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Mama Mia! Closet singer Meryl Streep

Jul 1, 2008, 10:15 GMT

US actress Meryl Streep arrives at the world film premiere of director Phyllida Lloyd\'s new film, \'Mamma Mia!\', held at the Odeon Leicester Square in Central London 30th June 2008. EPA/DANIEL DEME

Meryl Streep's family sent her to the closet whenever she wanted to rehearse her songs from 'Mamma Mia!'

The Oscar-winning actress - who has four children with husband Donald J. Gummer - was banned from practising some of the classic ABBA hits which appear in the movie unless she locked herself away in her soundproof cupboard.

Speaking yesterday (30.06.08) at London's Mandarin Oriental hotel, Meryl told BANG Showbiz: "I think I have sung all of these songs about 70,000 times - starting in my closet, which was the only place my family would allow me to practise, all the way to Pinewood and Holland Park where we were living. But I never got sick of singing these songs - you just cannot be excited when it starts!"

Meryl also revealed she is slightly nervous about her son Henry seeing the film, because she thinks he will be embarrassed when he sees his mother singing and dancing on screen.

She added: "My son will be appalled, but I think he will actually like it because he is a musician and he will get a kick out of it - he will appreciate the musicality of it."

Meryl Streep, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan and Amanda Seyfried were among the stars who sweated in the heat to attend the world premiere of 'Mamma Mia!' in London's Leicester Square last night (30.06.08).

The film opens in the UK on July 10 and worldwide later this month.