Meryl Streep has shared details about her experience working on The Devil Wears Prada 2, including an important moment involving her co star Anne Hathaway. While the original film showed a demanding work environment through the character of Miranda Priestly, Streep said that off screen, Hathaway took a thoughtful step during the sequel’s production.
During a conversation with Harper’s Bazaar, Streep spoke about attending fashion shows in Milan while filming. She explained that the experience left her uncomfortable. “I was struck by how not only beautiful and young, everyone seems young to me, but alarmingly thin the models were.” She added that Hathaway noticed the same thing and decided to address it.
According to Streep, Hathaway approached the producers directly to raise concerns. She wanted to ensure that the film did not show models in an unhealthy way. Streep said, “I thought that all had been addressed years ago. Annie clocked it too, and she made a beeline to the producers about it, securing promises that the models in the show that we were putting together for our film would not be so skeletal!” She also added, “She’s a stand-up girl.”
The sequel to The Devil Wears Prada has already attracted attention, as it brings back characters from the original film after nearly two decades. The movie was filmed last year in New York City, where the production drew large crowds and media attention. Streep recalled that the scale of public interest was more intense than expected.
She said, “Even though we were aware of the impact of the first film two decades ago, I think none of us was prepared for the ambush of both goodwill and avid attention that engulfed us.” She further described the situation, saying, “We needed police barriers and crowd control. Buses of fans turned up, and paparazzi swarmed and, in one case, kept jumping in front of the camera and the shot and got in a kerfuffle with the crew. Annie kept her cool, but I was unnerved.”
The film is directed by David Frankel and continues the story of Andy Sachs, who is now working as a Features Editor at Runway magazine. The narrative brings her back into contact with Miranda Priestly after many years. The sequel also features Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci, along with several new cast members.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is scheduled to release in theatres on May 1.