It’s been nearly two decades. Honestly, let that sink in for a second. In 2006, we were all just getting used to the idea of a Razr phone, yet somehow, the performances in a movie about a high-fashion magazine became the definitive blueprint for workplace dramas. Every actress in The Devil Wears Prada didn't just play a role; they basically shifted the trajectory of their entire careers.
You’ve seen the memes. You’ve heard the "cerulean" monologue a thousand times. But if you look past the Chanel boots, there’s a masterclass in casting that rarely happens in Hollywood anymore. It’s rare. Usually, you get one standout star and a bunch of background noise. Here? Every single person on that screen felt like the lead of their own (likely much more stressful) movie.
The Meryl Streep Effect: Beyond the Ice Queen Stereotype
Meryl Streep wasn't just another actress in The Devil Wears Prada; she was the sun that every other planet orbited. When people talk about Miranda Priestly, they often forget how much of that character was built on silence. Streep famously decided to play Miranda with a whisper. Why? Because she knew that if she screamed, she’d be a caricature. If she whispered, everyone had to lean in.
That’s power.
She reportedly drew inspiration from men in high-power positions rather than looking for a female counterpart. It's an interesting nuance. She didn't want to play a "bitch." She wanted to play an executive who happened to have zero time for incompetence. When you watch her now, especially in the scene where she breaks down her impending divorce for a split second before snapping back into "Runway" mode, you see the loneliness of the peak. Streep insisted on that scene. She wanted the audience to see the cost of the coat.
Anne Hathaway and the Weight of Being the Audience’s Proxy
Then there’s Anne Hathaway. Before this, she was the girl from The Princess Diaries. People liked her, sure, but they didn't necessarily view her as a heavyweight. Playing Andy Sachs changed everything. She had to navigate the impossible transition from "smart girl who's above fashion" to "woman who realizes fashion is a billion-dollar industry built on art."
It wasn't an easy shoot for her. Hathaway has mentioned in various retrospectives, including an interview with Variety, that she was actually the ninth choice for the role. Ninth! Rachel McAdams turned it down multiple times because she wanted to step away from mainstream projects. Can you imagine anyone else doing that "transformation" montage? Probably not. Hathaway brought a specific kind of frantic, desperate-to-please energy that makes the movie's ending actually land. If we didn't believe she was losing her soul, we wouldn't care when she throws the phone into the fountain.
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Emily Blunt: The Breakout That Almost Didn't Happen
If you ask a fan who their favorite actress in The Devil Wears Prada is, nine times out of ten, they’ll scream "Emily!" Emily Blunt was basically an unknown at the time. She was a British actress with a few credits, but this was her "a star is born" moment.
Funny story: she was actually late for her flight when she did the audition tape. She was wearing sweatpants and looked a mess. The director, David Frankel, loved her energy so much they rewrote the character to be British.
Blunt’s delivery of lines like "I’m one stomach flu away from my goal weight" or "I love my job, I love my job" is legendary. But she also humanized the "mean girl" trope. Emily wasn't mean because she was a bad person; she was mean because she was terrified. She was one mistake away from being fired by a woman who didn't remember her name. That frantic insecurity is something anyone who's ever worked a high-stakes entry-level job can feel in their bones.
The Supporting Cast and the Fashion Industry Realism
We can’t talk about the women of this film without mentioning Gisele Bündchen. It’s easy to dismiss her as "just a supermodel cameo," but her presence added immediate legitimacy to the world of Runway. She only agreed to be in the movie if she didn't have to play a model. So, they made her an editor. Her subtle eye-rolls in the background of the office scenes are perfection.
Then you have the broader context of what this film did for female-led ensembles. It proved that you don't need a central romance to drive a plot. Sure, Adrian Grenier’s character Nate exists (and is arguably the real villain, but that’s a debate for another day), but the heart of the movie is the professional relationship between women. It’s about ambition. It’s about the brutal choices you make when you want to be the best.
Why the Performances Still Rank Today
The reason this movie stays in the cultural zeitgeist isn't just the clothes. It’s the authenticity. Patricia Field, the costume designer, spent over $1 million on the wardrobe, which was unheard of. But even the most expensive Prada bag wouldn't work if the actors didn't sell the pressure.
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Think about the "Cerulean" scene again. Most people see it as Miranda bullying Andy. But look at it from a technical perspective. Every actress in The Devil Wears Prada in that room is reacting differently. Emily is smug. The other assistants are terrified. Andy is confused. It’s a perfectly choreographed dance of office politics.
- Meryl Streep earned an Oscar nomination for this. Rare for a comedy.
- Emily Blunt won a Golden Globe nomination and became a household name.
- Stanley Tucci (okay, not an actress, but vital) gave the best "fashion fairy godfather" performance in history.
The Legacy of the Devil’s Office
What’s truly wild is how the film has aged. In 2006, Miranda Priestly was the villain. In 2026, a lot of people see her as a woman who had to be twice as good as the men around her just to keep her seat at the table. Our perspective on work-life balance has changed, and the performances allow for that re-interpretation.
Andy Sachs represents the struggle of the millennial generation—the "dream job" that turns into a nightmare. We see the toll it takes on her relationship and her sense of self. When she finally walks away, it’s not a defeat. It’s a reclamation.
How to Apply the Lessons of The Devil Wears Prada to Your Career
Watching these women navigate the cutthroat world of fashion offers some surprisingly practical insights for the modern workplace. It’s not just about the clothes; it’s about the mindset.
Master the "Quiet Command"
Don't feel the need to be the loudest person in the room. Like Streep’s Miranda, the most powerful person is often the one who speaks the least and expects the most. Focus on excellence over volume.
Understand the "Why" Behind the Work
Andy’s biggest mistake early on was thinking her job was "just" about clothes. Whatever industry you are in, find the "cerulean sweater" connection. Understand how your small task affects the billion-dollar picture. It makes you indispensable.
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Build Your Professional Armor
Emily Prentiss (Blunt) survived because she had a thick skin. While her diet habits weren't exactly healthy, her dedication to the craft was. Learn to separate professional critique from personal worth. If a boss is "disappointed," it’s about the work, not your soul—unless you let it be.
Know When to Walk Away
The most powerful moment in the movie is Andy throwing that phone. Recognizing when a "dream job" no longer aligns with your values is a skill. It’s okay to pivot. It’s okay to realize that being "the best" at something you don't care about is actually a failure.
The lasting impact of the actress in The Devil Wears Prada is that they created a world that felt lived-in. They didn't play types; they played people. Whether you're an Andy, an Emily, or a Miranda, the movie remains the gold standard for how we talk about women, work, and the price of success.
For those looking to dive deeper into the history of the film, check out Lauren Weisberger's original novel or the numerous 15th-anniversary oral histories published by outlets like Entertainment Weekly. They reveal just how much the cast fought to make these characters more than just fashion-obsessed tropes.
To really level up your own professional presence, start by auditing your "internal cerulean." Identify one area of your industry you've been dismissing as trivial and research its history. Knowledge is the ultimate accessory. Once you understand the mechanics of your world as well as Miranda Priestly understands a belt, you become untouchable. That’s all.