Meryl Streep (2012)

Meryl Streep won the Oscar for best lead actress on Sunday for her portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady."

Meryl Streep on IMDb: Awards, nominations, and wins

Meryl Streep, the clear frontrunner for many weeks, wins the best actress Oscar at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony

Meryl Streep said she was stunned to win the best actress Oscar for The Iron Lady because “frankly, I understand Streep fatigue and it shocked me that it didn’t override this tonight”.

Meryl Streep has picked up the Oscar for best lead actress for her portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady.

This is a list of awards and nominations for Meryl Streep. Streep has been recognized with multiple awards and nominations for her work in film, television, and music.

Tonight's 84th Annual Academy Awards may not have been full of scandalous moments to discuss at the water cooler tomorrow—aside from Angelina Jolie's right leg, which is already the proud owner of a Twitter feed—but Meryl Streep's acceptance speech made the entire three-hour affair worthwhile. In a telecast filled with mostly predictable victories guided by a master host, now nine-time veteran Billy Crystal, Streep's win in the best actress category for The Iron Lady was surprising for many viewers, including your blogger, who was certain Viola Davis would beat her to the podium for The Help.

Colin Firth presenting Meryl Streep with the Oscar® for Best Actress for her performance in The Iron Lady at the 84th Academy Awards. See more 2012 Oscar hig...

UPDATED: “The Help” actress had been widely expected to take home the trophy after wins at the Golden Globes and SAG Awards.

Watch The 84th Annual Academy Awards: Meryl Streep's Acceptance Speech (February 26, 2012) by YouL00K on Dailymotion here