It will be a close race, but legendary actress Meryl Streep may finally earn her long-awaited third Oscar come Sunday night at the 84th annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles.
Streep, 61, is up for Best Actress for her portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady," her record 17th acting Oscar nomination overall.
Streep was first nominated for an Oscar in 1979, for Best Supporting Actress in the Vietnam War drama "The Deer Hunter" (1978) -- a film that went on to earn five Oscars, including Best Picture.
The actress didn't have to wait long to experience Oscar glory, however. She won for Best Supporting Actress for "Kramer vs. Kramer" in 1979, a film that also nabbed five Oscars, including Best Picture. Following a Best Actress nomination for the 1981 drama, "The French Lieutenant's Woman," Streep won her first and only Best Actress Oscar for the 1982 drama, "Sophie's Choice."
Slideshow: Every Best Picture winner's poster, 1927-1977
Slideshow: Every Best Picture winner's poster, 1978-2010
Since then, Streep has been denied the Best Supporting Actress statuette one more time, for 2002's "Adaptation." She's also come up short on bids for the Best Actress Oscar for "Silkwood" (1983); "Out of Africa" (2005); "Ironweed" (2007); "A Cry in the Dark" (1988); "Postcards from the Edge" (1990); "The Bridges of Madison County" (1995); "One True Thing" (1998); "Music of the Heart" (1999); "The Devil Wears Prada" (2006); "Doubt" (2008) and "Julie & Julia" (2009).
By some indications, Streep's 29-year losing streak could come to an end Sunday night, however, with "The Iron Lady."
Slideshow: Major Oscar nominees
While she lost out the coveted Screen Actors Guild award for Best Actress to Viola Davis for "The Help," a win at the British Academy of Television Arts awards for Best Actress Award set up a friendly showdown between Streep and her pal, Davis. The two previously worked together on "Doubt," which earned Davis a Best Supporting Actress nomination.
Beginning with her role in "The Deer Hunter," take a look at Streep's Oscar roles in this slideshow, through "The Iron Lady." Win or lose, one thing's for certain: Streep's Oscar glory, whether as a nominee or winner, is far from over.
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