Simon Helberg Talks Working with Meryl Streep in ‘Florence Foster Jenkins’

In the biographical comedy drama Florence Foster Jenkins, Meryl Streep stars as the title character, a New York socialite who dreams of being an opera singer even though she has a horrible singing voice. Hugh Grant also stars as her partner and manager St. Clair Bayfield, and The Big Bang Theory’s Simon Helberg portrays her accompanist Cosmé McMoon. BackstageOL’s Dave Morales recently interviewed Helberg to discuss the film.

“I played the piano in this movie and Meryl sang, and we actually did all the music live so you’re watching us do it in real time,” Helberg revealed. “And I think that lends to some of the authentic…that sort of gobsmacked look that you see. It was all happening there.”

Helberg also spoke about what it was like to work with Streep and Grant.

“It was nerve-wracking at first,” Helberg said. “Except that they’re both so disarming and they…sort of pop that tension immediately. So they humanize themselves, and the reason they’re so fantastic is because of that. Because there’s not really a whole lot of ego going into it. It’s all about making this project the best it can be and collaborating, and they made me look better.”

“I hopefully didn’t make them look worse,” Helberg joked.

Florence Foster Jenkins is currently in theaters.

Watch our complete interview with Helberg below: