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MERYTORIOUS PERFORMANCE

The 10 best Meryl Streep movies – from Sophie’s Choice to Out Of Africa

MERYL STREEP is the most Oscar-nominated performer in history, with 21 nominations and three wins under her belt - and a Guinness World Record for Most Oscar Nominations.

But with a glittering film career spanning more than 40 years, which of Meryl Streep's hit movies should you be taking the time to watch?

Meryl Streep is a much-loved actress who has won  three Oscars
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Meryl Streep is a much-loved actress who has won three OscarsCredit: Getty Images - Getty

1. Sophie's Choice

Meryl Streep won her second Oscar for her role as Sophie Zawistowski in Sophie's Choice
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Meryl Streep won her second Oscar for her role as Sophie Zawistowski in Sophie's ChoiceCredit: Alamy

This heartbreaking 1982 romantic drama is often considered one of Streep's greatest performances.

It was even ranked the third-greatest movie performance of all time by former American film magazine, Premiere.

Streep plays Sophie Zawistowski, a Polish immigrant and Holocaust survivor, who befriends American novelist Stingo in New York, two years after World War Two ends.

Through a series of harrowing flashbacks, Sophie slowly reveals her dark past to Stingo - including a heartbreaking choice she was forced to make.

Sophie's Choice won Streep her first of two Best Actress Oscars, and also saw her win a Golden Globe award in the same category.

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 85%.

2. Out Of Africa

Meryl Streep as Danish woman Karen Blixen in Out Of Africa
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Meryl Streep as Danish woman Karen Blixen in Out Of AfricaCredit: Alamy

Another wartime romantic drama, Out Of Africa won seven Oscars, three Baftas, and three Golden Globes, and saw Streep nominated for Best Actress at each of the awards.

Streep portrays wealthy Danish woman Karen Blixen, who moves to Nairobi in what was then British East Africa in 1913, with her new husband, Baron Bror Blixen.

Karen has hopes of becoming a dairy farmer - but her husband instead spends her funds on opening an unsuccessful coffee farm, and is repeatedly unfaithful to her with multiple women.

Karen soon finds herself falling for hunter Denys Hatton (played by Robert Redford) - and the film tells the story of their love triangle and lives in East Africa as World War One breaks out.

This 1985 film is loosely based on the 1937 autobiographical novel of the same title, written by Karen Blixen, under the pseudonym Isak Dinesen.

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 83%.

3. Kramer vs Kramer

Streep and Hoffman in Kramer Vs Kramer, for which both won Oscars
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Streep and Hoffman in Kramer Vs Kramer, for which both won OscarsCredit: Rex Features

This 1979 legal drama sees Streep in one of her earliest movie roles - just two years after her film debut in historical drama Julia.

Streep takes on the role of Joanna Kramer - a mother who one day decides she is leaving her husband (played by Dustin Hoffman) and their young son.

Hoffman has to come to terms with being a single parent - until Joanna returns a year later, and announces she wants custody of their son.

The film tells the story of the subsequent, tumultuous custody battle the two parents become embroiled in.

Kramer vs Kramer won Best Picture at the Oscars in 1980, with Streep winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, and Hoffman winning the Best Actor award.

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 89%.

4. The Devil Wears Prada

Meryl starred as Miranda Priestley in 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada
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Meryl starred as Miranda Priestley in 2006 film The Devil Wears PradaCredit: Kobal Collection - Shutterstock

To a younger, millennial audience, Streep's role in this 2006 comedy-drama is probably considered among her most iconic performances.

The actress plays Miranda Priestley, the ruthless and cynical editor of leading New York fashion magazine, Runway.

Miranda advertises for a junior personal assistant, a role which is filled by young, aspiring journalist Andy Sachs - portrayed by Anne Hathaway.

The film chronicles the relationship between the two women, as Andy determines to put up with the excessive demands of her stony new boss.

The Devil Wears Prada saw Streep win a Golden Globe award for Best Actress in 2007.

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 76%.

5. The Deer Hunter

Meryl Streep as Linda in The Deer hunter
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Meryl Streep as Linda in The Deer hunterCredit: Moviepix - Getty

This 1978 war drama shows Streep in her second-ever film role - a role for which she received her first Oscar nomination, for Best Supporting Actress.

