Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada.Photo: Barry Wetcher/20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock
Why is no oneread-yyyto face the facts that the classic 2006 filmThe Devil Wears Pradaturns 17 on June 30? To celebrate,EWconducted an oral history with the film’s cast and crew— and we rounded up some of our favorite facts from their chat.
01of 08Anne Hathaway Wasn’t the First Choice for AndyAnne Hathaway and Meryl Streep inThe Devil Wears Prada.EverettThe starhas previously spoken up about being the “ninth choice"for Andy Sachs — and now is indelibly associated with the role.Director David Frankel confirms that Rachel McAdams was the top choice (“The studio was determined to have her, and she was determined not to do it,“he says); other actresses considered before Hathaway were Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman and Kirsten Dunst.
01of 08
Anne Hathaway Wasn’t the First Choice for Andy
Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep inThe Devil Wears Prada.Everett
The starhas previously spoken up about being the “ninth choice"for Andy Sachs — and now is indelibly associated with the role.
Director David Frankel confirms that Rachel McAdams was the top choice (“The studio was determined to have her, and she was determined not to do it,“he says); other actresses considered before Hathaway were Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman and Kirsten Dunst.
02of 08No Designers Wanted to Lend ClothesAnne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada (2006).Barry Wetcher/20th Century Fox/Kobal/ShutterstockThe iconic costume designer Patricia Field was in charge of the film’s fashion, but despite her status, couture houses hesitated to lend pieces for fear of upsetting the powers that be atVogue.“There were [initially] no designers of note who would appear in the film. They just didn’t want to incur the wrath of [editor-in-chief] Anna [Wintour],“director David Frankel explains. “I think it was Prada that helped her break the ice and said that Anna’s not going to be upset.“Streep says the resulting style in the film is “a miracle” — though there was one drawback to being in borrowed designer clothing: “We had to be very careful not to eat spaghetti at lunch because it’d go down the front and they couldn’t return it!”
02of 08
No Designers Wanted to Lend Clothes
Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada (2006).Barry Wetcher/20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock
The iconic costume designer Patricia Field was in charge of the film’s fashion, but despite her status, couture houses hesitated to lend pieces for fear of upsetting the powers that be atVogue.
“There were [initially] no designers of note who would appear in the film. They just didn’t want to incur the wrath of [editor-in-chief] Anna [Wintour],“director David Frankel explains. “I think it was Prada that helped her break the ice and said that Anna’s not going to be upset.”
Streep says the resulting style in the film is “a miracle” — though there was one drawback to being in borrowed designer clothing: “We had to be very careful not to eat spaghetti at lunch because it’d go down the front and they couldn’t return it!”
03of 08
Stanley Tucci Was a Secret Weapon
Anne Hathaway and Stanley Tucci in The Devil Wears Prada.Everett
AsEmily Blunt recalls, “There’s [also] this scene in the closet … where [Nigel] is trying to imply that it will take a lot to squeeze Andy in these dresses. He must’ve done 10 versions … There was not one where I got through it unscathed.”
04of 08
Miranda Priestly’s Office Was a Dead Ringer for Its Inspiration
The Devil Wears Prada.
How close did he get it? “He was able to re-create the office so authentically that I was told Anna redecorated hers immediately after the movie came out,“director Frankel says.
05of 08Anna Wintour Had a Sense of Humor About ItVogue/YouTubeDespite the biting parody of her intimidating workplace persona, the cast and crew remembers her poking a little fun at herself during the premiere.“She sat right in front of me and David with her daughter and wore Prada,“McKenna remembers; adds Frankel, “I remember her daughter nudging her through the screening, like, ‘They got that right!’ “Years later, Meryl Streepfilmed a video forVoguein Wintour’s office,in which the two women made a few subtle nods to their shared history.
05of 08
Anna Wintour Had a Sense of Humor About It
Vogue/YouTube
Despite the biting parody of her intimidating workplace persona, the cast and crew remembers her poking a little fun at herself during the premiere.
“She sat right in front of me and David with her daughter and wore Prada,“McKenna remembers; adds Frankel, “I remember her daughter nudging her through the screening, like, ‘They got that right!’ "
Years later, Meryl Streepfilmed a video forVoguein Wintour’s office,in which the two women made a few subtle nods to their shared history.
06of 08Emily Blunt Says Comfort was KeyZumaThe shoes had to be punishing, in keeping with the high-fashion world ofVogue, which meant that Blunt and Streep were always excited for their close-up.“Any chance Meryl and I had, I know we were in Uggs in most of the shots from the waist up,“Blunt recalls, though Hathaway wasn’t so lucky: “Annie [was running] over cobblestone streets like a sure-footed little mountain goat.”
06of 08
Emily Blunt Says Comfort was Key
Zuma
The shoes had to be punishing, in keeping with the high-fashion world ofVogue, which meant that Blunt and Streep were always excited for their close-up.
“Any chance Meryl and I had, I know we were in Uggs in most of the shots from the waist up,“Blunt recalls, though Hathaway wasn’t so lucky: “Annie [was running] over cobblestone streets like a sure-footed little mountain goat.”
07of 08Meryl Streep Went Method — and Regretted It20th Century Fox/EverettIn an attempt to make her intimidating onscreen alter ego even more convincing, Streep removed herself from the cast’s interactions. “It was horrible!“she says. “I was [miserable] in my trailer. I could hear them all rocking and laughing. I was so depressed … that’s the last time I ever attempted a method thing!”
07of 08
Meryl Streep Went Method — and Regretted It
20th Century Fox/Everett
In an attempt to make her intimidating onscreen alter ego even more convincing, Streep removed herself from the cast’s interactions. “It was horrible!“she says. “I was [miserable] in my trailer. I could hear them all rocking and laughing. I was so depressed … that’s the last time I ever attempted a method thing!”
08of 08Adrian Grenier Knows You Think Nate Is a VillainBarry Wetcher/20th Century Fox/Kobal/ShutterstockPeople watching the 2006 film on TBS a decade later began commenting on social media that Andy’s needy boyfriend Nate (rather than Miranda) is the true villain of the film. Grenier admits he resisted the characterization at first, but now he sees it.“I was just as immature as him at the time, so I couldn’t see his shortcomings, but, after taking time to reflect and much deliberation online, I can realize the truth in that perspective,“he says. “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!"(Hathawayhas since disagreed.)
08of 08
Adrian Grenier Knows You Think Nate Is a Villain
Barry Wetcher/20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock
People watching the 2006 film on TBS a decade later began commenting on social media that Andy’s needy boyfriend Nate (rather than Miranda) is the true villain of the film. Grenier admits he resisted the characterization at first, but now he sees it.
“I was just as immature as him at the time, so I couldn’t see his shortcomings, but, after taking time to reflect and much deliberation online, I can realize the truth in that perspective,“he says. “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!”
(Hathawayhas since disagreed.)
source: people.com
