Meryl Streep's spandex struggle

Jul 4, 2008, 11:20 GMT

Irish-born US actor Pierce Brosnan and US actress Meryl Streep pose during a photo call for the film \'Mamma Mia\' in Berlin, 3 July 2008. The film features a soundtrack by Swedish pop group \'ABBA\' and will premiere at German cinemas on 17 July 2008. EPA/SOEREN STACHE

Meryl Streep says it took seven men to get her into the white spandex jumpsuit she wore in new movie 'Mamma Mia!'

The 59-year-old actress says the costume for the dance sequence of ABBA hit 'Super Trouper' was so tight that she had to be helped into it.

She said: "Wearing those overalls for four months was a bit of trial and the platform shoes and the spandex jumpsuit that took seven men to get me into - that was painful! But it was fun to dress up in those silly clothes!

"There's a freedom of expression that women of my age are not normally asked to portray, so it was wonderful to have musical, physical and emotional opportunity to release everything in one character."

Meryl also revealed she thought she knew the hits of ABBA, which make up the musical on which the film is based, before she started filming the movie.

She added to Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper: "I thought I knew every ABBA song that was ever written but the lyrics are very specific and the littlest thing can catch you out. Everybody thinks they know all the words to 'Dancing Queen' but then they find that they don't!"