Even acting legends are afraid sometimes.
Bryan Greenberg, 45, claims Meryl Streep, 74, told him she was “scared s—tless” while filming their 2005 rom-com “Prime.”
Oscar-winning Streep plays therapist Lisa Metzger who helps Rafi Gardet (Uma Thurman) and David (Greenberg) navigate the age gap in their budding romance — only to find out that the David whom Rafi is seeing is Lisa’s son.
When asked by The Post if the “One Tree Hill” alum felt like he “made it” as an actor working alongside Streep, he admitted to being naively confident at the beginning of the project — until the “Devil Wears Prada” actress taught him an important lesson.
“When I did ‘The Perfect Score,’ I didn’t think I’d ever have to audition again,” Greenberg said of his 2004 star-studded movie.
Bryan Greenberg at the “Junction” premiere on Jan. 24. River / MEGAExplore More
“I had no idea how the world really worked and the business worked … I got a lead in a studio movie, I’m good, I’m set. Right? No,” he recalled finding out.
“I was just naive, and then I got ‘Prime,’ and I was so confident because I did, like, seven screen tests to win that role. When I got there, I was like, ‘Yeah, I deserve to be here. This is it. I made it,’ you know?”
Greenberg continued, “And I’m rehearsing with Meryl Streep, the greatest actress arguably of all time, and she’s like, ‘Bryan, how are you feeling about this? Are you nervous?’ And I’m like, ‘Good. Ready to go,’ like, super ready.”
Streep and Greenberg in a scene in “Prime” Photo Credit: Andrew Schwartz“I’m like, ‘Why, are you nervous?'” he remembered asking Streep. “And she’s like, ‘Oh I’m scared s—tless.'”
“I was like, oh, so it never ends. So you never make it,” Greenberg realized in that moment. “You’re just always scared. And that’s when I realized I’m just going to be on this hamster wheel. There’s no pinnacle.”
“I was very lucky to learn it from someone like her so early on that it doesn’t [go away],” he went on. “You never get there. It truly is a journey.”
Streep as therapist Lisa Metzger in “Prime.” Photo Credit: Andrew SchwartzOver a decade ago, the “Bride Wars” actor experienced a scary opioid struggle, which inspired his recent directorial debut, “Junction.”
The film, available on Apple TV+ or Amazon Prime Video, focuses on the modern-day opioid crisis told through three perspectives: an addict, a drug company CEO and a doctor.
“When [I wasn’t] getting the roles I wanted, I didn’t really want to write, but I felt like I was forced to write because no one was writing the roles that I wanted,” he said.
Greenberg credits Streep for teaching him an important lesson about his career. ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection Streep arrives at the “Sophie’s Choice” 40th anniversary screening at the Museum of Modern Art on Feb. 6. GC Images“And ‘Junction,’ for me, is a pure example of just taking matters into my own hands, using sheer will to get this made. I’m so grateful for everybody who came along on this journey to tell the story with me. I think it’s a really powerful story.”
Greenberg wrote, directed and stars in the project.
“I don’t think it’s perfect,” he told The Post. “It’s a perfect first film … I’m very excited for the audience and I hope that they go on this journey with us and watch it and not be too scared off by the subject matter because I tried to interlace some humanity — and even … comedy — because I do want to tell the audience that it’s not a total downer.”
