Would-be screen stars are getting the chance to appear in a film with Oscar winner Meryl Streep.

Stephen Frears, who directed The Queen and High Fidelity, is looking for extras in London for his new biopic of 1940s New York heiress and socialite Florence Foster Jenkins, who was famous for being a terrible opera singer.

There is “no experience necessary” and “this is paid extras work”, according to the open casting announced by recruitment firm Universal Extras.

Filming is set to take place from May through to July in London. Anyone who is interested is urged to attend St Paul’s Church in Hammersmith, west London, on April 11, between 10am and 5pm.

Both men and women are wanted, but they must be over 16 and entitled to work in the UK.

The casting posting declares: “Film extras wanted to work alongside Hollywood actors for a major feature film about the extraordinary life of 1940s New York operatic singer Florence Foster Jenkins; from acclaimed director Stephen Frears (The Queen, High Fidelity) and the production team behind Philomena, Suite Francaise and Eastern Promises.”

Streep is set to take the lead role, while Hugh Grant may portray her agent, St Clair Bayfield. Simon Helberg, who is nerdy engineer Howard Wolowitz in sitcom The Big Bang Theory, is believed to be playing a pianist.

Hugh Grant.
Hugh Grant may play Florence’s agent in the film (Yui Mok/PA)

Foster Jenkins was passionate about opera and determined to get on stage and sing, while Bayfield convinced everyone around them to support her. He ended up organising a Carnegie Hall concert for her in 1944, which racked up ticket sales of more than 3,000. Foster Jenkins died a month later.

No release date for the film has been set.