Meryl Streep debunked the widespread notion that the character of Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada was created under the influence of Anna Wintour. The actress stated that she was inspired by entirely different figures.
Unexpected Prototypes
During her appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Streep revealed that she based the character on director Mike Nichols and actor-director Clint Eastwood.
"All this time, I was essentially imitating Mike Nichols. If Mike Nichols and Clint Eastwood had a child... it would be Miranda Priestly," the actress said.
Influence of Nichols and Eastwood
According to Streep, it was Mike Nichols' working style that helped shape the character's personality.
"His authority on set... And Mike did this with such subtle humor. People perceive it as malice, but it's actually funny," she explained.
In turn, Clint Eastwood influenced the character's demeanor — reserved yet authoritative.
"Clint never raised his voice. He directed the process, and people had to lean forward to hear what he was saying," Streep noted.
Director's Reaction
The actress also shared that Mike Nichols was aware that he had become one of the prototypes for the character and took it with enthusiasm.
"Yes, I told Mike, and he was thrilled," Streep admitted.
Thus, the image of Miranda Priestly turned out to be a composite and significantly more complex than fans had assumed.
