Meryl Streep Turned Down ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ to Double Her Asking Price

Hollywood is known for its negotiation legends, but few stories are as satisfying as the one Meryl Streep shared during the press tour for ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’. The three-time Oscar winner disclosed that she initially declined the role of Miranda Priestly in the original ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ as a strategic move to compel the studio to double her salary.

While appearing on TODAY with co-stars Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, Streep recounted her experience reading the script and instantly recognizing its potential. “I knew it was going to be a hit,” she said. “I read the script, the script was great. They called me up, and they made an offer, and I said, ‘No. I’m not going to do it.’”

The then 56-year-old actress admitted that her rejection was a calculated decision. “I wanted to see if I doubled my ask, and they went right away and said ‘Sure,’” she reflected, noting that the moment was truly enlightening for her. “It took me this long to understand that I could do that. They needed me, I felt. I was ready to retire.”

There have been varying reports regarding her final salary. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Streep earned around $5 million for ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ after initially being offered $2.5 million, while other sources suggest the figure was closer to $4 million. Regardless of the exact amount, the studio clearly viewed it as a worthwhile investment.

The gamble proved to be a resounding success. The original film received two Academy Award nominations, including a best actress nod for Streep, who also won a Golden Globe for best performance by an actress in a motion picture in the comedy or musical category. The film went on to gross over $325 million worldwide, solidifying its status as a cultural phenomenon.

Now reprising her role as Miranda Priestly in the sequel, Streep has seemingly relaxed her famously Method approach to the character. While she maintained distance from her co-stars in the original to enhance Miranda’s intimidating presence, her castmates noted that she was much more engaged and sociable this time around, with Blunt humorously suggesting that Streep had simply “got bored” with being Method.

The sequel sees Hathaway’s Andy Sachs returning to Runway during a tumultuous time for journalism and media, with Tucci highlighting that artificial intelligence and evolving technology are central to the story’s premise. A host of new cast members join the returning ensemble, including Kenneth Branagh, Simone Ashley, Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, Pauline Chalamet, and B.J. Novak.

Streep’s revelation serves as a masterclass in understanding one’s worth, and the fact that it nearly altered one of cinema’s most cherished comedies makes it all the more intriguing. Share your thoughts in the comments on whether Meryl Streep’s bold salary negotiation changes your perception of her iconic portrayal as Miranda Priestly.