Claim: Meryl Streep's first professional stage role was in Trelawny of the Wells.

Mary Louise `` Meryl '' Streep -LRB- born June 22 , 1949 -RRB- is an American actress and philanthropist . Cited in the media as the `` best actress of her generation '' , -- a designation to which she objects -- Streep is particularly known for her versatility in her roles , transformation into the characters she plays , and her accent adaptation . Nominated for 20 Academy Awards , Streep has more nominations than any other actor , and is one of the six actors to have won three or more competitive Oscars for acting . Streep has also received 30 Golden Globe nominations , winning eight -- more nominations , and more competitive wins than any other actor .   Streep made her professional stage debut in Trelawny of the Wells in 1975 , and in 1976 received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Play for 27 Wagons Full of Cotton . She made her screen debut in the 1977 television film The Deadliest Season , and made her film debut later that same year in Julia . In 1978 , she won an Emmy Award for her role in the miniseries Holocaust , and received her first Academy Award nomination for The Deer Hunter . She went on to win Best Supporting Actress for Kramer vs. Kramer -LRB- 1979 -RRB- , and Best Actress for Sophie 's Choice -LRB- 1982 -RRB- and The Iron Lady -LRB- 2011 -RRB- .   Streep 's other Oscar nominated roles were in The French Lieutenant 's Woman -LRB- 1981 -RRB- , Silkwood -LRB- 1983 -RRB- , Out of Africa -LRB- 1985 -RRB- , Ironweed -LRB- 1987 -RRB- , Evil Angels -LRB- 1988 -RRB- , Postcards from the Edge -LRB- 1990 -RRB- , The Bridges of Madison County -LRB- 1995 -RRB- , One True Thing -LRB- 1998 -RRB- , Music of the Heart -LRB- 1999 -RRB- , Adaptation -LRB- 2002 -RRB- , The Devil Wears Prada -LRB- 2006 -RRB- , Doubt -LRB- 2008 -RRB- , Julie & Julia -LRB- 2009 -RRB- , August : Osage County -LRB- 2013 -RRB- , Into the Woods -LRB- 2014 -RRB- and Florence Foster Jenkins -LRB- 2016 -RRB- . She returned to the stage for the first time in over 20 years in The Public Theater 's 2001 revival of The Seagull , won a second Emmy Award in 2004 for the HBO miniseries Angels in America -LRB- 2003 -RRB- , and starred in The Public Theater 's 2006 production of Mother Courage and Her Children .   Streep was awarded the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2004 , the Gala Tribute from the Film Society of Lincoln Center in 2008 , and the Kennedy Center Honor in 2011 for her contribution to American culture through performing arts . President Barack Obama awarded her the 2010 National Medal of Arts and in 2014 the Presidential Medal of Freedom . In 2003 , the government of France made her a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters . In 2017 , Streep was awarded the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award .