“I was miserable in my trailer”: Meryl Streep Battled Depression While Working in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, Quit Method Acting After Horrible Experience

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Meryl Streep, the legendary actress, has given us innumerable unforgettable performances over the course of her illustrious career. There was, however, one part that she found particularly difficult and unpleasant.

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After struggling with depression while playing the formidable Miranda Priestly in the critically acclaimed film The Devil Wears Prada, Meryl Streep radically altered her approach to acting. This shocking disclosure highlights an actor’s mental health risks when acting methodically.

The Devil Wears Prada: A Fashionable Success

Meryl Streep in Devil Wears Prada
Meryl Streep in Devil Wears Prada

Inspired by Lauren Weisberger’s novel, The Devil Wears Prada; the 2006 film is a captivating comedy-drama. The film follows Andy Sachs, a young aspiring journalist who reluctantly accepts a position as the personal assistant to Miranda Priestly, the formidable and intimidating fashion magazine editor.

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It is widely speculated that Anna Wintour, the powerful editor-in-chief of Vogue, inspired the character of Miranda Priestly. Meryl Streep’s performance as Miranda Priestly is proof of her acting prowess and range.

The Devil Wears Prada
The Devil Wears Prada

Streep channels Priestly’s authoritative presence and unyielding expectations expertly through subtle facial expressions and a composed demeanor. She earned a well-deserved nomination for Best Actress at the Academy Awards thanks to her stellar performance in the film.

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Streep went to great lengths in method acting to bring Miranda Priestly to life. Actors who use this method put themselves emotionally into their roles to create believable on-stage personas. Streep’s dedication to the role of Miranda Priestly led her to adopt the character’s icy demeanor both on and off-set to create an authentic likeness.

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Meryl Streep Had a Horrible Time

Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep‘s health suffered due to the demanding method of acting she engaged in during the making of The Devil Wears Prada. In an interview with Cosmopolitan 15 years after the reunion, Streep revealed candidly that some aspects of the experience were horrible.

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“I was [miserable] in my trailer… I was so depressed.”

The legendary actress reflected on her low mood and time spent alone in her trailer. Streep was profoundly affected by this, so she said that The Devil Wears Prada was the last time she tried method acting.

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The chilly vibe on set was largely due to Streep, who acted out Priestly’s cold treatment of Andy. Hathaway said that Streep was so dedicated to staying in character throughout filming that it took months to see any signs of the real Meryl Streep again.

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It was clear that Meryl Streep cared deeply about her co-star Anne Hathaway, despite their apparent physical separation on set. Hathaway said she was nervous to work with Streep because of how well the veteran actress played Miranda Priestly but that she felt well cared for by her.

Meryl Streep’s portrayal of Miranda Priestly, a notorious movie villain, has earned her praise as one of cinema’s all-time greats. Many fans of The Devil Wears Prada don’t view Priestly as a standard villain, which is an interesting twist.

They say Priestly is very committed to her job, even if she comes off as cold and uncaring. Some viewers even blame Nate, Sachs’s boyfriend, for the story’s problems because he doesn’t encourage her to pursue her dreams of becoming a successful artist.

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Source: Cosmopolitan

Mabel Andrady

Written by Mabel Andrady

Articles Published: 694

Mabel, aka MJ, is a FandomWire Sr. Writer, pop-culture fanatic, and an MA in Health Demography holder. When she's not indulging in her guilty pleasure of penning everything Hollywood, Marvel & DC, she writes academic essays on COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS. With 2500+ articles published online, she brings a unique twist to entertainment writing. A jack-of-all-trades, MJ enjoys movies, writes/acts in plays, writes music, and dreams of being a successful actress. She offers a fresh perspective, making her writing a must-read for those seeking knowledge and entertainment.