Meryl Streep nearly quit 'The Devil Wears Prada' before pay hike, reveals actor
Washington, April 30
In a surprising revelation, acclaimed actor Meryl Streep has disclosed that she initially turned down her now-iconic role in 'The Devil Wears Prada', only agreeing to star after successfully negotiating a higher salary, a move she says took decades of confidence to achieve.
As per Deadline, the three-time Oscar winner recently shared in an interview that despite being impressed by the script of the 2006 film adaptation of 'The Devil Wears Prada', she declined the initial offer outright.
"I read the script. Script was great," she said, adding, "And they called me up and they made an offer, and I said, 'No, not going to do it.'"
Streep explained that her decision was strategic. "I knew it was going to be a hit, and I wanted to see if I doubled my ask. And they went right away and said sure. And I thought, I'm 50, 60, it took me this long to understand that I could do that," as quoted by Deadline.
The actor, who portrayed the formidable fashion editor Miranda Priestly, admitted she was even considering stepping away from acting at the time.
"They needed me, I felt. ... I was ready to retire. But, you know, that was a lesson," she said, reflecting on the turning point in her career.
Now, nearly two decades later, Streep is set to reprise the role in 'The Devil Wears Prada 2', returning alongside co-stars Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci. The sequel also brings back Tracie Thoms and Tibor Feldman.
Joining the expanding ensemble are Kenneth Branagh, Simone Ashley, Lucy Liu, Justin Theroux, B.J. Novak, Pauline Chalamet, Rachel Bloom, Patrick Brammall, Conrad Ricamora and Lady Gaga.
The movie will release in theatres on May 1.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I think the real story here is how she nearly quit acting! Imagine a world without Meryl Streep's Miranda Priestly - unthinkable. But this also shows how the entertainment industry exploits workers everywhere, even at the top. Hope our Bollywood stars take note.
Respect for Meryl Streep. She knew the movie would be a hit and used that leverage. That's shrewd business sense. But I also wonder - how many other actors don't have that power? The industry needs more transparency in pay structures.
This is such an inspiring story! It took her till 50-60 to learn to advocate for herself. We need more conversations about this in our own film industries. Also, very excited for the sequel with Lady Gaga! 🔥
I find it a bit concerning that such a successful actress was considering retirement. It shows how even the best can feel undervalued. But I'm glad she negotiated and stayed - Miranda Priestly is one of cinema's greatest characters. Can't wait for the sequel!
"It took me this long to understand that I could do that" - those words hit hard. How often do we undersell ourselves? Also, the cast list for the sequel is absolutely insane! Lady Gaga, Kenneth Branagh, Lucy Liu... Can't wait to see what they do with the story.
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