Meryl Streep Academy Awards 2012 Best Actress Winner

First Posted: 02/26/2012 11:32 pm Updated: 02/27/2012 12:07 pm

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In what might have been the tightest race of Oscar night, Meryl Streep beat Viola Davis to win Best Actress at the 84th annual Academy Awards. With 17 nominations, Streep is the most lauded actor in the history of the Oscars; this is her third win.

"When they called my name, I had this feeling I could hear half of America going, 'Ohhh, no,'" the ever-delightful Streep said during her acceptance speech. She went on to tearfully thank her husband.

Streep won the award for playing Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady," following her reign as Britain's Prime Minister and into her more troubled twilight years. This win ends her 29-year losing streak; the last time Streep took home a trophy was in 1983 for her role in "Sophie's Choice."

It was down to the wire whether Streep would prevail over Davis. The pair are close friends after appearing together in "Doubt"; Streep won the Golden Globe and BAFTA award, but Davis grabbed Best Actress at the Screen Actors Guild Awards -- a victory which many thought would lead to an Oscar.

In addition to Davis, Streep defeated Michelle Williams ("My Week With Marilyn"), Rooney Mara ("The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo") and Glenn Close ("Albert Nobbs") for the trophy.

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In what might have been the tightest race of Oscar night, Meryl Streep beat Viola Davis to win Best Actress at the 84th annual Academy Awards. With 17 nominations, Streep is the most lauded actor in t...
In what might have been the tightest race of Oscar night, Meryl Streep beat Viola Davis to win Best Actress at the 84th annual Academy Awards. With 17 nominations, Streep is the most lauded actor in t...
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Lisa Ellwood
Nanticoke/Lenni Lemape Native American.
389 Fans
 
01:19 PM on 02/29/2012
Viola Davis was robbed... So what if Meryl Streep hadn't won in X amount of years? Her Oscar wins in the past were for films and performances far more worthy than The Iron Lady and her impersonation of Thatcher.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Ugonna
555 Fans
 
08:10 AM on 02/29/2012
I will say it, her portrayal of Thatcher seemed more impersonation than becoming/acting. She did not convince me she was Thatcher the way she did Julia for example. Sorry.
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iteachulearn
62 Fans
02:49 AM on 02/28/2012
Viola Davis did not seem surprised, but she must've been very disappointed. She took it very well. I suspect that someone told her of the possibility of not winning and to be prepared for that. Or, she probably figured it out herself. She seemed confident, though.

Whatever reason she did not win, I hope that she does not let that affect her going forward like not winning has other actors of color (Will Smith, Eddie Murphy, Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, etc.). There won't be 17 noms for any actor of color.

And to those who ask, "Why does race matter?", it matters because, as Davis says, there are so few quality roles for actors of color. And, it's not about making your own roles and movies because oftentimes Hollywood only recognizes actors of color in certain rare roles, and movies made by people of color hardly ever get made...unless they are stereotypical...or they don't get seen if they aren't stereotypical. So, don't necessarily expect Davis to be back anytime soon. It's not guaranteed.

