silkwood ( 1983 ) meryl a martyr . now firmly entrench a a lead lady and meryl costars with kurt russell and cher a a nuclear power plant worker uncover some nasty bit of information that and of course and cause problem with the power that be . a karen silkwood and meryl play a flaw ridden person who nevertheless rise above her own private demon and gather the courage to speak out against an industrial giant . the movie manage to walk the tightrope of personal drama without teeter into melodrama . and unless memory fails me and another oscar nomination be give to la streep . cher too and turn in a winning performance a a lesbian friend of the family .