Meryl Streep didn't know what mashed potatoes were.

The actress – who plays celebrated TV chef Julia Childs in new movie "Julie and Julia" – admits her upbringing was filled with convenience foods and she was left bemused when she saw her neighbor cooking one day.

She said: "I remember when I was 10 years old, going to a neighbor's house and she and her mother were sitting at the kitchen table with what looked like tennis balls and I asked what they were doing. She told me they were making mashed potatoes and I said, 'What do you mean? Mashed potatoes come in a box!'"

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Meryl – who has been married to sculptor Don Gummer for 30 years -admits her culinary skills have improved over time, but she remains unrepentant if she ever gets a dish wrong.

She explained: "My husband is amazing because he just likes everything I make. There's nothing better than when you are a little disappointed in what you've tried that he doesn't notice that it didn't turn out so good."

"But I don't make excuses. That's another thing Julia taught me - don't apologize, because it always makes it taste worse. If they didn't notice it was bad, then shut up!"