Meryl Streep reveals real reason she almost turned down Devils Wear Prada

Meryl Streep initially rejected the starring role in The Devil Wears Prada.

While it’s hard to imagine the iconic film without Streep as the bossy Runway magazine editor Miranda Priestly. But it almost didn’t happen.

The three-time Oscar winner revealed the reason why doing the press run for the highly anticipated sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2.

During an interview alongside her cast mates Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci, Steep discussed her decision to agree to star in the 2006 classic.

“I knew it was going to be a hit,” Streep told Today host Jenna Bush Hager. “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.’”

You’re likely trying to think of the reason. Streep says she foresaw the film becoming a mastic success, and wanted to be paid accordingly.

Meryl Streep revealed why she almost turned down the Miranda Priestly role (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

“I wanted to see if I doubled my ask, and they went right away and said ‘Sure.’”

Looking back at her decision, the Hollywood icon said: “I’m 56 years [old] — it took me this long to understand that I could do that! I was sure of it. I was sure it would be a hit. And they needed me, I felt. And I wanted it, but if they didn’t want to do that, I was okay. Because I’m old — I’m 56, I was ready to retire.”

Streep received an Oscar nomination in 2007 for her portrayal of Miranda Priestly. She went on to star in a number of hit films including Mamma Mia!, It’s Complicated, and The Iron Lady.

The original film focuses on Anne Hathaway as aspiring journalist Andrea Sachs who gets a job at Runway. Blunt portrayed fashion-obsessed senior assistant Emily Charlton Stanley Tucci as Nigel Kipling - AKA the loyal Art Director of Runway and Miranda's long-serving right-hand man.

Meryl Streep returned for the sequel along with Anne Hathaway (20th Century Studios)

Now, 20 years later, we're finally seeing the original star-studded cast reunite.

The trailer sees Miranda and Nigel reuniting with Andy and, later, Emily.

However, Miranda appears to remember neither of them and she also seems to pull a blank when reminded of her habit of referring to all her assistants as 'Emilys'.

Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney was supposed to have a cameo in the high-fashion film sequel but her scene was left on the cutting room floor.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 will hit cinemas on 1 May.

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