The film portrays three good friends from Pennsylvania, USA - Mike, Nick, and Steven - as they prepare for military service in the Vietnam War.

Streep plays Linda - who becomes engaged to Nick shortly before he departs for Vietnam.

All three men are soon captured by the Communist Viet Cong - and the film depicts how they and their loved ones, including Linda, deal with the psychological impacts of the experience following their escape.

Streep stars alongside Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken, as well as her partner at the time, John Cazale - who died of cancer shortly after the film was released.

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 92%.

6. The Iron Lady

In 2011 Meryl took on the role of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady - and won her third Oscar
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In 2011 Meryl took on the role of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady - and won her third OscarCredit: Handout

Biographical drama The Iron Lady, released in 2011, sees Streep taking on the role of one of the most formidable British politicians of all time - Margaret Thatcher.

The quintessentially British film shows an ageing Thatcher reflecting back on her life and her career, first as a Conservative Member of Parliament, and subsequently as Prime Minister.

The Iron Lady depicts a career that, for better or worse, many people in Britain still remember vividly today.

The star-studded cast also includes Jim Broadbent as Thatcher's husband Denis, and Olivia Colman as her daughter Carol.

Richard E. Grant also stars as Lord Michael Heseltine, who served as Deputy Prime Minister under Thatcher's predecessor, John Major.

Streep's performance in the film won her the Best Actress award at both the Oscars and the Golden Globes in 2012.

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 51%.

7. The French Lieutenant's Woman

Meryl Streep picked up the Best Actress award at both the Baftas and the Golden Globes for her role in The French Lieutenant's Woman
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Meryl Streep picked up the Best Actress award at both the Baftas and the Golden Globes for her role in The French Lieutenant's WomanCredit: Getty Images - Getty

This 1981 British romantic drama sees Streep taking on two roles as the film cuts between the stories of two romantic affairs.

Streep stars alongside Jeremy Irons as the pair portray a couple of actors, who in turn are filming a modern retelling of a Victorian period drama - with Streep and Irons playing both parts.

In both timelines, their characters are seen embarking upon romantic affairs - but with differing endings.

The French Lieutenant's Woman saw Streep winning the Best Actress award at both the Baftas and the Golden Globes.

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 67%.

8. The Bridges of Madison County

The Bridges Of Madison County saw Streep star alongside Clint Eastwood
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The Bridges Of Madison County saw Streep star alongside Clint EastwoodCredit: Alamy

Streep stars alongside in this heartwarming 1995 romantic drama.

Streep plays Francesca, a mother of two teenagers who is trapped in a passionless marriage - until she meets a young photojournalist on assignment in her small town.

What follows is a fleeting but unforgettable romantic tryst that changes both their lives forever.

The Bridges of Madison County saw Streep nominated for Best Actress at both the Oscars and the Golden Globes in 1996.

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 87%.

9. Doubt

Meryl Streep starred as Sister Aloysius in Doubt
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Meryl Streep starred as Sister Aloysius in DoubtCredit: Handout

Released in 2008, this religious drama is set in a Roman Catholic elementary school in The Bronx district of New York.

It tells the tale of the church's priest, Father Flynn (portrayed by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman) - who is suspected by the nuns at the school of having an untoward relationship with one of the school's pupils.

Streep plays the school's strict headmistress, Sister Aloysius - who must decide the best course of action to take with regards to her suspicions about the priest.

Doubt received five Oscar nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, and three Bafta nominations - with Streep nominated for Best Actress at each of the awards.

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 78%.

10. Florence Foster Jenkins

Meryl Street with Hugh Grants in Florence Foster Jenkins
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Meryl Street with Hugh Grants in Florence Foster JenkinsCredit: Handout

Streep starred in Florence Foster Jenkins in her late 60s with the film released in 2016.

The biographical movie tells the story of the titular character, who was a real-life socialite and amateur soprano in 1940s New York - famously dubbed "the world's worst opera singer".

But Streep shines as she portrays Florence as an inspirational character determined to follow her dreams - no matter what other people think of her.

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Streep stars alongside Hugh Grant, and was once again nominated as Best Actress at the Oscars, the Golden Globes, and the Baftas in 2017.

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating: 68%.

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