Although “The Iron Lady” had a limited release in December 2011 to qualify for awards season, the film widely released in January 2012. Streep promoted the film internationally in both London and Paris. In time for awards season, she was back in the United States, picking up the New York Film Critics Circle Awards and a Golden Globe Award. In February, she was honored with the BAFTA Award for Best Actress and then attended the Berlin Film Festival, for the German premiere of “The Iron Lady” and another honor – the Honorary Golden Bear for her work on film. On February 26, 29 years after winning her last Oscar, Meryl Streep received the Academy Award as Best Actress “The Iron Lady”. Her longtime collaborator, makeup artist Roy Helland, who has worked with Meryl since Sophie’s Choice, won an Academy Award as well that night, alongside Mark Coulier, for Best Makeup. In honor of her friend and colleague Viola Davis, it was later reported that Meryl made a donation to Davis’ Rhode Island connected charities. Commenting on her third Academy Award win, Streep said “I was a kid when I won this, like, 30 years ago. Two of the nominees were not even conceived. I thought I was so old and jaded, but they call your name and you just go into a sort of white light”.

In August 2012, “Hope Springs” released US theaters, sending Streep on yet another promotional tour. The film was received with positive reviews and favorable box office. The Hollywood Reporter wrote, “Streep’s performance is a winning mix of vulnerability and determination as she at first tries to understand her husband’s indifference and then works to convince him to help reignite their romantic spark. Several scenes where she attempts to reassert sexual intimacy with Arnold are both heartbreaking and hilarious, particularly a risqué rendezvous in a darkened, quiet theater where her unpracticed technique goes wrong in too many different ways.” Streep would receive another Golden Globe nomination for her performance.