At first glance, they would seem the unlikeliest of couples.

Equally harsh is his taciturn demeanor.

“Tommy’s an extraordinary actor first, but he’s also sexy,” says Frankel.

In fact, Streep, 63, and Jones, 65, have more in common than it appears.

Both possesssharp literary intellects.

from the Yale School of Drama, makes reference to the Roman poet Lucretius.)

They claim four Oscars between them but cite their offspring as their proudest accomplishment.

Married for 34 years to sculptor Don Gummer, Streep has four children, ages 21 to 32.

It was a daring undertaking for two mature actors, but Streep and Jones were undaunted.

“The issues about sex are delicate yet universal,” says Frankel.

“Nobody thinks they’re having enough sex that goes for teenagers and people in their 70s.

This movie is about intimacy, and Meryl and Tommy were excited to confront that.

There was no squeamishness on their part.”

While you’ve got your health, you’ve got everything.

To loosen things up, I offer them some wine.

“No, thank you,” Streep demurs.

Wineglasses in hand, we begin.

Pillow Talk

This is a little intimidating!

I’m sitting down with Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones to talk about sex.

Meryl Streep:Is that what this is about?

Well, sort of.

The movie is like no other movie I’ve seen so real.

When you first read the script, what was your reaction?

Tommy Lee Jones:I thought it would be a lot of fun.

So that got me.

I like things that seem like they have a problem.

I also thought that built into it was something really funny but lodged in something very real.

And that interested me.

Did anyone advise either of you to do it or not to do it?

MS:Nobody can tell us anything.

What about your spouses?

Did you show the script to them and say, “What do you think?”

TLJ:Oh, yeah.

My wife loved the screenplay and loved the idea of me doing it.

Young people, too.

Would you take your kids to see it?

TLJ:Of course.

And you would be OK with the bedroom scenes?

I think it’s you know, it’s love.

MS:Your kids are always your toughest critics!

Did you identify with the characters you play?

MS:I believed my gal.

I believed who she was, and I felt like I knew her and loved her.

I just could see the world through her eyes.

Tommy, what about your guy, Arnold?

Did you identify with him?

I’m not like that at all, but I know people who are.

But, obviously, you understood a reluctance to talk about and confront the issue of sexual intimacy?

Why is that so hard for people to do?

TLJ:I don’t know.

I’ve been living with my wife for 18 years.

It hasn’t been [an issue].

We get along fine.

We like each other quite a lot.