Meryl Streep is an actor who really needs no introduction. She is a powerhouse in Hollywood and is one of the most celebrated performers of all time, taking on every role imaginable and always doing so with a seeming effortlessness that you forget you are watching the same actor each time you see her in a different role.
Streep began her career on stage and was quickly snapped up by Hollywood, winning an Oscar within the first three years of her career. She is one of those actors who seems incapable of delivering a bad performance. What's more, Streep is known for her methodical approach to her work, and is able to completely transform herself into whatever role she is playing, whether it's a complete makeover, adopting a specific accent, or changing the way she moves in a film. From The Iron Lady to Into the Woods, here are the best of Meryl Streep's movie transformations, ranked.
8 Death Becomes Her
Death Becomes Her was released in 1993 and is a satirical black comedy directed by Robert Zemeckis, starring Steep and Goldie Hawn as two rivals who fight each other for the affections of a man (played by Bruce Willis). They each drink a potion that guarantees eternal youth, but comes with strange side effects. The film received mixed reviews, but became a cult classic, particularly in the LGBTQ+ community. Streep plays Madeline, who is driven by youth and the desire to be wanted, and her transformation is impressive. The physical effects of the film contort Steep into bizarre and funny positions like we have never seen her before.
7 Silkwood
Silkwood was released in 1983 and sees Streep playing real-life whistleblower Karen Silkwood. Karen was exposed to a dose of nuclear radiation that impacted her life, and she would suspiciously die in a car accident at the age of 28. Streep fully transforms into the character in a way that only she can, portraying Karen as a layered being who is heroic and flawed at the same time. She brings humanity to a figure in history and completely loses herself in the character.
6 Into the Woods
Into the Woods was released in 2014, directed by Rob Marshall and adapted from the 1986 Broadway musical of the same name. The film’s plot is inspired by The Grimm Brothers' fairy tales Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Rapunzel. Into the Woods compounds these stories into a visually striking journey accompanied by the songs from the Broadway musical. Streep plays the vengeful witch in this film, and her physical transformation, per Vanity Fair, is one of the most extreme of her career.
5 Sophie’s Choice
One of the most iconic and celebrated roles of Streep’s entire career is her role as Sophie in Sophie’s Choice. She plays a mother who must make an unimaginable choice, and delivers one of the most heart-breaking scenes in cinema history. She received her first Oscar for this role, and the performance is a masterclass in acting. Her physical transformation is impressive, as she embodies the character fully, developing an impressive Polish accent, so much so that you forget it’s Streep you are watching.
4 A Cry in the Dark
A Cry in the Dark saw Streep portray Linda Chamberlain, a real-life figure from the case of a wild canine that snatched Azaria Chamberlain from a campground near Uluru, resulting in a struggle for her parents to prove their innocence. Streep’s performance here is not one of her most celebrated, but the physical transformation in terms of her look and accent was striking.
3 The Devil Wears Prada
The Devil Wear Prada is another one of Streep’s most iconic roles, being released in 2006. She stars as Miranda Priestly, a fashion magazine editor who hires Andy (Anne Hathaway) and pushes her to her breaking point. The character is based on stories told of Anna Wintour, and Streep easily slips into the skin of the no-nonsense, soft-spoken, and cold editor who commands a room and strikes fear into people’s hearts with just a stare.
2 Doubt
Doubt is a 2008 film directed by John Patrick Shanley, starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis alongside Streep. The film explores the boundaries between race and religion, and ended up receiving four Academy Awards nominations for its cast, being a huge hit with critics and audiences alike. Streep plays Sister Aloyisus, and although her physical transformation only involved Catholic robes and a bonnet, her mannerisms are totally different, and it’s an impressive display of totally embodying a character.
1 The Iron Lady
The Iron Lady was released in 2011 and is the most impressive performance by Streep in terms of transformation for a character. She plays Margaret Thatcher in the years she was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Streep’s voice-work and mannerisms are incredible, and it’s almost impossible to believe you are not watching the real thatcher. The transformation through makeup and hair is also one of the most impressive to be done on screen.