Meryl Streep
Streep’s performance as the stern, self-righteous and tenacious Sister Aloysius Beauvier is widely regarded as one of the best in an impressive career. After graduating from the Yale School of Drama in 1975, Streep moved to New York City and was cast in the Public Theater's production of Trelawny of the Wells. After watching Taxi Driver (1976), Streep decided to begin auditioning for film roles. Following a negative film experience opposite Jane Fonda in Julia (1977), Streep had a breakthrough role in The Deer Hunter (1978). She quickly rose to critical acclaim for her roles in The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981) and Sophie's Choice (1982). In the 1990s and 2000s, she starred in numerous other films, among them The Devil Wears Prada (2007), Doubt (2009), and The Post (2018).
Streep holds the record for both the most Academy Award and Golden Globe Awards nominations of any actor. She received an Academy Award nomination for "Best Actress" for her role as Sister Aloysius Beauvier in Doubt. She has been awarded honorary degrees from both Yale University and Dartmouth College. Streep is known for her philanthropic donations and her political beliefs. In January 2017, Streep accepted the Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Golden Globes ceremony. She used her acceptance speech to discuss her disapproval of Donald Trump and his political ideals.
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman began acting at the age of fourteen. After earning a Drama degree from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, he began working in off-Broadway theater and taking small film roles. He first gained widespread acclaim for his role in Al Pacino's Scent of a Woman (1992). He continued working both in theaters and film throughout the early 1990s. In the early 2000s, he began starring in numerous movies, among them Punch-Drunk Love (2002), Owning Mahowny (2003), and Capote (2005). He has also delved into the world of American independent cinema, and he collaborated with Charlie Kaufman in Synecdoche, New York (2008). In the latter part of his career, Hoffman began directing films.
Until his death in 2014, Hoffman was continuously praised for his astute acting and work ethic. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Capote (2005), and he also received a nomination for his performance in Doubt (2008). He also received three Tony Award nominations for his stage performances.
Amy Adams
After beginning a career in theater in a small town in Colorado, Amy Adams moved to Los Angeles to begin working on films. Her breakthrough role came as the lead in the small-budget independent comedy-drama, Junebug (2005). She was lauded for her performance and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. In 2007, she starred as Giselle in the Disney musical film, Enchanted. The film garnered $340 million at the box office and earned her a Golden Globe nomination. For her role in Doubt (2008), Adams was nominated in the category of Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, and BAFTA Awards.
Viola Davis
Viola Davis is a celebrated actress both on film and on stage. She is the only black actress to have won a Tony Award, an Oscar Award, and an Emmy Award throughout the course of her career. She began her career collaborating with Steven Soderbergh on three projects: Out of Sight, Solaris, and Traffic. Although she only appeared in one scene in Shanley's Doubt (2008), she was nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and her numerous accolades solidify her as one of the most powerful black actresses of the 21st century. She is the first and only actress of color to win an Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Joseph Foster
Joseph Foster was just a child when he played Donald Miller in John Patrick Shanley's Doubt. He has also acted in Doubting Thomas (2010), The Star Side (2014) and The NPC (2014).
