Now five decades into her career, Meryl Streep has more than cemented her status as one of the greatest Hollywood actresses ever. The three-time Oscar winner has more total Academy Award nominations (21) than any other actor in history, her resume stacked with one iconic performance after another. There’s a Meryl for every mood, really, whether you prefer your Streep spiky (as in The Devil Wears Prada—and, it would appear, its forthcoming sequel), buoyant and carefree (Florence Foster Jenkins; Mamma Mia!), understated and vulnerable (The Hours; The Bridges of Madison County), or glamorously wacky (Julie and Julia; Death Becomes Her).
Here, we’ve dug through the archives to assemble a photographic tribute to a singular performer—and Vogue’s May 2026 cover star. And so, without further ado, here are 23 striking vintage pictures of the great Meryl Streep.
Read Vogue’s May 2026 cover story, featuring Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour, here.
