Film · United States · 1949–
Meryl Streep Life & Career Timeline
Three Oscars, twenty-one nominations and five decades of transformative performances.
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19491960197119821993200420152026
MSMeryl StreepFilm · United States
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About this timeline
About Meryl Streep
Stage craft, accents, drama, comedy and musicals made Meryl Streep one of cinema’s defining actors.
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Meryl Streep biography
Meryl Streep timeline: key events
Explore 20 documented Moments in chronological order. Read the dates, locations and source references below. Where available, additional context explains why a milestone matters.
Born in New Jersey
Mary Louise Streep grew up in New Jersey.
Source: www.oscars.orgBroadway debut
Streep moved from Yale drama training into professional theatre.
Source: www.oscars.orgJulia
Her feature-film debut began an extraordinary screen career.
Source: www.oscars.orgThe Deer Hunter
The drama brought her first Academy Award nomination.
Source: www.oscars.orgKramer vs. Kramer
Streep won her first Oscar, for supporting actress.
Source: www.oscars.orgThe French Lieutenant’s Woman
A dual role confirmed her reputation for technical precision.
Source: www.oscars.orgSophie’s Choice
Her multilingual performance brought the leading-actress Oscar.
Source: www.oscars.orgSilkwood
Streep portrayed whistleblower Karen Silkwood.
Source: www.oscars.orgOut of Africa
The epic became one of her most widely recognised films.
Source: www.oscars.orgPostcards from the Edge
Streep combined drama and musical performance.
Source: www.oscars.orgThe Bridges of Madison County
Her restrained performance earned another leading nomination.
Source: www.oscars.orgAdaptation
The meta-comedy showed a new, playful screen register.
Source: www.oscars.orgThe Devil Wears Prada
Miranda Priestly became a defining modern role.
Source: www.oscars.orgMamma Mia!
The ABBA musical became a worldwide audience favourite.
Source: www.oscars.orgJulie & Julia
Her portrayal of Julia Child earned another Oscar nomination.
Source: www.oscars.orgThe Iron Lady
Streep’s Margaret Thatcher brought her third Academy Award.
Source: www.oscars.orgPresidential Medal of Freedom
President Barack Obama awarded Streep the United States’ highest civilian honour.
Source: www.oscars.orgFlorence Foster Jenkins
The role generated her twentieth Oscar nomination.
Source: www.oscars.orgHonorary Palme d’Or
Cannes honoured her lifetime contribution to cinema.
Source: www.oscars.orgThe Devil Wears Prada 2
Streep returned to the world of Miranda Priestly two decades after the original.
Source: www.oscars.orgExplore related timelines
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This educational timeline is not endorsed by or affiliated with Meryl Streep or their representatives. Event text is original editorial copy based on the linked sources.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Licence shown on source file
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Quick answers
About the Meryl Streep timeline
Who is Meryl Streep?
Stage craft, accents, drama, comedy and musicals made Meryl Streep one of cinema’s defining actors.
How many moments are included?
This public timeline currently contains 20 sourced moments spanning 1949–.
Who maintains this timeline?
This public timeline is created and maintained by Memmie Editorial Team. Schools, clubs and cultural organisations can apply to become timeline partners.
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