Meryl Streep Thought Her Career Would Be 'Over' When She Turned 40

We shudder at the thought of a world without Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly.

The “Florence Foster Jenkins” actress spoke to the Wall Street Journal about her lengthy career and astonishing 19 Academy Award nominations, revealing that she’s not simply modest about her accolades ― she’s genuinely happy to still be working.

“On a certain level you don’t have any choice — you’re unhappy if you’re not doing it, so you’re compelled in a certain way. And if you’re lucky, you can keep working,” she said.

Streep’s admission proves that even actresses with a film portfolio as extensive as hers struggle with the Hollywood double standard that actors can find work regardless of age while actresses have an expiration date.

Since the 67-year-old hit 40, she’s starred in hits like “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Julie & Julia” and “Doubt,” all of which earned her a Best Actress Oscar nod.

“But everybody has troughs and dismal times — every single person. I remember as I was hovering around 40, I thought each movie would be my last, really. And all the evidence of other 40-year-old women at that time — this is 27 years ago — would lead you to believe it was over,” she said.

The actress also addressed the hilarity of the “Taste of Streep” Instagram account, which combines images of the actress with shots of various food items.

”People have too much time on their hands,” she said. “We need to create more jobs!”

As long as you promise to keep working, Meryl, Hollywood will have a job for you.