The name Meryl Streep often leaves an echo of grandeur and greatness in its wake. Renowned for being perhaps the most beloved actress of her generation, the two-time Academy Award winner is arguably one of Hollywood’s most iconic entities.
But though she owns an extensive reserve of critically acclaimed films and unforgettable performances, her experience at the time of filmmaking hasn’t always been a smooth sail. In fact, one of her most memorable movies ended up being an absolute nightmare for her, something that even her co-star and off-screen friend, Emily Blunt agreed with.
Emily Blunt: Meryl Streep Didn’t Enjoy Filming This Cult Classic
Nearly two decades ago, David Frankel gifted the world with one of the most cherished movie adaptations by making The Devil Wears Prada. With a stellar ensemble cast of Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, the 2006 classic not only accrued immense profit, but also became the recipient of endless admiration from critics and audiences alike. But as it turns out, the viewers had much more fun watching the fashion spectacle than the star cast ever did making it. And that was especially the case for Streep.
Streep, 74, who plays the role of Miranda Priestly, the haughty and cynical editor of NYC’s biggest fashion magazine, was just as miserable on the set as her on-screen persona. To nail her brutal character in the film, the Mamma Mia! star decided to dive into the depths of method acting which sometimes made her icy to her co-stars behind the cameras as well.
In reality, however, Streep is the polar opposite of the role she depicted in The Devil Wears Prada, which only made things more complicated for her. And Blunt, 40, who plays the glamorous but cocky employee of Miranda in the movie, believed the same –
“Meryl is so gregarious and fun as hell, in some ways it wasn’t the most fun for her having to remove herself. It wasn’t like she was unapproachable; You could go up to her and say, ‘Oh my God, the funniest thing just happened,’ and she’d listen, but I don’t know if it was the most fun for her to be on set being that way.”
Of course, Streep herself vouched for just how horrible it had all been for her.
The Hefty Price She Paid for ‘Being the Boss’
While Streep ultimately ended up delivering one of her most incredible performances in the film, the role of the tyrant boss ended up taking a toll on her. Not to mention, the method acting bit just made it tenfold worse for the Don’t Look Up star – while she’d be alone and “miserable” in her trailer, her co-stars and fellow crew members would be busy cracking jokes and enjoying their time on set.
“It was horrible! I was [miserable] in my trailer. I could hear them all rocking and laughing. I was so depressed! I said, ‘Well, it’s the price you pay for being boss!’ That’s the last time I ever attempted a Method thing!”
Even Hathaway, 40, admitted that Streep’s cold air of indifference would sometimes unnerve her. But at the end of the day, she knew the woman beneath the veneer of her icy character was a lovely woman.
“I did feel intimidated, but I always felt cared for. I knew that whatever she was doing to create that fear, I appreciated [because] I also knew she was watching out for me.”
The Devil Wears Prada is available for renting/purchasing on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
