20 Most Influential Actors Of All Time

Meryl Streep is regarded by many as the greatest actress of all time. Known for her uncanny ability to capture the nuances of different accents and her seamless versatility (in both role and genre), she has been nominated for 21 Academy Awards, winning three, and 32 Golden Globes, winning eight - both records. On screen, she is like a chameleon; any trace of Streep is lost to the role, and no two characters are even remotely similar.

Some of her most acclaimed roles include Kramer vs Kramer, Out of Africa, The Devil Wears Prada, The Iron Lady and the comedy Death Becomes Her. Able to transcend the screen with any genre she finds herself in, she is perhaps best known for her Oscar-winning performance in Sophie's Choice, in which she portrayed a Polish immigrant whilst speaking English and German with a Polish accent.

Also, it's safe to say that all of her characters are strong and capable women, but it is her ability to tap into the full spectrum of human emotion that makes her so outstanding to watch. Her influence is best seen in the work and praise of others, as many stars - from Emily Blunt, Robert De Niro, Viola Davis and Jack Nicholson - have considered her an influence on their own work, someone they all look up to.

And since she slows no sign of slowing down, her influence will only continue and infect more audiences and actors to come.