2009-07-24 22:45:04 -

Veteran actress MERYL STREEP had no problem playing STANLEY TUCCI's wife in new movie JULIE & JULIA because the old friends have been arguing "like married people" for years.
The Devil Wears Prada star portrays 1960s culinary queen Julia Child in

the biopic, with Tucci as her spouse Paul Child.
The pair meet up for frequent social gatherings and their annual game of Christmas charades, where they are constantly pitted against one another.
Streep, who has been married to sculptor Don Gummer for 31 years, admits their deep friendship and her admiration for his film work helped her to slip into the role as Tucci's on-screen wife with ease.
She tells WENN, "Stanley and I are always on opposite sides in a very famous charades game during Christmas. We've been at each other's throats like married people for a long time, many years and we knew each other in that way.
"I've been in love with him from a far anyway with the totality of the man from Big Night to his directing work, in every way. It wasn't a tough job imagining being in love with him." And the Oscar winner reveals Tucci is a wonder in the kitchen: "I once invited him over for dinner (to bond) with (his wife) Kate and I decided I'd make blanket de foie and it was not quite done when they arrived and so Stanley came in and completely took over the kitchen. We didn't eat until 11pm!"