Meryl Streep is a performer who is in her own league. She debuted as a Broadway actor and went on to be nominated for 21 Academy Awards and is to date the most nominated actor at the Golden Globes. Her stature in cinemas unquestionable and she has delivered some of the most iconic characters ever. Here are some of her best performances to not miss:
Julie and Julia
Meryl Streep plays the inimitable culinary expert Julia Childs in this breezy, warm film. It is the story of her, and a young aspiring chef who is inspired by her. Meryl Streep fits perfectly into Julia Child’s shoes as if the two were one person! Her charm, wit, and technique make it absolutely believable that she is a chef and a lover of food. She carries the film on her shoulders and delivers a performance that you will want to watch again and again.
The Devil Wears Prada
Meryl Streep fascinates yet another time in this sophisticated film about fashion and glamour. She plays the editor of the most coveted fashion magazine in New York. Her new assistant, a young woman in awe of her is unable to keep up with her volatile ways of working. The film is a fun take on how they find their balance. Meryl Streep is forthcoming, agile, and very assertive in her portrayal. The character’s layers come through with nuance in her brilliant performance. She sure is a treat to watch in this film.
The Post
This is a political thriller based on real events. It chronicles the attempts of a few journalists at The Washington Post to publish documents related to the infamous Pentagon Papers. Meryl Streep plays the woman editor who handles the publishing of the materials along with her subordinates. She shines through with her committed performance as a headstrong, ethical journalist. The film also depicts how gender is a means of discrimination while handling news items of political significance. Ms. Streep carries all the weight of the layers of this character with a sense of ownership, making it yet another gem of a performance from her.
Heartburn
This is the story of a food critic and a newspaper reporter falling in love and trying to start a family. Meryl Streep plays the self-aware food critic who is nonchalant and very charismatic. She gives a great performance as a woman who has fallen in love with a man who is unsure if he can be a family man. The pangs of new love, the uncertainty of being in a long-term relationship, the conflicts of motherhood. Etc. come through very convincingly in her portrayal. She brings new life and elevates and otherwise rom-com material into something more substantial and impactful. This is a film that is real and relatable, and, her performance enhances its believability many notches higher.
She Devil
This is the story of an underconfident housewife who tries her best to save her marriage. Her husband is in love with a glamorous novelist played by Meryl Streep, and he leaves the marriage to be with her. What follows is how the wife plots revenge to get back at both of them. Meryl Streep slays as the other woman who is mysterious, luring, and hated by the wife. She is sophisticated, suave, and edgy. Her wit and dark humor only enhance the impact of her performance. This is a fun comedy-drama that you will really like.
Death Becomes Her
This is a black comedy fantasy film about two women – a writer and an actor who have a crush on the same man. They drink a magic potion for eternal youth and accidentally end up being immortal. Meryl Streep plays the neurotic, narcissistic actor who is love lorn and mad about making it to the top. She brings forth the comic element of the story very engagingly. Her chemistry and on screen presence is stunning and she walks in and out of the scenes with natural ease. Watch this film for a fun, exciting experience.
The Iron Lady
In a biopic of Margret Thatcher, United Kingdom’s Prime Minister, Meryl Streep plays the part and delivers one of her most significant performances of all time. She won an Oscar for the part and rightfully so. She is fierce, sensitive, and extremely assertive as Ms. Thatcher. She is so convincing that she almost disappears into the skin of the character. She breathes her own life to the role while also keeping intact the fundamental traits of the Prime Minster. Watch this film for a solid performance from this legendary actor.
The Bridges of Madison County
In one of the most sensational films of all time, Meryl Streep plays Francesca, a housewife in the suburbs of the country who has the house to herself for a few days. She meets a man who documents the bridges of different places and the two develop an attraction that is fated, consuming and beautiful. Ms. Streep is a dream to watch in this film. Her natural sensuousness spills over onto her performance and what you see on screen is a chemistry so immersive that it is difficult to forget.
August: Osage County
This is a comedy that is based on a dysfunctional family. Meryl Streep plays the matriarch of the family who suffers from cancer. Her children visit her for an unexpected family reunion post a tragic incident. She is annoyingly convincing as the matriarch! You will want to love to hate her because her performance is that believable. The film reflects on themes of honesty, acceptance and love in families. All the tension is brought forth by the screen presence of Ms. Streep, who binds the characters together with her effervescence.
Manhattan
This is a film about a twice-divorced man who tried to figure his life out. Meryl Streep plays his former wife who leaves him for a woman. She played the role of a bisexual woman way ahead of her time. Her performance makes sexuality a normal, acceptable thing instead of overtly sensationalizing it. She exudes her natural ease and presents herself perfectly as a woman who is exploring herself. This is a film that has many interesting takes on relationships. Meryl Streep stands out with her beautiful performance even though the film has many other actors in important roles.
