After Russell Crowe made some hotly contested comments about aging actresses―saying that actresses who protest the lack of good roles for older women can no longer "play the ingénue," adding that he isn't able to play parts similar to Gladiator at the age of 50―one of Hollywood's most iconic "older" actresses has spoken out in his defense. 

Today, in a press conference  for her new film Into the Woods, none other than Meryl Streep responded to Crowe's remarks in a much kinder way than people might've expected. 

Streep  said of Crowe: "I read what he said, all of what he said. It's been misappropriated what he was talking about. He was talking about himself.

"The journalist asked him, 'Why don't you do another Gladiator? Everybody loved that.' He said, 'I'm too old. I can't be the gladiator anymore; I'm playing parts that are appropriate to my age.'"

Streep added: "Then the conversation went on to actresses and that was proving a point that he was talking about himself, as most actors do.

"So that aside, I agree with him. It's good to live in the place where you are."

Referring to her character in Into The Woods, she said: "Having said that, this Witch was created by a very, very young woman. 

"So it was easier to do that, to make the transformation. 'Cause you can put old age on, [but] it's a lot harder to take it off."