Wait. Was Glenn Close actually in The Devil Wears Prada? If you’re scratching your head right now, you aren't alone. Honestly, it’s one of those "Mandela Effect" things that pops up in movie trivia circles every few months. People swear they remember her icy stare behind a pair of oversized sunglasses, barking orders at a terrified assistant.
But she wasn't.
That was Meryl Streep. Obviously. Yet, the reason people get this twisted isn't just bad memory. It’s because for a long time, Glenn Close was the industry's go-to for "terrifying woman in power." Before Miranda Priestly was even a draft on Lauren Weisberger’s laptop, Glenn Close was skinning Dalmatians and boiling bunnies. The connection between glenn close devil wears prada isn't a secret cameo—it’s a story of "what if" and a very real casting shortlist that nearly changed cinema history.
The Role That Almost Went to Close
Let’s get into the weeds of the casting process. When Fox 2000 Pictures began developing the film in the early 2000s, Meryl Streep wasn't a "done deal." In fact, she initially turned the movie down because the first salary offer was, in her words, "insulting."
During that period of uncertainty, the producers were looking at a very specific tier of Hollywood royalty. Glenn Close was right at the top of that list. Alongside her were names like Michelle Pfeiffer and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Can you imagine?
If Close had signed on, we probably would have seen a much more overtly menacing Miranda. Think back to her performance as Patty Hewes in Damages or her legendary turn as the Marquise de Merteuil in Dangerous Liaisons. She does "calculated cruelty" better than almost anyone in the business. While Streep eventually took the role and famously lowered her voice to a whisper—inspired by Clint Eastwood’s stoic authority—a Glenn Close version of the character likely would have had more of that razor-sharp, theatrical bite she’s known for.
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Why do we get them confused?
It happens. Even the most seasoned film buffs mix them up.
- The Cruella Connection: Glenn Close played Cruella de Vil in the 1996 live-action 101 Dalmatians. Cruella is basically the blueprint for the "villainous fashion icon." The white hair, the furs, the absolute disregard for the well-being of subordinates—it’s Miranda Priestly before Miranda Priestly existed.
- The "Prestige" Overlap: Both actresses are of the same generation and often compete for the same roles. They even starred together in the 1993 film The House of the Spirits, which, let’s be real, almost nobody remembers.
- The Hair: There is a very specific "Silver Fox" aesthetic that both actresses embraced in their iconic 2000s-era roles.
Streep herself has joked about the confusion. During a promotional tour, she mentioned that she and Close are often mistaken for one another. It’s a compliment to both, really. You’re being confused with another literal legend.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Casting
There is a common myth that Glenn Close "turned down" the role because it was too similar to Cruella. There isn't actually a public record of her saying that.
The truth is more mundane: the studio really wanted Meryl.
Director David Frankel and producer Wendy Finerman were pretty set on Streep. They knew she had the "gravity" to make a movie about fashion feel like a high-stakes war drama. Once Streep’s agent negotiated a higher salary—doubling the initial offer—the door effectively closed for anyone else.
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The Battle of the Icy Blondes
Even though glenn close devil wears prada never actually happened on screen, the two actresses have been in a sort of "proxy war" for the title of Greatest Living Actress for decades.
Look at 2012. The Oscars.
Meryl Streep was nominated for The Iron Lady. Glenn Close was nominated for Albert Nobbs. It was one of the tensest Best Actress races in years. Streep won. Many felt it was "Close’s year," and that narrative of rivalry—mostly fueled by the media rather than the women themselves—has kept their names linked in the public consciousness.
When you think of a high-powered, terrifying woman in a suit, your brain basically does a coin flip between Meryl and Glenn.
What if she had played it?
If Glenn Close had been the one to step out of that black town car in Manhattan, the movie would be fundamentally different. Streep’s Miranda is quiet. She’s a "sinker," not a "shouter."
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Close, however, has a way of using her eyes that feels like she’s looking right through your soul and finding every insecurity you’ve ever had. She likely would have leaned into the more "theatrical" aspects of the fashion world. It might have felt less like a workplace comedy and more like a psychological thriller.
Moving Past the Comparison
Honestly, both women have defined what it means to be a "powerful woman" in Hollywood. They broke the mold that said actresses disappear after forty.
If you want to see the performance that most resembles what a glenn close devil wears prada performance would have looked like, go watch Damages. Her portrayal of a high-stakes litigator is the spiritual cousin to Miranda Priestly. It’s cold, it’s brilliant, and it’s utterly ruthless.
Actionable Insights for Movie Fans
- Watch for the nuance: Next time you rewatch The Devil Wears Prada, pay attention to how Streep doesn't scream. Then, go watch Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction or Dangerous Liaisons and see how she uses volume and presence differently.
- Check the credits: If you're looking for more "Boss Bitch" energy from Glenn Close, The Wife (2017) is an absolute masterclass in suppressed power.
- Don't trust your memory: The "Mandela Effect" is real in Hollywood. Always double-check IMDb before betting money on whether an actor was in a 2000s cult classic.
The link between these two is permanent. Whether it’s a shared hairstyle or a shared shortlist for a career-defining role, Glenn Close and Miranda Priestly will always be two sides of the same very expensive coin.
If you're looking to dive deeper into 2000s cinema history, the best next step is to look up the original "look-book" for the film’s costumes. You’ll see how much of the visual language of Miranda Priestly was actually stolen from real-world fashion editors like Anna Wintour and Liz Tilberis, which might explain why so many different actresses were considered for the "look."