With a total of 21 nominations, Meryl Streep to date is the most Oscar-nominated actress, receiving her very first Academy Award nomination for The Deer Hunter in 1979. The Deer Hunter has been stunningly restored with a brand new 4k restoration, out on Blu-ray, The Collector’s Edition and EST now, and on 4K Ultra HD October 15. In light of this, we’ve taken a look at Streep’s nominations and wins across the years…

The Deer Hunter (1978)

Nominee for Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Starring alongside Christopher Walken and Robert De Niro, Streep plays Linda, Nick’s (Walken) hometown sweetheart who also catches the attention of Mike (De Niro), both of whom are sent overseas to fight in the Vietnam war. However, their dreams of military honour are soon destroyed by the brutality of war. This was Streep’s first ever Oscar Nomination for ‘Best Supporting Actress’ but she lost to Maggie Smith in California Suite.

Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

Winner of Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Workaholic Ted Kramer (Dustin Hoffman) has just been handed a very important new account at work and as he goes to share the news with his wife Joanna (Streep), however she suddenly decides to leave him, leaving him to raise their son Billy alone. Fifteen months later Joanna comes back to claim Billy which leads to an intense custody battle. The film was a box office hit and was Streep’s first academy award win for ‘Best Supporting Actress.’

The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981)

Nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role

Based on the 1969 novel by John Fowles, the film follows and intercuts two love affairs. One set in a Victorian period drama and the other is between the actors Mike (Jeremy Irons) and Anna (Meryl Streep) who are playing the lead roles in the filming of the story. The film has multiple endings and crossing over between the fictional and real-life lovers. Meryl Streep received her first nomination for ‘Best Actress’ but lost to Katharine Hepburn in On Golden Pond.

Sophie’s Choice (1982)

Winner of Best Actress in a Leading Role

Meryl Streep stars as a young Polish immigrant whose husband and father were killed in a German work camp. Sophie (Streep) is spared and immigrates to Brooklyn and meets her tempestuous lover Nathan (Kevin Kline). They move into an old boarding house with a young writer Stingo (Peter MacNicol) also falls for Sophie. At the film’s climax Sophie reveals her darkest secret from her past. This film won Meryl her second Academy Award and her first one for ‘Best Actress.’

Silkwood (1983)

Nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role

Silkwood follows the life and sudden death of revolutionary labour activist Karen Silkwood (Steep) who tries to out her nuclear plant’s illegally hazardous working conditions. Armed with evidence she made her way to a New York Times reporter but died in a tragic car accident where her evidence was no where to be seen and marks on the road suggest she may have been driven off the road by someone else… Streep was nomination for ‘Best Actress’ for Silkwood but lost to Shirley MacLaine in Terms of Endearment.

Out of Africa (1985)

Nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role

Set between 1913-1932 Out of Africa begins with Karen Dinesen (Streep) making an arrangement with a friend to marry, move to Africa, and set up a farm together. After her marriage falls apart, she begins a love affair with hunter Denys (Robert Redford) but he is constantly away hunting that after Karen ends their relationship and a fire wipes out her entire farm, Karen decides to move back to Denmark. Streep was nominated for ‘Best Actress’ for her role in Out of Africa but lost to Geraldine Page in The Trip to Bountiful. However, Out of Africa did win seven Academy Awards including ‘Best Picture’.

Ironweed (1987)

Nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role

Ironweed follows the relationship of a homeless couple Francis (Jack Nicholson) and Helen (Streep) during the Great Depression. Francis is an alcoholic who was disowned by his family when he accidentally dropped his son and killed him. Helen is terminally ill, and Francis tries to take on some small jobs to help support her however a group of locals have come together to try and move the homeless away from their streets. This film gained both Nicholson and Streep nominations however the both missed out with Streep losing to her friend Cher in Moonstruck.

A Cry in the Dark (1989)

Nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role

While out on a camping trip in the Outback, pastor Michael Chamberlain (Sam Neil), his wife Lindy (Streep), and their two sons are enjoying a barbecue with other campers, while their baby daughter sleeps in their tent. When a cry is heard, Lindy discovers her daughter is missing and is adamant that she saw a dingo running off with something in its mouth. Everyone helps to search for the child but when their search is unsuccessful the public turn against the Chamberlains and no one believes Lindys story. Streep was nominated for ‘Best Actress’ for A Cry in the Dark but lost out to Jodie Foster in The Accused.

Postcards from the Edge (1990)

Nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role

Recovering drug addict and actress Suzanne (Streep) is trying to get her life and career back on track after leaving rehab but if forced into living with loud and self-absorbed mother Doris (Shirley MacLaine) to avoid unemployment. She meets producer Jack Faulkner (Dennis Quaid) who on their first date confesses his everlasting love for her which she soon learns to be false as she discovers that Jack has been sleeping with other women. Despite all these problems, and a few more on the way, Suzanne starts to see the funny side to her situation. Streep was nomination for ‘Best Actress’ for this role but lost to Kathy Bates in Misery.

The Bridges of Madison County (1995)

Nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role

Based on a best-selling novel of the same name, The Bridges of Madison County follows the story of Francesca (Streep), an Italian woman who married a solider and lived with him and their two children on a farm in Iowa. However, she meets and falls for photographer Robert (Clint Eastwood) and they have a four-day affair. The film is set in present day with Francesca’s now adult children discovering her affair and learning what she sacrificed for them all those years ago. Streep was nomination for ‘Best Actress’ for The Bridges of Madison County but lost to Susan Sarandon in Dead Man Walking.

