As far as iconic characters go, Meryl Streep has played them all, from Donna Sheridan in Mamma Mia! to Madeline Ashton in Death Becomes Her. But it turns out, there's one character in particular that Streep *really* didn't enjoy playing. And, ironically, it's perhaps the one she's most well known for – Miranda Priestly.
The Devil Wears Prada cast recently got together for an interview with Entertainment Weekly to celebrate the film's 15th birthday (can you believe it!?) In the interview, Streep revealed she was so devoted to getting Miranda's character just right, that filming the movie turned into a "horrible" experience. "I was [miserable] in my trailer... I was so depressed" she said.
Streep confessed she never came out of character while working on the movie, but said it was the last time she tried method acting, after becoming too wrapped up in perfecting her role as the supposed villain.
But in the same interview, Adrian Grenier who plays Anne Hathaway's (Andy Sachs) onscreen boyfriend (Nate), finally admitted his character was the real villain after all. Early on in the movie, Nate is supportive of Andy's new career, but as her success starts to step on the toes of her private life, things turn sour between the couple.
Speaking of the backlash his character received from fans, Grenier admitted that at first he “couldn’t get my head around” it. He then went on to add: “Perhaps it was because I wasn’t mature as a man, just as Nate probably could’ve used a little growing up. I was just as immature as him at the time, so I couldn’t see his shortcomings."
“After taking time to reflect and much deliberation online, I can realise the truth in that perspective,” he said, "Nate hadn’t grown up, but Andy had. She needed more out of life, and she was achieving it. He couldn’t support her like she needed because he was a fragile, wounded boy. On behalf of all the Nates out there: Come on! Step it up!”
We have to agree with that 👏👏👏
Jade Biggs (she/her) is Cosmopolitan UK's Features Writer, covering everything from breaking news and latest royal gossip, to the health and fitness trends taking over your TikTok feed. She also works on first-person features and investigative long-reads, taking a deep-dive into mental health, celebrity culture and women's rights. Jade has been a journalist and content writer for ten years, and has interviewed leading researchers and doctors, high-profile influencers and fitness experts. She is a cat mum to four fur babies and is obsessed with Drag Race, bottomless brunches and wearing clothes only suitable for Bratz dolls. Follow her on Instagram or Twitter.
