Streep thought she was 'washed up' after turning 40!

London, May 29 : She's one of Hollywood's biggest stars but that didn't stop Meryl Streep from feeling 'washed up' after she turned 40.

Streep, a double Oscar winner, reveals that throughout her 40s, her career went through a slump.

It is only now in her 50s that it's once again seeing an upswing what with leading roles in 'The Devil Wears Prada' and the new film version of the musical 'Mamma Mia'.

"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 Daily Express quoted her, as saying.

She also reveals that fact that more women have taken on influential roles in the film industry is the reason for roles for older female stars.

"There are more women in high positions in the studios pushing for scripts featuring older women," she said.

"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 fellas.

"Now there are women who say, 'Well, this is all right. This woman is still sexy and interesting at 40 or worth listening to or looking at.'"

ANI