 In 1996 , Streep played the estranged sister of Bessie ( Diane Keaton ) , a woman battling leukemia , in Marvin 's Room , an adaptation of the play by Scott McPherson . Streep recommended Keaton for the role . The film also starred a young Leonardo DiCaprio as Streep 's character 's rebellious son . Roger Ebert stated that " Streep and Keaton , in their different styles , find ways to make Lee and Bessie into much more than the expression of their problems . " The film was critically acclaimed , and Streep earned another Golden Globe nomination for her performance . 
