Meryl Streep has come out in support of Russell Crowe's comments that older actresses should stop coveting younger roles. The three-time Oscar winner has said that she agrees with Russell's claim that there are roles for stars of all ages, if they are willing to take on age-appropriate parts.
"I agree with him," Meryl said during a press conference on Tuesday.
"It's good to live in the place that you are."
Meryl Streep agrees it's best to take on age-appropriate roles
The 65-year-old star added that she felt happy taking on the part of a witch in her new film Into The Woods, because she felt it was suitable at her time of life.
"[I chose this part] because it's age appropriate," she said.
"I felt it was time."
"It was not time at 40 and I also had a political reaction against the concept of witches, of old women being demonised and age being this horrifying scary thing," she added. "I don't like that, I didn't like it as a little girl and I don't like it now. But this is a complex film. Every person is at war with themselves, everybody is after something and they’re willing to compromise everything to get it."
Russell said Meryl and Helen Mirren are examples of older woman with lots of acting roles
Controversy began to surround Russell after he gave an interview with Australian Women's Weekly stating that older actresses have the same opportunities as male actors the same age. "I think you'll find that the woman who is saying that [that there are fewer roles for older women] is the woman who at 40, 45, 48, still wants to play the ingénue, and can't understand why she's not being cast as the 21-year-old," he said.
"If you are willing to live in your own skin, you can work as an actor," he added.
"If you are trying to pretend that you're still the young buck when you're my age, it just doesn't work."
Jessica Chastain has refuted Russell's comments
Jessica Chastain, however, was amongst those who felt that Russell's claims were wrong.
"I think there are some incredible actresses in their 50's and 60's that are not getting opportunities in films," the 37-year-old said at the National Board of Review awards gala in New York. "And for someone to say there are plenty of roles for women that age – they're not going to the movies enough."