Meryl Streep stars in The Iron Lady, this week’s Sunday blockbuster on M-Net (Sunday, 24 February at 20:05). This is a fitting role for Meryl because her success in the film industry proves that she is the iron lady of Hollywood.

Meryl is widely regarded as one of the greatest living actors. With 17 Academy Award nominations in her career, she is the most nominated actor in the history of the Awards.

With the Academy Awards coming up (Monday, 25 February, live at 03:00 on M-Net Movies Premiere, rebroadcast at 20:30 on M-Net and available on DStv On Demand from Tuesday, 26 February), Meryl’s massive success at the Oscars over the years has prompted us to take a look back at some of her greatest wins.

The Deer Hunter
Meryl’s road to success was paved by her vivid performance as Linda in The Deer Hunter. Meryl showed us her ability to speak volumes without saying a word when she played Linda, a girl who is torn between her devotion for her fiancé and her attraction to his hot best friend.

This classic movie earned Meryl her first ever Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.



Kramer vs. Kramer
Meryl hit the Oscar jackpot in 1979 when she landed the role of Joanna in Kramer vs. Kramer. The film itself was revolutionary because it reflected on the big cultural shift that was happening in the 70s when gender roles were changing.

Meryl’s character caused quite a stir when she left her workaholic husband to raise their son alone because she needed to "find herself". The role earned Meryl her first Academy Award win in the Best Supporting Actress category.

Watch as Meryl wins her first ever Academy Award:


Sophie’s Choice
Meryl received her fourth Oscar nomination and earned her second Oscar win for her role as Sophie Zawistowska in Sophie’s Choice. She gave an unforgettable emotional performance and was a popular choice to win in the category for Best Actress.

Some critics said she was so convincing as a Polish immigrant that they found it hard to believe she is American.



The Iron Lady (Sunday, 24 February at 20:05 on M-Net)
Her extremely persuasive portrayal of one of Britain’s most powerful women earned Meryl Streep a spot back on the Oscar stage. She waited 29 years after her first Best Actress Academy Award win for Sophie’s Choice to win the award for a second time.

With the win, Meryl joined an elite group of double Best Actress winners including Jodie Foster, Elizabeth Taylor and Hilary Swank.

Take a sneak peak at her powerful performance: Be sure to watch Meryl Streep’s incredible performance as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady on Sun at 20:05 on M-Net and don’t miss the 85th Academy Awards, live on Monday, 25 February at 03:00 on M-Net Movies Premiere, rebroadcast on Monday at 20:30 on M-Net and available on DStv On Demand from Tuesday, 26 February.