Meryl Streep turns 77: Revisit 7 of her award-winning roles

June 22 (UPI) — Oscar-, Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actress Meryl Streep is celebrating her 77th birthday.

The actress has entertained audiences for nearly 50 years with her versatile roles, from haunted Holocaust survivor Sophie Zawistowski in Sophie’s Choice to haughty fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada and its sequel.

Streep, whose other credits include Out of Africa, The Bridges of Madison County, Mamma Mia!, Big Little Lies and Only Murders in the Building, has earned three Oscars, four Emmy awards and nine Golden Globes thus far. Here’s a look back at 7 of her award-winning performances.

‘Kramer vs. Kramer’

Streep won her first Oscar and Golden Globe, both for Best Supporting Actress, for her portrayal of Joan Kramer in the 1979 legal drama Kramer vs. Kramer.

Also starring Dustin Hoffman, the movie explores the complicated divorce between married couple Joan (Streep) and Ted (Hoffman) and the custody battle for their young son, Billy (Justin Henry).

Based on the Avery Corman novel, Kramer vs. Kramer is written and directed by Robert Benton (Bonnie and Clyde). The movie won four other Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director for Benton, Best Actor for Hoffman and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Kramer vs. Kramer is available to stream on Prime Video.

‘Sophie’s Choice’

Streep took home a second Oscar and Golden Globe, both for Best Actress, for her role as Sophie Zawistowska in the 1982 drama Sophie’s Choice.

Based on the William Styron novel, the film is written and directed by Alan J. Pakula (All the President’s Men) and co-stars Kevin Kline and Peter MacNicol.

Sophie’s Choice ostensibly follows the love triangle between Sophie (Streep), a Polish Holocaust survivor, her lover Nathan (Kline), a troubled Jewish-American man, and Stingo (MacNicol), a Southern author and the couple’s new neighbor.

The movie is available to stream on Prime Video, Peacock, YouTube, Roku Channel and Tubi.

‘Adaptation’

Streep earned a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of author Susan Orlean in the 2002 comedy-drama Adaptation, written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich).

Nicolas Cage stars as a fictionalized version of Kaufman, along with the dual role of Kaufman’s fictional brother Donald. The movie is inspired by Kaufman’s real-life struggle to adapt Orlean’s book The Orchid Thief for film.

The cast also includes Chris Cooper, Tilda Swinton, Brian Cox, Judy Greer, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Ron Livingston.

Adaptation is available to stream on Prime Video.

‘Angels in America’

Streep won her first Emmy and a Golden Globe, both for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie, for her multiple roles in the 2003 miniseries Angels in America.

Based on the Tony Kushner play, the adaptation explores Reagan-era politics, the AIDS epidemic and more through the intersecting stories of six New York residents in the 1980s.

Al Pacino, Patrick Wilson, Mary-Louise Parker, Emma Thompson, Justin Kirk, Jeffrey Wright and Ben Shenkman also star in the series, written by Kushner and directed by Mike Nichols (The Graduate).

Angels in America is available to stream on HBO Max, Hulu and Prime Video.

‘The Devil Wears Prada’

Streep took home a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her iconic role as fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly in the 2006 comedy-drama The Devil Wears Prada.

Based on the Lauren Weisberger novel, the film follows Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), an awkward aspiring journalist who becomes a personal assistant to the demanding Miranda at the fictional Runway magazine.

Streep reprised Miranda in the 2026 sequel The Devil Wears Prada 2, which opened in theaters in May. Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci also returned for the sequel.

The Devil Wears Prada is available to stream on Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max and AMC+.

‘Julie & Julia’

Streep earned another Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for her portrayal of real-life author and chef Julia Child in the 2009 comedy-drama Julie & Julia.

The film, based on Child’s autobiography My Life in France, and author Julie Powell’s memoir Julie & Julia, follows the contrasting stories of Child (Streep) and Powell (Amy Adams), a New York author who attempts to cook over 500 of Child’s recipes in a year.

Stanley Tucci and Chris Messina also star.

Julie & Julia is available to stream on Pluto TV.

‘The Iron Lady’

Streep won an Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Actress for her portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the 2011 biopic The Iron Lady.

Written by Abi Morgan (Suffragette), the movie reunited Streep with her Mamma Mia! director Phyllida Lloyd.

The Iron Lady explores Thatcher’s life from her childhood in Grantham, to joining the House of Commons, and through her time as prime minister and eventual resignation. The real-life Thatcher was the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century and the first woman to hold the office.

Jim Broadbent, Iain Glen, Olivia Colman and Anthony Head also star in the film, which is available to stream on Prime Video, YouTube and The Roku Channel.