Tom Hanks vs Meryl Streep: Comparing Two of Hollywood’s Most Decorated Actors
Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep are two of the most consistently honoured actors of the past 50 years, but their award records look different when placed side by side.
| Feature | Tom Hanks | Meryl Streep |
| Born | July 9, 1956 – Concord, California | June 22, 1949 – Summit, New Jersey |
| Career Start | 1977 | 1975 |
| Academy Awards Won | 2 (Best Actor) | 3 (1 Supporting, 2 Lead) |
| Academy Award Nominations | 6 (as of his best-known roles) | 21 (a record for any actor) |
| Signature Roles | Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, Cast Away | Sophie’s Choice, Kramer vs. Kramer, The Devil Wears Prada |
Where They’re Similar
Both actors broke through in the late 1970s and built reputations for range across comedy and serious drama, and both remain active performers decades into their careers.
Where They Differ
Streep’s 21 Academy Award nominations remain unmatched by any actor in Oscar history, reflecting a career built heavily around awards-season dramas. Hanks’s path leaned more toward box-office leading-man roles alongside his dramatic work, and his back-to-back Best Actor wins for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump put him in a small group of actors to win in consecutive years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has won more Oscars, Tom Hanks or Meryl Streep?
Meryl Streep, with three Academy Awards to Tom Hanks’s two.
Who has more Oscar nominations, Tom Hanks or Meryl Streep?
Meryl Streep, whose 21 nominations are the most of any actor in Academy Award history.
