Meryl Streep Celebrates LGBT Community's Role in Fashion and Film
As anticipation builds for the release of The Devil Wears Prada 2, Meryl Streep has opened up about the enduring popularity of the original film within the LGBT+ community. The Oscar-winning actress, who reprises her role as the formidable fashion editor Miranda Priestly, spoke candidly about the connection between fashion and queer culture in a recent interview.
A Joyful Acknowledgment of Queer Influence
In conversation with Out magazine, Streep expressed her delight at the film's resonance with queer audiences. "It makes me so happy! Would we have fashion without gay people? Forgive me, would we have anything?" she remarked. "I wouldn't know how to put together anything. It's a joy to have made it with the LGBTQ+ community in mind. Top of mind." Her comments highlight the significant cultural impact of the LGBT community on the fashion industry and beyond.
Global Appeal and Universal Reactions
Streep also shared insights into the worldwide reception of the upcoming sequel, noting its cross-cultural appeal. "It's cross culture. We've just been around the world with this. The reaction is the same in Mexico City as Tokyo, as Seoul, as Shanghai..." she observed. "I honestly was surprised. I really was surprised by the universality of the response and from so many different kinds of people." This global enthusiasm underscores the film's broad reach and timeless themes.
Returning Cast and Nostalgic Reunion
The sequel brings back original stars Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, alongside Streep. Reflecting on the reunion, Streep expressed gratitude for the opportunity to revisit these characters after two decades. "I feel so lucky to be able to come back to something we did 20 years ago. Who gets to do that? We've had a whole lifetime. Look at Stanley Tucci! He's blossomed! Emily Blunt blossomed at birth." Her affectionate remarks emphasize the deep bonds formed during the original production.
Background and Inspirations
The original 2006 film, adapted from Lauren Weisberger's 2003 novel, follows Andy Sachs, played by Hathaway, as she navigates the cutthroat world of high fashion under Streep's demanding Miranda Priestly. The movie grossed over $326 million internationally and earned Streep a Screen Actors Guild nomination. Weisberger published a sequel novel, Revenge Wears Prada, in 2013, and a musical adaptation premiered on London's West End in 2024.
Miranda Priestly is widely believed to be inspired by Vogue editor Anna Wintour. Interestingly, a recent genealogy report by Ancestry revealed that Streep and Wintour are sixth cousins, sharing fifth great-grandparents from Pennsylvania. Despite the fictional portrayal, Wintour has praised the film, calling it "highly enjoyable and very funny" with "a lot of humor and wit" during a podcast interview.
The sequel is set to hit cinemas on May 1, promising to deliver the same sharp wit and fashion-forward drama that captivated audiences worldwide.
