Since she turned 38, Meryl Streep has been waiting for her career to collapse. Instead, at 65, she continues from strength to strength. At an age when women have traditionally been relegated to playing old crones, Meryl Streep has become a powerhouse at the box office.
She is iconic for bringing richly complicated and interesting female characters to the silver screen – mature-age female characters at that. And with 18 Academy Award nominations in 35 years, she holds the record for being the most nominated actor in history – both males and females.
Now Meryl Streep is reaching another life milestone – turning 65 years old on Sunday. Having shirked the tight mask of plastic surgery and presented the mature women’s face in its natural beauty, we need more women like her in Hollywood.
Meryl Streep at home on the stage.
Speaking at the 2014 AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Jane Fonda.
Meryl Streep, the iconic and arguably greatest actress of our time, turns 65 this year.
“A Conversation With Meryl Streep” presented by the University of Massachusetts this year.
Streep made her professional stage debut in The Playboy of Seville in 1971.
The actress has confessed to insecurities saying “I thought I was too ugly to be an actress. Glasses weren’t fabulous then,” referring to when she entered the profession.
By 1979 had won an Oscar for her role in Kramer vs. Kramer.
In 2012, she won the Academy Award for best actress in The Iron Lady.
With 18 Academy Award nominations in 35 years, she holds the record for being the most nominated actor in history among both males and females.
Winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama in 2012.
In The Iron Lady Streep depicted Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s first and so far only female Prime Minister.
It was one of many incredible transformations Streep has made into her characters.
She played the famous Vogue Editor in Chief, Anna Wintour, in The Devil Wears Prada.
Her performance was praised as largely responsible for the box-office smash that the movie was.
Streep played chef Julia Child in Julie & Julia.
Never the Thespian snob, she voiced Felicity Fox, Mr Fox’s wife in The Fantastic Mr Fox.
Meeting Queen Elizabeth in 1980.
Partying with Kate Winslet (and her Academy Award) at the 2009 Vanity Fair Oscar Party.
Making a statement on the red carpet at the 2004 AFI Lifetime Achievement Awards (left) and in 2010.
Classic and stunning in Fred Leighton at the 2010 Academy Awards (left) and at the Golden Globes in 2010 with her award for Julie & Julia.
Streep is well known for her ability to imitate a wide range of accents.
Sandra Bullock gets close to Meryl at the 15th annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards.
Meryl was the Emmy Award winner of Outstanding Lead Actress for Angels in America in 2003.
With her daughter Louisa Jacobson Gummer at the 81st Annual Academy Awards.
Partying with some other icons.
Effortlessly cool in 1989.
With Don Gummer, her husband since 1978.
On the blue carpet.
In Sydney promoting Mama Mia with Colin Firth and Dominic Cooper.
Happy birthday Meryl!
