What is the best Meryl Streep performance of all time?

From Oscar-winning dramatic masterworks to beloved crowd-pleasers, her filmography spans every genre and era of American cinema. The legends are here alongside the unexpected gems — cast your vote!

1

Sophie's Choice

A 1982 drama in which Streep plays a Holocaust survivor haunted by an unbearable wartime choice, winning her the Academy Award for Best Actress.

2

The Devil Wears Prada

A 2006 comedy-drama in which Streep plays an icy, imperious fashion magazine editor who became one of cinema's most iconic figures.

3

Kramer vs. Kramer

A 1979 drama where Streep plays a mother who leaves her family and fights for custody, winning her first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

4

The Iron Lady

A 2011 biopic in which Streep's transformative portrayal of Margaret Thatcher earned her third Academy Award for Best Actress.

5

Doubt

A 2008 drama where Streep plays a formidable nun confronting a priest over suspected misconduct, earning an Oscar nomination.

6

Out of Africa

A 1985 epic romance in which Streep portrays Danish author Karen Blixen managing a coffee plantation in Kenya, earning an Oscar nomination.

7

Silkwood

A 1983 drama where Streep gives a grounded performance as real-life nuclear plant whistleblower Karen Silkwood, earning an Oscar nomination.

8

The Bridges of Madison County

A 1995 romance in which Streep plays an Italian war bride who has a brief but transformative love affair opposite Clint Eastwood.

9

Angels in America

A 2003 HBO miniseries in which Streep plays multiple characters, winning the Golden Globe and SAG Award for her astonishing breadth.

10

Julie & Julia

A 2009 film featuring Streep's exuberant, physically transformative portrayal of beloved American chef Julia Child.

11

Adaptation

A 2002 meta-film in which Streep plays a New Yorker journalist with unexpected vulnerability and dark comic edge.

12

The Hours

A 2002 drama where Streep plays a modern-day Manhattan woman organizing a party for her dying friend in one of three interwoven storylines.

13

A Cry in the Dark

A 1988 drama in which Streep plays real-life Australian mother Lindy Chamberlain, wrongly convicted of murder, winning Best Actress at Cannes.

14

Mamma Mia!

A 2008 musical in which Streep delivers a joyful performance as a free-spirited single mother on a Greek island, singing ABBA songs.

15

Florence Foster Jenkins

A 2016 film in which Streep plays the famously off-key soprano who believed wholeheartedly in her talent, earning another Oscar nomination.

16

The French Lieutenant's Woman

A 1981 film where Streep plays dual roles — a mysterious Victorian woman and the modern actress playing her — showcasing extraordinary range.

17

August: Osage County

A 2013 drama where Streep plays the fierce matriarch of a dysfunctional Oklahoma family, earning an Oscar nomination opposite Julia Roberts.

18

Heartburn

A 1986 drama based on Nora Ephron's semi-autobiographical novel where Streep plays a food writer navigating a crumbling marriage.