As we prepate to close 2019 and saddle our horses for a new decade, I thought about the Streep performance that has left the biggest impression on me this past decade? The rather surprising answer: There’s none. There have great performances in not-so-great films and some oddballs that have been long forgotten (Ricki and the Flash anybody?). The film industry has changed much more rapidly than it did in the 2000s, and although Meryl Streep made 14 films plus one tv series this decade, the availability of great content and memorable roles in cinema declines. So, which roles have stood out these last 10 years? Have a look at my (very opinionated) rundown of Streep’s top 5 performances:

Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady” (2011)

Margaret Thatcher, the first woman ever to serve as prime minister of Great Britain and the longest-serving British prime minister of the 20th century, has died at age 87. Thatcher had significant health problems in her later years, suffering several small strokes and, according to her daughter, struggling with dementia. But during her long career on the political stage, Thatcher was known as the Iron Lady. She led Great Britain as prime minister from 1979 to 1990, a champion of free-market policies and adversary of the Soviet Union. Many scenes of her political career, shown today in news reports all over the world, not only highlight her impact in politics for decades, but also recall Meryl’s powerful performance as Thatcher in her Oscar-winning performance in 2011’s “The Iron Lady”.

Today, Meryl Streep’s management has released a statement by Meryl on Margaret Thatcher’s death:

Margaret Thatcher was a pioneer, willingly or unwillingly, for the role of women in politics. It is hard to imagine a part of our current history that has not been affected by measures she put forward in the UK at the end of the 20th century.

Her hard-nosed fiscal measures took a toll on the poor and her hands-off approach to financial regulation led to great wealth for others. There is an argument that her steadfast, almost emotional loyalty to the pound sterling has helped the UK weather the storms of European monetary uncertainty.

But to me she was a figure of awe for her personal strength and grit. To have come up, legitimately, through the ranks of the British political system, class bound and gender phobic as it was, in the time that she did and the way that she did, was a formidable achievement. To have won it, not because she inherited position as the daughter of a great man, or the widow of an important man, but by dint of her own striving.

To have withstood the special hatred and ridicule, unprecedented in my opinion, leveled in our time at a public figure who was not a mass murderer; and to have managed to keep her convictions attached to fervent ideals and ideas — wrongheaded or misguided as we might see them now — without corruption — I see that as evidence of some kind of greatness, worthy for the argument of history to settle.

To have given women and girls around the world reason to supplant fantasies of being princesses with a different dream: the real-life option of leading their nation; this was groundbreaking and admirable.

I was honored to try to imagine her late life journey, after power; but I have only a glancing understanding of what her many struggles were, and how she managed to sail through to the other side. I wish to convey my respectful condolences to her family and many friends.

The nominations for the 15th annual Moët British Independent Film Awards were announced today. Nominations for Best Actress go to Alice Lowe for Sightseers, Andrea Riseborough for Shadow Dancer, Elle Fanning for Ginger & Rosa, Judi Dench for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady. Abi Morgan has also received a nomination for Best Screenplay. The winners will be announced at the 15th awards ceremony on Sunday 9 December at the impressive Old Billingsgate in London.

Yahoo Movies has posted an excerpt of one of the Blu-Ray documentaries on “The Iron Lady” – creating Margaret Thatcher – in which Oscar-winner Mark Coulier talks about the process of transforming Meryl into Margaret. Lots of new footage from behind the scenes is shown. The full documentary and more featurettes can be found on the Blu-Ray, which is available in the US since April 10 and in the UK since today.

“The Iron Lady” has been released on DVD and Blu-Ray today in the USA, so be sure to grab your copy. I have added over 1.700 high quality screencaptures from the Blu-Ray to the image library. Enjoy the captures!

A wrap-up on Meryl’s Tokyo visit to promote the Japanese premiere of “The Iron Lady”. Additional pictures have been added as well as a video compilation of television reports and interviews from the premiere and the full press conference on the film in two parts. Many thanks to Yasuko for additional information and video contribution. Enjoy!

A day after the Japan premiere, Meryl and Phyllida Lloyd have attended a press conference for “The Iron Lady” in Tokyo. And they apparently had fun. According to visitor Asako, Meryl and Phyllida tasted Sake after braking the top of Sake’s cask – wishing the “The Iron Lady” to become a hit in Japan. Over hundred additional pictures from yesterday’s premiere and today’s press conference have been added to the image library. Thanks for those who have contributed material, especially Asako and Glenn.

Today, Meryl and Phyllida Lloyd have attended the premiere of “The Iron Lady” in Tokyo, Japan. Pictures have been added to the image library. I would be very happy if any of the Japanese visitors of Simply Streep were able to provide more information on her visit. Just drop me a line. Thanks!

First of all, my apologies for not providing live coverage on the Academy Awards, but work schedules have prevented me from doing so. I hope you have all enjoyed the Oscars and I’ll be adding pictures and multimedia as we speak, so check back for more additions throughout the evening. About 400 pictures from the red carpet, the show and the press room and the after-parties have been added. More pictures – and video files – will be added tomorrow! Enjoy the new additions :-)