Meryl Streep Celebrates LGBT Community's Role in Fashion and Film
Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep has opened up about her status as an LGBT icon as excitement builds for the forthcoming sequel to the beloved fashion comedy The Devil Wears Prada. Streep, who returns as the formidable fashion editor Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada 2, shared her thoughts in a candid interview with Out magazine, reflecting on the film's special connection with queer audiences.
Streep's Heartfelt Tribute to Gay Influence in Fashion
When asked about the film's enduring popularity within the LGBT+ community, Streep expressed profound joy. "It makes me so happy! Would we have fashion without gay people? Forgive me, would we have anything? I wouldn't know how to put together anything," she remarked. The actress emphasized that creating the sequel with the LGBTQ+ community in mind was a deliberate and joyful choice, stating it was "top of mind" throughout production.
Global Reception and Universal Appeal of the Sequel
Streep revealed that early screenings of the new film have garnered enthusiastic responses across diverse cultures worldwide. "It's cross culture. We've just been around the world with this. The reaction is the same in Mexico City as Tokyo, as Seoul, as Shanghai... I honestly was surprised. I really was surprised by the universality of the response and from so many different kinds of people," she observed. This widespread acclaim underscores the film's broad appeal beyond its original fanbase.
Returning Cast and Nostalgic Reunion
The sequel reunites Streep with original co-stars Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, bringing back the iconic ensemble two decades after the first film's release. Streep expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying, "I feel so lucky to be able to come back to something we did 20 years ago. Who gets to do that? We've had a whole lifetime. Look at Stanley Tucci! He's blossomed! [Emily Blunt] blossomed at birth." The camaraderie among the cast adds a layer of authenticity to the highly anticipated project.
Background and Legacy of The Devil Wears Prada
The original 2006 film, adapted from Lauren Weisberger's 2003 novel, starred Hathaway as Andy Sachs, a young journalist navigating the cutthroat world of high fashion under Streep's demanding Miranda Priestly. It grossed over $326 million globally and earned Streep a Screen Actors Guild nomination. Weisberger published a sequel novel, Revenge Wears Prada, in 2013, and a musical adaptation premiered on London's West End in 2024, highlighting the franchise's lasting impact.
Streep's Connection to Anna Wintour Revealed
Miranda Priestly is widely believed to be inspired by Vogue editor Anna Wintour, and recent genealogical research by Ancestry confirmed an unexpected familial link between Streep and Wintour. The two are sixth cousins, sharing fifth great-grandparents Thomas Smith and Elizabeth Kinsey from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Despite Wintour's London upbringing and Streep's New Jersey roots, this connection adds a fascinating layer to the film's lore.
Wintour's Positive Response to the Original Film
In a September episode of The Run-Through with Vogue podcast, host David Remnick questioned Wintour about any potential offense taken from the film. Wintour responded positively, calling it a "fair shot" and praising Streep's "fantastic" performance. "I found it highly enjoyable and very funny," she said. "It had a lot of humor to it, it had a lot of wit." Her endorsement has further cemented the film's status as a cultural touchstone.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is scheduled for release in cinemas on May 1, promising to deliver the same sharp wit and fashion-forward drama that made the original a global phenomenon.
