Stanley Tucci Admits He Didn't Know Dolce & Gabbana's Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana Were 'Real People'

The 'Devil Wears Prada 2' star says he's met the Italian designers

NEED TO KNOW

• Stanley Tucci revealed during a 92NY conversation that he kept designer pieces from The Devil Wears Prada 2 set, gifted to him by Dolce & Gabbana
• The actor admitted that he had no idea that the Italian fashion brand’s founders, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, were “real people”
• Tucci also shared that he met his wife, Felicity Blunt, through the film and left her a memorable voicemail in character

When Stanley Tucci received Dolce & Gabbana clothes from the set of The Devil Wears Prada 2, he had no idea that the designers were real people.

The actor, 65, plays Nigel Kipling, one of Runway's leading fashion experts and a close confidant of Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), in the film. He spoke with Happy Sad Confused podcast host Josh Horowitz at 92nd Street Y about the release of The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Tucci in Italy season 2, touching on topics such as his career and family.

When an audience member asked if Tucci kept any of the designer pieces from the set, the actor said he did and then jokingly gestured to the suit he was wearing.

"I did. And I didn't steal it," he quipped. "It was actually given to me by Dolce & Gabbana. I actually met them both, [Domenico] Dolce and [Stefano] Gabbana. They're like real people. I didn't know that."

When asked which designer he preferred, Tucci couldn't choose. "They were both nice," he said.

The actor also discussed another, less tangible thing he'll take away from the film: the memories of befriending costar Emily Blunt and meeting his now-wife, Emily's sister Felicity Blunt, while filming the first Devil Wears Prada movie. He recalled leaving a message on Felicity's answering machine to ask her on a date more than two decades ago. He spoke in the accent of Muerte, a character he had played in the comedy Undercover Blues.

"I left a message for Felicity in that accent because it was her favorite movie. And it still is her favorite movie of mine that I've done. And then, oddly enough, later she became my wife. Up until tonight," he joked.

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Tucci said playing Nigel has been his favorite, most "comfortable" role of his career. He is as enthralled by fashion as his character, showcased more recently by his partnership with TJ Maxx.

Tucci shared that he didn't realize that the first Devil Wears Prada film would be such a huge success and just genuinely enjoyed working with the cast.

"We knew we were making a good movie, but we had no idea that it would result in something that would become a sort of Hollywood classic," he said. "I remember the last day of shooting, I didn't want to leave. It was so much fun."

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