As a guilt-stricken Holocaust survivor with a terrible secret, Streep delivers one of those rare and wondrous performances that never leave your memory banks.

The depths she went to – not only learning how to speak Polish but also how to pronounce German with a Polish accent – made her a figure of mockery for some.

But that’s simply ludicrous: to witness Streep reveal the agony of her wartime experiences is a scarring experience.

Not an actress who takes her work home, Streep calls Sophie’s Choice one of the most enjoyable gigs she’s ever had. The rest of us can only flinch at her powerful, haunting tour de force.

Greatest moment: Sophie’s choice, naturally – on arrival at Auschwitz, an SS officer makes her pick between her son and daughter.

Also see: Linda (The Deer Hunter), Karen Silkwood (Silkwood), Lindy Chamberlain (A Cry In The Dark), Francesca Johnson (The Bridges Of Madison County), Susan Orlean (Adaptation)