in institutional protection. This performance showcased her ability to command the screen with theatrical force while exploring complex philosophical questions.
Margaret Thatcher in ‘The Iron Lady’ (2011)
Above Meryl Streep claimed another Best Actress trophy for her portrayal of former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher, known as titular Iron Lady
Twenty-nine years after Sophie’s Choice, Meryl Streep claimed another Best Actress trophy, her third Oscar for a performance widely regarded as astonishing in its precision and power. Even critics who found the film’s political analysis lacking praised her uncanny portrayal of former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher from political ascendancy to her struggles with dementia. Supported by Oscar-winning makeup that left her face largely free to express emotion, she humanised one of history’s most polarising figures who was famously known as “the Iron Lady”. This transformation cemented her status in the elite club of three-time Oscar winners, proving her enduring mastery of acting.
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After more than a decade in lifestyle media, Clifford has mastered the art of writing seriously about things that are fun—and writing fun things about people who take themselves very seriously. At Tatler Asia, he helped steer its flagship lists, Tatler’s Most Influential and Asia’s Most Stylish. And today, he leads T-Labs, Tatler Asia’s content innovation hub, where he continues the noble pursuit of lifestyle storytelling, spinning stories on wealth, entertainment, necessary style, Hallyu, Hollywood, beauty and more for audiences across Asia.
