According to Variety, the Oscar winner revealed during a recent appearance on Today that her involvement in “The Devil Wears Prada” hinged on a pivotal financial decision that reshaped the deal entirely.
A High-Stakes Decision Behind a Defining Role
Speaking alongside co-stars Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, Streep recalled recognizing the film’s potential early on. “I knew it was going to be a hit,” she said. Still, when the initial offer came in, she declined outright, stating, “No. I’m not going to do it.”
That refusal, she indicated, wasn’t about disinterest but strategy. Rather than negotiate incrementally, Streep chose a more direct approach. “I wanted to see if I doubled my ask, and they went right away and said ‘Sure,’” she shared.
At the time, Streep framed the decision against a broader moment in her career. “I’m 56 years [old] — it took me this long to understand that I could do that!” she said, underscoring how the move reflected a shift in how she valued her work and leverage within the industry.
The actress also acknowledged the stakes from both sides of the equation. “I was sure of it. I was sure it would be a hit. And they needed me, I felt,” she said, adding that she was prepared for the alternative outcome. “I wanted it, but if they didn’t want to do that, I was okay. Because I’m old — I’m 56, I was ready to retire.”
Released in 2006, “The Devil Wears Prada” went on to become a global success, earning more than $326 million worldwide and cementing Streep’s Miranda Priestly as one of modern cinema’s most enduring characters. Two decades later, the cast has reunited for “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” which recently premiered in New York ahead of its wide theatrical release on May 1.