2001-2005 Meryl Streep in the 2000s

streep @ reception in st. petersburg, russia, in june 2004.

in 2004, streep became youngest woman ever awarded afi life achievement award board of directors of american film institute, honors individual lifetime contribution enriching american culture through motion pictures , television. same year, streep appeared denzel washington in jonathan demme s manchurian candidate, remake of same-titled 1962 film based on 1959 novel richard condon. streep, did not know original movie prior filming, took on role originated angela lansbury, playing u.s. senator , manipulative, ruthless mother of vice-presidential candidate, played liev schreiber. on golden globe-nominated performance, mick lasalle of san francisco chronicle commented that, no 1 can talk acting in manchurian candidate without rhapsodizing streep. s pleasure watch - , marvel @ - every second s onscreen. thriller became moderate box office success, grossing us$96 million worldwide on budget of us$80 million.

also in 2004, streep appeared alongside jim carrey , timothy spall in brad silberling s adaption lemony snicket s series of unfortunate events. based on first 3 novels in snicket s popular children s book series, black comedy tells story of count olaf (carrey), mysterious theater troupe actor, attempts deceive 3 orphans on deceased parents fortune. streep cast in role of children s overanxious aunt josephine, character has described great tremulous bird of person . film received favorable reviews critics, called exceptionally clever, hilariously gloomy, , bitingly subversive , , nominated 4 academy awards, winning in best make-up category. though film became financial success, grossing us$209 million on budget of us$140 million, plans expand film franchise failed materialize.

streep s next cast in 2005 romantic comedy prime, directed ben younger. in film, plays jewish new york psychoanalyst, 23-year-old son (played bryan greenberg) enters relationship 1 of patients, divorced 37-year-old business-woman, played uma thurman, resulting in dilemma of 2 conflicting intentions. streep welcomed opportunity reprise comedic talent, though , younger agreed on not consciously playing part laughs. prime received mixed reviews, many critics declaring formulaic hollywood rom-com. desson thomson of washington post commented film followed familiar boy-meets-girl scenario, found younger had turned routine combustible fun , , that, streep, meant third party here, rapidly becomes drama s entertaining nucleus . modest mainstream success, film grossed us$67.9 million internationally.