Two very different films were released in 1985. First, Meryl returned to the United Kingdom for the lead role in Fred Schepisi’s adaptation of David Hare’s play “Plenty”. Meryl played Susan Traherne, a resistance fighter whose motives in lives are irreparably changed by her wartime experiences. Surrounded by a stellar cast, including Charles Dance, Tracey Ullman, Sir John Guilgud, Ian McKellen and Sting, the film – although receiving glowing reviews – failed to find an audience upon its theatrical release in September of 1985.

The second film of 1985 reassured Streep’s star status with her performance as Karen Blixen in Sydney Pollack’s “Out of Africa”. Blixen’s life is complicated by a philandering husband, a romance with an adventurer, troubles on the plantation she has bought with her husband, schooling of the natives and the war. Meryl Streep developed her accent by listening to actual recordings of Isak Dinesen reading her works. The three hour-long epic lovestory and love confession to the continent was hailed by critics and audiences as one of the finest romances of the decade – and was awarded with seven Academy Awards, including Best Film and Best Director. Meryl Streep received another nomination for Best Actress, but lost to Geraldine Page. She also received nominations for the Golden Globe and the BAFTA Film Award, winning honors from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and another David Di Donatello Award.