Lastly, one can love Meryl Streep and still have wanted Davis to win. However, if the voters actually thought that she should have won, then they did the right thing, but if it was for sentimentality, then that's wrong.
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Robin Mahan
0 Fans
04:54 PM on 02/27/2012
Words use to describe Streep, classy, great actress, etc. But the fact remains she did not give the best performance. Silly me, I thought the oscars was suppose to award for the best performance not personality or how many times a person is nominated. Sorry Viola, you should have won.
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rowdygirl
22 Fans
04:37 PM on 02/27/2012
Wouldn't she have to be nominated for 29 years and lose every year,for it to be a 29 year losing streak.?? just sayin..
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
madcityy
303 Fans
02:55 PM on 02/27/2012
she is wayyyyyyyyyy tooooo goooooooddddddddddddddd
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voyagerdjc248
39 Fans
11:55 AM on 02/27/2012
Yes, Streep is good, but I really thought Viola Davis should have won the best actress oscar. Too many years of the same people over and over. And where were the awards for War Horse? An absolutely great movie, great photography, great acting, great sound, great everything.
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kennlrs
31 Fans
10:09 AM on 02/27/2012
I have read that one of the worst Hollywood films ever made concerned the theme of Outer Space exploration. Yet one of the most noted and celebrated films of the past year was called "The Tree of Life." The movie had themes and brilliant photos concerning the exploration of outer space and other planets and marvelous computer-generated shots of galaxies, etc. In fact, scientists have recently discovered many exoplanets that have similar temperatures and shapes as that of planet Earth. I imagine that one of the greatest discoveries of all time would be the discovery of some other inhabited planet or planets with beings similar to humans (and maybe with their own version of Hollywood movies).
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tellnldy
14 Fans
10:04 AM on 02/27/2012
Personally I thought they spent way too much time clowning around and then when a winner was on stage they shooed them along, hurried them up and it was disconcerting. Not saying it was not a good show, however, there were things like the tribute to the ones who have died in this last year. First of all they went too fast, secondly you could not read what in the world most of them did, and if you did not recogize the speeding photo it was a flop. Then mostly I think it is for themselves as half of them could barely speak English, again not saying their work was not worthy of an award, but they had to speed up so they could get to the comedy act. I probably will not watch next year. Whatever happened to happy films? A sign of the times I guess.
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remarks208
122 Fans
09:55 AM on 02/27/2012
Ms Streep definitely deserved to win an Oscar for her portrayal of Maggie Thatcher... after all, for such a flaming liberal could pull off a convincing portrayal of a staunch conservative she must be one heck of an actress. Unfortunately, now some celebrity fawners will now try to justify Ms Streep's own demented politics as worth hearing and giving her a loudspeaker to spew her "opinion".
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rlshf46
166 Fans
10:07 AM on 02/27/2012
Most of them have a demented political view.

You would think they would stay neutral since both liberals and conservatives attend their movies.

That being said, MS is one of the very few female actresses who can play any role and do an excellent job. The only other is a male, Tom Hanks!
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algonquin j calhoun
with every 100 fans I change my name
90 Fans
09:55 AM on 02/27/2012
since when is oscar given out as some sort of consolation award? would've been a better idea to give her one for lifetime achievement rather than throw an oscar at her for this mess. the movie was unwatchable-- as millions who stayed away will attest-- and i've seen better impersonations of british upper crust by monty python and saturday night live.
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rlshf46
166 Fans
10:04 AM on 02/27/2012
Very few share your opinion.

Just who do you think deserved it more?
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Robin Mahan
0 Fans
04:55 PM on 02/27/2012
Agreed!
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whatsit2yadudes
Veni, Vidi, Dormivi
803 Fans
09:43 AM on 02/27/2012
I remember seeing Streep in the movie "Silkwood". She was simply outstanding in that movie, but only received nominations for it. It was the 1st time I'd seen her in a movie and realize immediately how talented she was. After that, seemed like I always found in a movie...as she started in several great ones. Congrats, Meryl Streep, for winning this award.
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azinv
169 Fans
09:40 AM on 02/27/2012
Iron Lady sucked, their were superior performances by other actresses. This was not deserved.
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curious-yellow
25 Fans
10:02 AM on 02/27/2012
I agree . SO WHAT she has'nt won since 1983? Streep DID'NT win for Julia/Julia for she's BACK to doing her foreign voices. That movie should have been on HBO. I REALLY think she looks at a script wondering: Will this get me an Oscar? Close OR Davis ,would have been better.
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azinv
169 Fans
01:04 PM on 02/27/2012
Rooney Mara should have won.
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DennisTheMenance
171 Fans
10:39 AM on 02/27/2012
Consider the Source.. Who Nominates and Awards the Best of the Rest?
The Fox Incharge of the hen House..
Not the Critics, right?
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user598486
135 Fans
09:36 AM on 02/27/2012
Meryl Streep...She sure looks old!
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clematisvine
355 Fans
09:34 AM on 02/27/2012
Love her, love her, love her. There's no one who can play the wide range of parts she can and has. Bravo to her!
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