Why the Role of Fil-Am Actor Conrad Ricamora Was Cut from "The Devil Wears Prada 2"

Even in an industry built on big breaks and bigger comebacks, not every role makes it to the final cut. Filipino-American actor Conrad Ricamora recently shared one of those moments—his part in The Devil Wears Prada 2 ultimately didn’t make it into the film.

In an interview on Headstart with Karen Davila, Conrad revealed that he was originally cast as the roommate of Anne Hathaway’s character. But after test screenings, the creative team decided to remove the role altogether.

“This is one of those moments in the entertainment industry where you feel like a little bit of like rejection. It's just because I found out that my role in that movie was cut out,” he said. “Because I played Anne Hathaway’s roommate, and 20 years later, after The Devil Wears Prada, when they did test screenings, the audience was like, ‘it doesn’t make sense that she has a roommate.’”

Instead of pushing back, Conrad took the decision in stride, framing it as part of the job. “That makes sense to me as a performer. I am here to serve the story, and if the story doesn’t make sense, then my character needs to be taken out of it,” he said.

The candid admission comes as the actor continues a strong run onstage, most recently headlining the Manila staging of A Chorus Line. The production marked a meaningful homecoming, with Conrad calling his time performing in Manila a personal and professional high point.

He also spoke openly about rejection in the industry, noting that setbacks are part of the process. “You’re defined by how many times you get back up after you’re knocked down… People get to see the successes, but they don't see how many times you were rejected, how many times you didn't get the role, and that you had to get back up.”

The sequel picks up 20 years after the original The Devil Wears Prada, with Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) returning to Runway just as Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) faces a rapidly shifting media landscape—and the magazine’s uncertain place within it. The story also brings back Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt), now the head of a luxury brand whose financial backing could determine Runway’s future.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is showing in cinemas nationwide starting April 29.