Saturday Night Livehas featured numerous talented and renowned actors and actresses over the years, butMeryl Streep’s appearance during “SNL50: The Anniversary Special” was a standout moment in particular.Lorne Michaels' late-night live sketch comedy variety show celebrated its 50th anniversary in February 2025 by hosting a three-hour special. The episode featured the returns of former cast members (includingSaturday Night Liveoriginals Garrett Morris and Jane Curtin), revisits to iconic sketches, and musical performances. However, Streep’s involvement inSaturday Night Live’s “SNL50: The Anniversary Special"was among the episode’s most memorable moments.
Streep was never anSNLcast member, but she has made quite a name for herself over the years. The actress has been nominated for 21 Oscars (the most nominations for any actor in Academy Awards historyby a long shot, as the next is Katharine Hepburn with 12 nods), winning three. Streep won Best Supporting Actress forKramer vs. Kramer, Best Actress forSophie’s Choice, and Best Actress forThe Iron Lady. It’s safe to say that Streep is one of Hollywood’s most prolific and accomplished stars. However,Streep’s performance onSNLin 2025 marked a first in her career.
SNL’s 50th Anniversary Was Meryl Streep’s First Appearance On SNL
Streep Has Never Hosted Saturday Night Live
Over the course ofMeryl Streep’s impressive almost 50-year movie career, she has shockingly never appeared onSaturday Night Live(until now). Despite being one of Hollywood’s most renowned actresses,Streep hasn’t hosted or made any cameos on the late-night live sketch comedy variety program.As a result, it’s hard to believe that “SNL50: The Anniversary Special” marks her first appearance. Nevertheless, it was, and as far as first appearances go, Streep certainly left her mark.
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Streep was a part ofSNL50’s “Close Encounter 50th” sketch, alongside Kate McKinnon, Pedro Pascal, Woody Harrelson, Jon Hamm, and Aidy Bryant. Over the years,Saturday Night Livehas produced nine versions of the “Close Encounter” sketch,with the ninth being the one featuring Streep. The skit revolves aroundMcKinnon’s iconicSaturday Night Livecharacter, Colleen Rafferty. Colleen is a woman who has been abducted by aliens and brought back to Earth, where government officials question her about her unique experience. However, in the most recent sketch, Colleen’s mother (Colleen Sr.), played by Streep, joined her.
Streep Starred As Miranda Priestly In The Devil Wears Prada
Like most projects she’s in,Meryl Streep stole the show duringSNL50’s “Close Encounter” skit.Of course, she was hilarious and a standout performer, made all the better when she broke character towards the end of the segment. However, during the memorable moments in “SNL50: The Anniversary Special,“Streep referenced a couple of her most iconic movies, includingThe Devil Wears Prada.
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Towards the end of the “Close Encounter” sketch, Jon Hamm and Aidy Bryant’s characters ask the alien abductees how they returned home. Streep’s Colleen Sr. explained how the aliens pushed her out of a hatch and how she subsequently lost her pants when they got snagged on a piece of metal. She said,“As for underwear, you know, this devil wears nada,” which is, of course, a nod toThe Devil Wears Prada,which featured Streep as Miranda Priestly (a performance that landed her a Best Actress Oscar nomination).
Streep Appearing As Colleen Rafferty’s Mother Made The Whole Skit
SNL’s Close Encounter Sketch Is Already Iconic, But Streep Still Made It Better
As mentioned above, Meryl Streep’s involvement in the “Close Encounter” skit inSNL’s “SNL50: The Anniversary Special"made it one of the best sketches of the night. She’s an incredible actress, andthe fact that she has never been onSNLmade it all the better.Kate McKinnon is always amazing as Colleen Rafferty, of course. However, Streep as McKinnon’s character’s mother was the perfect casting and made the scene all the better. The reference toThe Devil Wears Pradawas great too, rounding out one of the most hilarious moments of the three-hourSaturday Night Livespecial.
