Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep are two of the best actresses in Hollywood. However, it can’t be denied that Streep is the legendary queen of the film industry and has been for a very long time. So when Hathaway worked with her on The Devil Wears Prada (2006), she was understandably nervous. In fact, she was so intimidated by Streep’s acting prowess that she thought she didn’t even belong in the $326 million grossing film and should just get out of Streep’s way instead of making the job more difficult for her.
Anne Hathaway Was Terrified Of Meryl Streep
In a 2006 Access interview, Anne Hathaway admitted that she would never have been able to match Meryl Streep’s caliber so she didn’t even try on The Devil Wears Prada. She said:
“It wouldn’t matter if I’d done 50 films, she’s still the best actress in the whole world. I just really kind of had to calm myself down and say, ‘Ok, you know what? Just accept it, she’s gonna be better than you, just learn as much as possible and just be as open to it as possible.’”
In a 2010 Deadline interview, Hathaway was again asked about working with Streep and she said that all she did was get out of the veteran actress’ way. The Dark Knight Rises actress said that
“No, I never felt like I belonged on Devil. I remember that the best I felt in that movie came when I got out of Meryl’s way with a little bit of grace. But I never felt in any way like I went toe to toe or held my own. It was about trying to just be there and know when to get out of Meryl’s way.”
Streep’s tour de force performance in The Devil Wears Prada garnered lavish positive reviews and the film made on a budget of about $35 to $41 million went on to gross $326.7 million. However, Hathaway wasn’t left out. Critics and viewers alike praised her performance as well.
Anne Hathaway Comments On Meryl Streep’s Real-Life Personality
During The Graham Norton Show, Anne Hathaway praised Meryl Streep for being an extraordinarily warm person. She also said that the seasoned actress let her know what was going to happen on The Devil Wears Prada. She said:
“When I met her, she gave me a huge hug. I’m like, ‘Oh my God, we are going to have the best time in this movie.’ And then she’s like, ‘Ah sweetie, that’s the last time I’m nice to you.’ She then went into her trailer and came out the ice queen, and that was really the last I saw of Meryl for months until we promoted the film.”
Read More: Meryl Streep Avoided Brad Pitt For Five Years For All the Wrong Reasons
In an interview with Movie Web, Hathaway praised Streep again for being delightful and said that there aren’t enough nice things she can say about her. As per the Interstellar star:
“Knowing her as I do know, as a person, she’s absolutely delightful. I couldn’t say enough nice things about her. She’s really extraordinary, and not to become too gushy, but as a woman, she has absolutely done everything I want to and everything I hope to accomplish. She has done it better than anyone.”
Anne Hathaway recently starred in She Came to Me, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in February 2023. Meryl Streep will be next seen in season 3 of Only Murders In The Building.
She Came to Me doesn’t have a theatrical release date as of yet while Only Murders In The Building season 3 is speculated to premiere in the summer of 2023 on Hulu.
