Meryl Streep felt “washed up” when she hit 40

The ‘ions for Lambs actress feared there would be no interesting film roles for older women in Hollywood.

However, the now 58-year-old star has since enjoyed a new lease of life, winning a host of exciting parts including bitchy magazine boss Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada and the lead role in the new film version of musical Mamma Mia.

She said: “I thought I was washed up at 40 so now I’m really thrilled. There just weren’t a lot of interesting scripts. I generally could find only one a year.”

The actress believes there are more parts available for older actresses nowadays because more women hold influential positions in the film industry.

She is quoted by Britain’s Daily Express newspaper as saying: “Movies are really just a projection of the fantasies of people who pay for them and so for years those were just the fantasies of guys. Now there are women who say, ‘Well, this woman is still sexy and interesting at 40 or worth listening to or looking at.’ ”