Meryl Streep

Look, an Oscar isn't some absolute, definitive metric of a performer's "artistic worth." However, when you’re looking at someone with 14 nominations—the most in history—and two wins to show for it, that certainly speaks to an above-average talent level.
Or does it?

Personally, I thought she was brilliant in Sophie's Choice; it stands as one of the finest performances ever captured on film. Even in the other five or six movies I've seen her in, there was never a moment where I doubted how deeply she inhabited her characters.

What’s your take on her? Is she overrated? Underrated? Just mediocre? And what is your favorite role of hers?
(Feel free to select multiple options in the poll)

It occurred to me: if Natalie Portman has her signature style, then Meryl Streep definitely deserves one too...

Absolutely—I’d just add this one point:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkjhnCRqDF0

She’s definitely above average, but let’s be real—she’s not exactly legendary.

She’s gorgeous, sure, but she can come off a little bit stuck-up sometimes.

So, this is how Jim Carrey feels about Meryl Streep 😂 🙏 :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyjewnwqNjI

(from the AFI life achievement award tribute to Meryl Streep)

When I first watched Fight Club, I was really struck by that line Edward Norton delivers about her—calling her something bland and stereotypical...

Since then, I’ve sat down with Sophie's Choice, House of Spirits, The Devil Wears Prada, Adaptation, Bridge, and so on... and I can honestly say they aren't just good films; they are easily among my all-time favorites.

Beyond average (she’s freaking legendary) 🙏

Her filmography available on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/cartoonworld29

- The Deer Hunter (1978)
- Kramer (1979)
- The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)
- Still of the Night (1982)
- Silkwood (1983)
- Falling in Love (1984)
- Out of Africa (1985)
- Plenty (1985)
- Heartburn (1986)
- Ironweed (1987)
- A Cry in the Dark (1988)
- She-Devil (1989)
- Defending Your Life (1991)
- Death Becomes Her (1992)
- The River Wild (1994)
- The Bridges of Madison County (1995)
- Before and After (1996)
- Marvin's Room (1996)
- Dancing at Lughnasadh (1998)
- One True Thing (1998)
- Music of the Heart (1999)
- The Hours (2002)
- A Prairie Home Companion (2006)

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Movies where she sang:

- Secret Service (1977)
- Alice at the Palace (1981)
- Silkwood (1983)
"Amazing Grace": www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaXW4r7CY9M
- Ironweed (1987)
- Postcards from the Edge (1990)
- Death Becomes Her (1992)
- Marvin's Room (1996)
- A Prairie Home Companion (2006)
- The Music of Regret (2006)
- Mamma Mia! The Movie (2008):

Mothers and Other special (1990): "What a Wonderful World" with Bette Midler, Olivia Newton-John, Goldie Hawn

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"Mamma Mia! The Movie" (2008):

Meryl kills it in this one, singing ABBA hits and dancing her heart out.

- "Waterloo": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RbadLl0dIw

- "Chiquitita": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlkmAGv5WSU

"Money, Money, Money", "Mamma Mia", "Dancing Queen", "Super Trouper",
"SOS", "Slipping Through My Fingers", "The Winner Takes It All":
http://www.youtube.com/user/qmebtcsamy

- Meryl Streep - "Dancing Queen" music video (check out that mid-air split!):

http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=2yy2iya&s=4

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Sarah Hayes10 said:Here is what Jim Carrey thinks about Meryl Streep 😂 🙏 :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyjewnwqNjI

(from the AFI life achievement award Meryl Streep tribute)

the whole speech be phenomenal 🙏 🤣

"Ladies and gentlemen, in the category of best actress ever the nominees are: Meryl Streep, Meryl Streep, and Meryl Streep. And the winner is, guess who."

