The actress has to strike Meryl in their new film August: Osage County, which based on the Pulitzer-winning play from Tracy Letts.

According to Julia, being forced to assault the legendary star was traumatising.

“Attacking her physically was… just… awful. I felt like a terrible person who would truly go to hell. I might actually go to hell now, I’ve attacked her so many times,” she told UK newspaper The Telegraph.

The 46-year-old goes on to explain she was dreading one very violent part in particular.

In the scene, Julia had to scream profanities at the actress and slam her to the ground repeatedly.

“That was the hardest thing for me. That was always the scene where I’d think, ‘Oh God, I hope that’s not on the week’s schedule’”, she admitted.

“And then finally it appears and you think, ‘Oh God, this is it, this is that moment.’”

Despite reservations about hitting the actress, Julia admits working with Meryl was an incredible experience. Having been a lifelong fan of the star, she was over the moon to finally be in a film with her.

“I, like everyone, have only sat in the dark and watched in awe. To get to watch her up close and to see her be a real-life person, working really hard to be that great, it was a privilege,” she said.