(Autumn 2009: Be sure to watch for Streep's latest, "It's Complicated" a romantic comedy, coming out Christmas Day 2009...looks like a good one! Check out preview video at end of column)

Don't miss Streep in "Julie and Julia"...She's Wonderful!!!

Although one hubber has already noted Diane Keaton as a popular "senior" actress, I would like to propose the wonderful Meryl Streep for this honor.With 14 Oscar nominations she tops every actress and most actors for being recognized for 'greatness' by her peers.

In fact, Diane Keaton herself noted that Streep is "my generation's genius"*

And Robert Redford has said of Streep, "There's simply no finer craftsman in the business. She's as good as it gets."

With more Oscar nominations than any other actress...Streep's career reaveals the vast variety of characters and movie styles...drama, comedy, thriller, even an upcoming musical (film version of "Mamma Mia") Her roles have ranged from mothers in Kramer v. Kramer (first oscar) and as mother in the gut-wrenching Sophie's Choice (Oscar award).

Mamma Mia airs Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009, at 4:15PM on MAX channel.

She was a sassy avoiding-reality irresponsible daughter in Marvin's Room (with co-star Diane Keaton) and a trying-to-cope-with-humor-and-dignity daughter in Postcards from the Edge (Oscar nomination).

She handled true comedy roles in Death Becomes Her and over-the-top-goodie-goodie in The She Devil with RoseAnne Barr and Ed Begley!

She played the sentimental lover role in The French Lieutenant's Woman (Oscar nomination), Bridges of Madison County (Oscar nomination) and Out of Africa (Oscar nomination). Lately she's moved into 'executive' roles in dramas like The Manchurian Candidate (2004), the comedy, Devil Wears Prada (Oscar nomination) and thriller, Rendition (2007) with Reese Witherspoon.

Serious physical acting, where she did many of her own stunts, were required in the action thriller The River Wild with Kevin Bacon.

More physical stamina was needed for several scenes in Out of Africa, where she plays a Danish upper-class woman now trying to manage a farm in Africa during the outbreak of World War One. Some major safari type moments.

As an Oklahoman, I remember her serious drama gritty true-life role from Silkwood (Oscar nomination). I also remember her in the recent Nicolas Cage movie Adaptation, in which she jplayed the author of the non-fictionbook that he was trying to adapt as a screenplay.

I first remember the long golden hair that many of us remember from Kramer v, Kramer in Woody Allen's Manhattan playing his ex-wife and lesbian!

She played an unhappy wife (based on true life Nora Ephron's marriage to Carl Bernstein) with Jack Nicholson in Heartburn.

And these are just the ones I truly remember! There was the Australian story of the woman who thought her child eaten by a bush-dog of some sort, there was the violin playing teacher to kids in NYC. the recent, and box-office disappointing Lions for Lambs with Robert Redford and Tom Cruise. There were early, early movies in the 1970s...lots of theater work...way too much to go into here!

* Widipedia