"I was pretty jittery, honestly. I had no clue what to expect from her. Lucky for me, she was open and willing to learn."
"Remember when I told you 'less is more'? You nailed it. I was seriously proud of you that day."
"Miss Meryl is flawless. Period. There isn't a single crack in the armor. That's what I'd like to know—where are the flaws? What are you man? What are you!!?? when to sing"

When she sings "You're simply the best, better than all the rest, better than anyone, maybe even him (Robert De Niro). Yeah, I'm talking to you!" 😁
When she imitates Robert De Niro, Bruce Dern, and Jack Nicholson 😁

"One more thing. You're already embarrassed, I know. I'm sure you didn't want this to happen."

😁 🤣

Above average.
And Oscars have nothing to do with it. The woman simply knows how to act.

She’s great, truly great.

When I was younger, I used to get a bit irritated by her looks for some reason—I can't quite put my finger on it—maybe because her nose seemed a little too sharp or slightly asymmetrical, or her lips looked a bit thin... I think it's just that shallow impulse where we feel like actresses always need to be breathtakingly beautiful, someone whose face you just stare at in pure awe.

But later on, after watching her in so many different films, I realized: 🙏 this is it, she is an incredible actress.
And honestly, now that she’s older, I find myself liking her even more. Only really intelligent women manage to achieve that kind of grace, where they actually become more attractive, more pleasant to look at, and more magnetic as they age compared to when they were just young stars.

Besides, her emotions just radiate right out of her; she completely carries you away.

I have such a soft spot for her. When I first saw the trailer for Mamma Mia!, I honestly thought it was going to be some sad farewell for a legendary actress 😬 but man, was I wrong. That performance is just incredible 🙏

She’s easily one of the greatest actresses of all time. She basically defined the 80s for me, and honestly, I can't think of a single role where she didn't deliver something deeply emotional and perfectly executed. Not even close. Whether she’s playing extraordinary women (like Sophia Zawistowska) or just your typical American housewife (think "Heartburn" or "The Bridges of Madison County"), she nails it every time. We'll be waiting a long time before we see anyone even come close to replacing her.

"Meryl Streep on Ellen" (10/18/2005):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trHXGX9IF5E

Killer interview. 👍

Meryl: "I often try to act like I'm not upset."

Especially once they start messing with accents and dialects. 😂

Meryl's Bronx Accent: "Yo, I'm trying to tell you something." 😂

"Meryl Streep - Successfully balancing the film industry and motherhood" (newspaper article, January 2007):

http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/p...ie/Meryl-2.jpg

She looks way too good for her age! Honestly, just incredible at any age 😁 I can't tell if she's had any work done, but it doesn't even matter because she looks absolutely stunning 😍

She’s way above average—honestly, she's just fantastic. I absolutely adore her. There was something about her performance in The Devil Wears Prada that really hit home for me; she was just so incredibly charming in that role.

She is truly an exceptional actress. In my estimation, perhaps no one else has tackled such a vast array of films and inhabited such wildly different characters. For me, her most striking performance remains her dual role in The French Lieutenant's Woman. I also found her work in Adaptation to be quite remarkable—she played that part with a completely unhinged, brilliant energy.

Look, I think she’s a solid actress, but honestly? She's definitely overrated. It feels like she always uses the same facial expressions, sort of leaving things unfinished... just kind of lukewarm.

That’s just how I see her acting style. I’m not saying she isn't talented, but she's definitely overhyped. In other words, I think there are better actresses from her generation, and even younger stars who outshine her.

Not sure if I’ve already posted about this incredible actress—her performance in August: Osage County was top-tier, just like her work in all those other films.

My absolute favorite Oscar winner...

Look, Meryl Streep is a talented actress—no one is denying that—but there are countless performers out there who are just as gifted, if not more so, who simply never had the luck of being handpicked by the Hollywood machine.
I’d even go as far as to say she doesn't possess some singular, magical personality trait that sets her apart from any other incredibly skilled but "anonymous" actress.

When you stack her up against the other big names, I honestly think Jodie Foster blows her out of the water with that understated, trademark charisma of hers.
Meryl is really just one of those great actors who, through a perfect storm of timing and aggressive marketing, became America's darling. And because of that status, she was always the first person in line for the top-tier productions...

She’s a talented actress. She isn't conventionally glamorous, which makes her absolutely perfect for portraying everyday American women.