Meryl Streep almost walked away from one of her most famous roles, and the reason was simple: she knew her value.
The Oscar-winning actress revealed on ‘Today’ that she initially rejected ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ before finally agreeing to play Miranda Priestly in the 2006 hit. Streep shared the story while sitting with her ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ castmates Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci.
“I knew it was going to be a hit,” Streep told Jenna Bush Hager, who also has a cameo in the upcoming sequel.
Streep said she read the script and immediately saw the potential.
“The script was great,” she said. “They called me up, and they made an offer, and I said ‘No. I’m not going to do it.’”
Streep Knew The Movie Needed Her
Streep did not turn down the movie because she disliked the material. She wanted to test whether the studio understood what she brought to the role.
“I wanted to see if I doubled my ask, and they went right away and said ‘Sure,’” she recalled.
That moment came late enough in her career that Streep said she finally understood she could negotiate that way.
“I’m 56 years old, it took me this long to understand that I could do that!” she said.
She believed the movie would work. She also believed the role needed her.
“I was sure of it. I was sure it would be a hit. And they needed me, I felt,” Streep said.
She Was Ready To Retire If They Said No
Streep said she wanted the role, but she was prepared to walk.
“I wanted it, but if they didn’t want to do that, I was okay,” she said. “Because I’m old, I’m 56, I was ready to retire.”
Of course, she did not retire.
Instead, ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ became one of the most quoted workplace comedies of the 2000s. Streep earned an Oscar nomination for playing the icy fashion editor, and Miranda Priestly became one of her defining roles.
The movie also helped introduce Streep to a new generation of fans who knew every clipped line, every coat toss and every terrifying pause.
‘Prada’ Started Another Streep Hot Streak
After ‘The Devil Wears Prada,’ Streep entered one of the most commercially visible periods of her career.
She starred in ‘Mamma Mia!,’ ‘It’s Complicated’ and later won her third Oscar for ‘The Iron Lady’ in 2012. Nearly two decades later, ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ is bringing her back to Miranda.
The sequel also marks Streep’s first live-action movie performance in five years, making the return feel even bigger.
The best part? Miranda Priestly nearly did not happen because Streep was ready to say no unless Hollywood paid her properly.
That is not just a salary story. That is a Miranda move before Miranda even existed.
