A gallery of memorable performances by America's queen of the
screen
By Kat Murphy Special to MSN Movies
From her first moments on-screen, Meryl Streep commanded the camera's — and our —
rapt gaze. It wasn't just her luminous beauty. Even in early supporting roles,
Streep's ... moreacting radiated such remarkable passion and intelligence the Golden
Girl stole center stage from anointed stars like Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro. Delivering stellar performances
that sometimes look effortless, sometimes like intricate clockwork, this is an
actress who consumes her characters, inviting their souls to put on her face for
a time. Even in parts through which she could easily sleepwalk and still shine
brighter than most, La Streep suddenly takes fire, turning dross into gold.
Over three decades, Meryl Streep has racked up an astonishing 16 Academy
Award nominations, more than any other actress, even Katharine Hepburn. Hard to
believe that Oscar has crowned Meryl Streep queen only twice, for her supporting
performance in "Kramer vs. Kramer" (1979) and her shattering turn
in "Sophie's Choice" (1982).
"I've played so many extraordinary women, I'm mistaken for one," quips
Streep. Now she's taken on another famous female, a diva every bit as legendary
and autocratic in her sphere as chef Julia Childs, Vanity Fair editor Diana
Wintour or novelist Isak Dinesen. Will Streep's controversial portrayal of
Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady" seduce Oscar into going home with
Hollywood's perennially slighted first lady? While we wait to find out, let's
revisit some of the other extraordinary women Meryl Streep has tried on for size
during her long, illustrious career.
