Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role 1983
Meryl Streep Sophie’s Choice 1983
SEX WORKER ROLE
Helen Archer in Ironweed 1987
Oscar Nominated For Playing An Alcoholic Homeless Prostitute
Meryl Streep in Ironweed 1987
In “Ironweed,” Meryl plays Helen Archer, a former singer turned homeless drunk. She is the longtime companion of Jack Nicholson’s character, who is also a drunk. Without a roof over her head, Helen is forced to constantly seek shelter. The type of sex work Helen engages in is “survival sex,” trading sex to meet basic needs of daily life. In the movie, Helen turns tricks TWICE in exchange for a roof over her head. This is not a film you want to watch when depressed. However, Streep’s performance added another role to her gallery of stunning performances over her career, with yet another Academy Award nod to her record of nominations. She would lose the Oscar to her former “Silkwood” co-star Cher, who triumphed in the now classic film “Moonstruck.”
Watch clip from the film “Ironweed”
To read more about other Oscar-winning actresses playing characters working in the sex trade industry, please continue perusing Oscar Hookers