It is the sequel fans have been waiting 20 years for, yet no one is more excited about the release of The Devil Wears Prada 2 than its star, Anne Hathaway. The 43-year-old actress, who returns as writer Andy Sachs, teases that the new film exceeds all expectations. She describes the story as everything fans of the original could have wished for and more, expressing genuine excitement about finally sharing it with the world.
Reuniting with Meryl Streep
Beyond the plot, Hathaway was thrilled to reunite with Meryl Streep, who reprises her role as the formidable Miranda Priestly. Reflecting on working with Streep again, Hathaway says it was simply the best. She recalls being 22 during the first film and already considering Streep the greatest living actress. Two decades later, that opinion remains unchanged. Hathaway notes that despite working with many wonderful people over the years, there is no one like Meryl Streep. She found it remarkably easy to pick up with these characters again after such a long hiatus.
Hathaway's Own Stellar Career
While Hathaway rightly regards Streep as one of the all-time greats, her own career has been equally impressive. Since her film debut in The Princess Diaries in 2001, she has won an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and an Oscar for her role as Fantine in Les Misérables, achieving this with just 15 minutes of screen time. Growing up in New Jersey, Hathaway longed to be on screen. Her mother, actress Kate, initially worried about her daughter following in her footsteps, but by her teens, Hathaway had starred in multiple plays. At 19, she landed the life-changing role of Mia in The Princess Diaries.
Hathaway describes the honour of being involved in moments where people need comfort through her performances. She feels excited that her journey as a performer has connected with audiences on such a deep level.
The Long-Awaited Sequel
The anticipation for The Devil Wears Prada 2, where Andy returns to the fictional magazine Runway under Miranda's continued leadership, is immense. Hathaway explains the 20-year gap by saying it took time to develop the right script. The cast wanted to know what happened to these characters, and although several sequel ideas were considered, it made sense to pick up the story two decades later. She admits the legacy of the first film is daunting to live up to, as no one predicted its massive success. The level of interest for this sequel has been incredible, with people having grown up with the first film and its characters. This time feels different due to that responsibility, but the same quality remains, making it the right story with the right people at the right time.
Personal Life and Motherhood
Since the first film, much has changed for Hathaway professionally and personally. She is now happily married to businessman Adam Shulman, but keeps her private life guarded. This caution may stem from her past relationship with Italian housing developer Raffaello Follieri, who was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for fraud after their split. During the FBI investigation, Hathaway's private diaries were seized from his house. Follieri later recalled their last phone call before his arrest, saying Hathaway's final words were 'I love you forever'.
Hathaway threw herself into her career, starring in films like Interstellar, One Day, and The Dark Knight Rises, becoming one of the highest-grossing actresses of the 21st century. However, her biggest role is being a mother. After marrying Shulman in 2012, they welcomed two sons, Jonathan in 2016 and Jack in 2019. She is keen to keep them out of the public eye, stating that her family has needs, and children need to define their own lives. If her sons wanted to act, she would take the same approach as her parents: encouraging them to study and read while discouraging them from starting too young. She believes they will be able to attend college and figure out their paths from there.
The Devil Wears Prada remains Hathaway's signature movie, with fans still quoting lines to her. She often hears 'a cube of cheese' and 'I am one stomach flu away from my goal weight'. Despite all her stellar roles, this film holds a special place in her heart.
