See Amazing Old Photos of Meryl Streep

When you think of Oscar Nominated Actresses, one name should come to mind: Meryl Streep. The woman has been nominated for an Academy Award 17 (!!!) times, and won the award three times. And this year, as usual, the actress is up for a Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for her work in the family drama August: Osage Country. The film is about the dynamics of a dysfunctional family with strong female characters who can't seem to ever get along. A family crisis reunites them at the Oklahoma home where they grew up. Chaos undoubtably ensues.

Streep's first nominee was way back in 1979 for her character in The Deer Hunter and she's since been nominated every few years for her outstanding performances in films such as Out of Africa, Doubt, and even the fashion-forward Devil Wears Prada. Her most recent win was for The Iron Lady in 2012.

But before she won the oscar for portraying Britain's prime minister, Streep had an acting career that, while didn't recognize her on-screen abilities as much as it does it now, certainly did show off her youthful good looks. From Sophie's Choice to Woody Allen's Manhattan, take a look back at some of Streep's earliest roles.

Julia (1977)

The Deer Hunter (1978)

Manhattan (1979)

Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

Still of the Night (1982)

Sophie's Choice (1982)

Images: 20th Century Fox; Universal [3]; Jack Rollins & Charles H. Joffe Productions; she knows; United Artists; ITC