The Meryl Streep performance based on Helen Mirren
After playing one of the most iconic villains of all time, Helen Mirren was surprised to discover that Meryl Streep's character was partly inspired by her.
(Credit: Alamy)
Film » Cutting Room Floor
Mon 27 January 2025 4:30, UK
Meryl Streep is one of the most prolific actors of all time, with a name that is synonymous with some of the greatest performances to grace the big screen.
With a range of leading and supporting roles in films such as Doubt, The Iron Lady, and The Hours, Streep has played an intimidating number of real-life historical figures that would terrify many other actors. However, the responsibility has always been seen as a privilege instead of a challenge, with Streep gladly embracing each opportunity and throwing herself into the role, seeing herself as unimportant when compared to the character.
With an immersive and all-consuming approach to acting, it comes as no surprise that Streep has considered every tiny detail, with one fellow actor describing the unlikely inspiration Streep took from her in fleshing out one of her most iconic characters.
After the release of the book in 2003, The Devil Wears Prada shortly became a hot contender to be adapted for the screen, with 20th Century Fox acquiring the rights for the story after it was published and producing it a couple of years later. The story follows a personal assistant who finds herself working for a high-powered fashion magazine editor, plunging her into an unknown world as she struggles to adapt to the challenge of working in such a toxic environment.
There was much speculation about who the so-called ‘devil’ was based on, with some wondering if Anna Wintour, the famed editor of Vogue, inspired it. However, with Streep on board with the project, she didn’t need to know any details about who it was inspired by, instead using her own well of genius to realise the abrasive character and create a multi-dimensional portrait of a woman corrupted by power and obsessed with control.
The film is now revered by global audiences, with people praising the performances of Stanley Tucci, Emily Blunt, Anne Hathaway and Streep, with iconic montage sequences as the main character transforms her appearance and snide one-liners as Tucci’s character remarks about the number of calories in clam chowder. It is undeniably a modern masterpiece and has a razor-sharp script that has survived the test of time.
However, when preparing for the role, Streep revealed to Helen Mirren that she had loosely been the inspiration for Miranda Priestly. While this could be perceived as a huge insult, Streep clarified that she had been inspired by the way Mirren styles her hair, with Mirren explaining, “The only thing Meryl did tell me was she based her hairdo in The Devil Wears Prada on my hair. That’s all I can claim”.
Thankfully, the inspiration that Streep found in Mirren didn’t extend beyond her physical appearance, and she plucked the rest of her character’s traits from somewhere else. Who knows if she looked up to any unbecoming and cruel celebrities to inspire this performance, but given the number of questionable people in Hollywood, perhaps she did know enough to flesh out Priestly’s entire personality. Her performance in the film is nothing short of monumental, and she continues to be one of her most chilling and terrifying characters.
Related Topics
Helen MirrenMeryl Streep