The film is widely believed to draw from the 'The Devil Wears Prada' author Lauren Weisberger's experience working as an assistant to Wintour
Credit: John Shearer/WireImage; Jeff Spicer/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Anna Wintour has opened up over the years about Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada
- The film is based on the novel The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger, and was widely believed to draw from Weisberger’s experience working as an assistant to Wintour
- A sequel — The Devil Wears Prada 2 — premiered on May 1, 2026
Much of The Devil Wears Prada's success can be attributed to Meryl Streep's unforgettable performance as the icy, commanding editor-in-chief Miranda Priestly, but what does the real-life fashion powerhouse who inspired the story think?
Anna Wintour, the former and longtime editor-in-chief of Vogue, has weighed in over the years on the film, which is based on the novel The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger, and was widely believed to draw from Weisberger's experience working as an assistant to Wintour. A sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2, premiered on May 1, 2026.
Prior to the first film's release in 2006, there was speculation about how the famously private editor might be portrayed by Streep, who was recently revealed to be her sixth cousin.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Credit: Taylor Hill/WireImage; Macall Polay/20th Century Studios
Speaking on The Run-Through with Vogue podcast in September 2025, Wintour recalled that those around her were initially wary on her behalf. “And I think that the fashion industry [was] very sweetly concerned for me about the film that it was gonna paint me in some kind of difficult light,” she said.
Host David Remnick suggested the portrayal might come off as “cartoonish,” to which Wintour agreed: “Yes. A caricature. Yeah.”
But any apprehension quickly gave way to appreciation, said Wintour.
Credit: TheStewartofNY/Getty
The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!
“But first of all, it was Meryl Streep, which — fantastic,” Wintour said. “And then I went to see the film, and I found it highly enjoyable and very funny.”
Wintour has never confirmed that Miranda Priestly is a direct portrayal of her, telling BBC in December 2024 it was, "for the audience and for the people I work with to decide if there are any similarities between me and Miranda Priestly."
Still, Wintour has acknowledged the cultural overlap in the years following the film's release and has famously attended screenings and events wearing designs by Prada — a subtle nod to the film that many interpreted as her way of embracing the narrative.
Speaking on the Run-Through pod, Wintour noted, "Well, I went to the premiere wearing Prada, completely having no idea what the film was going to be about."
Streep's portrayal, meanwhile, earned widespread acclaim, including an Academy Award nomination. The actress has opened up about using Wintour as an inspiration for the character, telling E! in a recent interview, “I was not interested in replicating right her; I wanted to make my own person. And as I have got gotten to know her over the years, I feel like — my Miranda is fully formed. And to the degree that she has evolved or changed or degraded, in some way, it's my own creation."
Read the full article here
