It’s been fifteen years since The Devil Wears Prada first premiered, and there’s no denying the film remains an iconic one until today. Apart from standing the test of time and still being a favorite of fashion girls, or anyone yearning for a nostalgic watch, it also inarguably further advanced Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt’s careers.
Speaking of the title’s star power, a huge part of what turned the comedy movie into the classic it is today was Meryl Streep’s incomparable portrayal of the stylish ice queen Miranda Priestly. Then again, while Meryl’s performance earned her several Best Actress nods, including one at the Academy Awards, did you know playing her character actually took an irreversible toll on her? And no, it’s not because Anne and Emily couldn’t stop bickering over who would fetch her cappuccino for her.
In a recent cast reunion interview with Entertainment Weekly to celebrate The Devil Wears Prada’s fifteen-year anniversary, Meryl revealed that she employed method acting to truly embody Runway’s terrifying Editor-in-Chief. As a result, the veteran actress willingly isolated herself from the rest of the team onset, which inevitably left her depressed for the majority of filming.
“It was horrible! I was [miserable] in my trailer,” Meryl admitted. “I could hear them all rocking and laughing. I was so depressed! I said, ‘Well, it's the price you pay for being boss!’ Traumatized by the experience, Meryl also mentioned that she stopped method acting altogether after playing Miranda Priestly.
Anne chimed in, though, that while Meryl’s Miranda persona stayed on off-screen, she never felt intimidated herself. In fact, she even “felt cared for” by Meryl. The actress explained, “I knew that whatever she was doing to create that fear, I appreciated [because] I also knew she was watching out for me.”
Emily, who played Miranda’s assistant, also clarified that Meryl wasn’t entirely unapproachable onset. Although she removed herself from gatherings, the actress remained open to any kind of conversation offered to her by her castmates. “Meryl is so gregarious and fun as hell,” noted Emily.“You could go up to her and say, ‘Oh my God, the funniest thing just happened,’ and she'd listen, but I don't know if it was the most fun for her to be on set being that way.”
With at least 21 Oscar nominations and three wins—included in the over 400 nods and 177 accolades she’s received from other award-giving bodies—Meryl remains one of the industry’s most revered actresses. Her most recent project, The Prom, was released on Netflix, December of last year.
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