Los Angeles, April 6 – Hollywood actress Meryl Streep has clarified her portrayal of her character in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’.
Two decades after ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ premiered, fans have long speculated that her icy, commanding fashion editor character, Miranda Priestly, was inspired by Anna Wintour, according to ‘People’ magazine.
However, during an appearance on ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’, the actress revealed that wasn’t the case. Instead, the Oscar winner said she drew inspiration from two Hollywood heavyweights, Mike Nichols and Clint Eastwood.
She said, "I was essentially imitating Mike Nichols throughout the entire process. If Mike Nichols and Clint Eastwood had a baby, it would be Miranda Priestly."
According to ‘People’, Nichols' directing style helped shape the character's tone on set. "The commanding presence on set. And Mike would do it with a sly sense of humor. People might perceive it as mean, but it's actually quite funny. I think it's funny," she added.
Clint Eastwood, meanwhile, inspired a quieter kind of authority. She said, "Clint would never raise his voice. He would direct, and people would have to lean in to hear what he was saying."
While she hasn't told Clint Eastwood about the connection, the actress shared that Nichols was aware of and appreciated it. "I told Mike, and he was thrilled," she said.
Nichols, who is known for films like ‘The Graduate’, ‘Working Girl’ and ‘Catch-22’, worked with the actress on several projects, including ‘Silkwood’, ‘Heartburn’ and the HBO miniseries ‘Angels in America’. Clint Eastwood is known for his signature “one-take” directing style on films like ‘American Sniper’, ‘Million Dollar Baby’ and ‘Mystic River’. He has also worked with the actress on ‘The Bridges of Madison County’.
The actress's late-night appearance also had a nostalgic fashion moment. She wore a cerulean blue sweater reminiscent of the iconic piece from ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, a nod to the film's unforgettable monologue opposite Anne Hathaway.