Meryl Streep is widely regarded as one of the greatest actresses of all time, and her ability to completely transform into her characters is legendary. One of her most iconic performances came in Sophie’s Choice (1982), where she portrayed Zofia “Sophie” Zawistowski, a Polish immigrant grappling with a tragic past. The role demanded more than just emotional depth—Streep had to master the Polish language to bring authenticity to her character.
A Challenge Unlike Any Other
When Streep first signed on for Sophie’s Choice, she knew she would need to deliver lines in Polish. However, she initially underestimated the difficulty of learning the language. In an interview, she admitted, “I thought it would be a piece of cake, like picking up Italian or French or something—but it’s not.” Polish, with its complex grammatical structure, turned out to be far more challenging than she anticipated.
Polish belongs to the Slavic language family, known for its intricate grammatical rules, including seven different cases that modify word endings depending on their role in a sentence. Streep found this structure particularly difficult, stating, “You have to parse every sentence as you speak it; every word changes its ending according to whether it’s the object of a sentence or the subject or the indirect object. It’s really wild.”
A Last-Minute Change That Made All the Difference
Originally, the film’s concentration camp flashback scenes were scripted in English. However, director Alan J. Pakula felt that something was missing and decided that the scenes should be performed in both Polish and German to enhance authenticity.
This sudden change required Streep to learn German on short notice, in addition to her ongoing struggle with Polish. Rather than being overwhelmed, she embraced the challenge, reportedly telling Pakula, “Get me a German teacher.” Her unwavering dedication led her to Zagreb, Yugoslavia, where she spent three weeks filming some of the most harrowing scenes of her career.
A Career-Defining Performance
Meryl Streep’s commitment to authenticity paid off immensely. Her performance in Sophie’s Choice remains one of the most critically acclaimed in cinematic history. The film’s emotional weight, combined with Streep’s seamless delivery of Polish and German dialogue, left audiences stunned.
Her portrayal of Sophie’s trauma and resilience was so powerful that it earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1983. To this day, Sophie’s Choice is considered one of the greatest performances in film history, and Streep’s linguistic dedication is a major reason why.
Beyond Sophie’s Choice: Streep’s Dedication to Language and Accents
Streep’s remarkable talent for adopting different accents and languages has become a defining aspect of her career. Over the years, she has mastered everything from British aristocratic speech in The Iron Lady to the Danish accent in Out of Africa and even an Australian twang in A Cry in the Dark. Her willingness to go to great lengths for authenticity continues to inspire actors worldwide.
A Legacy of Perfection
For Meryl Streep, simply delivering lines is never enough—she fully inhabits her characters, down to their linguistic and cultural nuances. Learning Polish and German for Sophie’s Choice was no easy feat, but her tireless efforts resulted in one of the most unforgettable performances in cinematic history. Her work set a new gold standard for method acting, proving that true dedication can create movie magic.
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