One True Thing (1998)

Nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role

Starring Meryl Streep, Renée Zellweger and William Hurt, One True Thing follows Ellen (Zellweger) who is forced to drop everything to care for her mother who is dying. Ellen had always admired her father (Hurt) as she aspires to become a writer like him, but she was never as fond of her mother (Streep) and the domestic life she followed. However, after being forced by her father to put her career on hold to care for her, her opinions soon change as she realises all that her mother has done for her and her family. One True Thing gained Streep another ‘Best Actress’ nomination but she lost it to Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love.

Music of the Heart (1999)

Nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role

This film follows the true story of Roberta Guaspari (played by Streep), who was one of the founders of the Opus 118 Harlem School of Music and played a big part in the fight for funding for music education in public schools. The film shows Roberta and how she inspires a group of young children by teaching them to play the violin and as a result her programme develops publicity and more and more parents want Roberta to teach their kids. Streep was nominated for ‘Best Actress’ for her portrayal of Roberta Guaspari but lost out to Hilary Swank in Boys Don’t Cry.

Adaptation (2002)

Nominee for Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Nicolas Cage stars as Charlie Kaufman, a confused and lovelorn screenwriter who has always struggled with feelings of inadequacy next to his annoying and ambitious twin brother Donald (Cage). Charlie is then chosen to adapt the novel ‘The Orchard Thief’ by Susan Orlean (played by Streep) and his whole life turns into turmoil as his life begins to merge into the lives inside the book. Meryl was nominated for ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for this role but lost to Catherine Zeta-Jones in Chicago.

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

Nominee for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Based on a novel, Meryl Streep plays Miranda Priestly, the editor for an influential fashion magazine, Runway. The company hire Andy (Anne Hathaway), an apprising journalist, who has no knowledge or interest in fashion, as Mirandas personal assistant. Miranda challenges Andy but over time Andy’s attitude and work progresses as she quickly becomes a part of the fashion world. Streep was nominated for ‘Best Actress’ for her role of Miranda Priestly but lost to Helen Mirren in The Queen.

Doubt (2008)

Nominee for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Based on an award-winning stage play, Doubt is set in a religious school led by Sister Aloysius (Streep). It is brought to her attention by Sister James (Amy Adams) that Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is giving a lot of attention to a young student Donald, the only black student in the school. Sister Aloysius confronts Father Flynn and tries to convince him to confess and resign but he denies all allegations and urges her to stay out of it. However, Sister Aloysius continues in her search for truth and justice. Doubt scored Streep yet another nomination for ‘Best Actress’ but she lost to Kate Winslet in The Reader.

Julie & Julia (2009)

Nominee for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Julie and Julia follows the lives and two different women. Julia Child’s (Streep) story of the beginning of her culinary career is contrasted against Julie Powell’s (Amy Adams) challenge to cook every recipe in Julia’s first cook book. The film is based on the publications of these two real-life women; Julia’s autobiography and Julies book which was based on her blog where she documented each of the 524 recipes she made. Streep was nominated for Best Actress for this role but lost out to Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side.

The Iron Lady (2011)

Winner of Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

The Iron Lady is a drama based on the life of the first ever female Prime Minister in the UK, Margaret Thatcher. Using flashbacks to show Margaret growing up, we see how she idolised her father as she would listen to his political speeches and this pushed her to get into politics.

These flashbacks are used as Margaret (Streep) reflects on her life and career as she prepares to dispose of her late husband’s possessions. This film shows how Margaret pushed through the barriers brought against her because of her class and gender and became the longest reigning Prime Minister of UK history. Streep’s performance gained her a third win at the Oscars, this one for ‘Best Actress’.

August: Osage County (2013)

Nominee for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

The death of their father brings three sisters back home to a rural town in Oklahoma to care for their mother (Streep), a foul-mouthed drug addict who is suffering from cancer. The family tragedy causes tensions to rise and secrets to be revealed as this dysfunctional family cannot seem to get along. Streep was nominated for ‘Best Actress’ for her role as Violet in August: Osage County but lost to Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine.

Into the Woods (2014)

Nominee for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

This musical fantasy, inspired by numerous fairy tales, is based on a childless couple who wish to end a cursed placed on them by a witch (Streep) so they can have a child. The witch offers to lift to curse as long as the couple obtain items for her to make a potion which will restore her youth and beauty. However, no one seems to get their happy ending. Streep received a nomination for ‘Best Supporting Actress’ but lost to Patricia Arquette in Boyhood.

Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)

Nominee for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Meryl Streep stars in this biographical film about Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York socialite heiress known for her amateur singing. Despite this she continues sing, believing that she is excellent as her Husband St. Clair (Hugh Grant) encourages her. Florence somehow manages to ger her music played on the radio and is then books Carnegie Hall for a one-night performance and will give away tickets to soldiers. St. Clair goes to extreme lengths to make sure the night goes smoothly, and that Florence only receives good reviews. For this role Streep was nominated for ‘Best Actress’ but lost to Emma Stone in La La Land.

The Post (2017)

Nominee for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Streep’s most recent screen appearance was for The Post, the historical film based on true events, shows the attempts of journalists to publish classified documents that would expose the involvement of the US government in the Vietnam War. Starring alongside Tom Hanks, the pair go to extreme lengths to obtain these documents and take great risks in exposing the dirty secrets of the US government. The Post gave Streep her 21st nomination, this one for ‘Best Actress’ making her the most nominated performer of all time.

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