Meryl Streep may be widely celebrated for her legendary acting range, but according to co-star Emily Blunt, her transformation into Miranda Priestly on The Devil Wears Prada created a powerful and sometimes intimidating presence on set.
Emily Blunt Recalls Being “Quite Scared”
Speaking in a recent interview, Emily Blunt revealed that during early filming, she found Streep’s commitment to character slightly overwhelming.
She admitted she was “quite scared” at first because Streep remained deeply immersed in her role as the icy fashion editor, even when cameras were not rolling.
The “Miranda Priestly Zone”
Blunt described Streep’s mindset on set as entering a “Miranda zone,” referring to the strict, commanding energy of her character in the film.
According to her, while Streep was still approachable off-camera, there was a noticeable shift whenever she stepped into character—creating a strong sense of authority that matched the iconic role.
Meryl Streep on Her Acting Approach
Streep later explained that her performance required a subtle emotional separation to maintain Miranda Priestly’s composed and powerful presence.
She described her method as a controlled “remove,” allowing her to deliver the character’s sharpness and precision without breaking the illusion on screen.
A Balance of Intensity and Humor
Despite the intense atmosphere, Blunt noted that the set still had moments of humor and warmth between takes, even if Streep’s on-screen persona remained dominant during filming.
The dynamic ultimately helped shape one of the most memorable character performances in modern film history.
Sequel Buzz Returns
With The Devil Wears Prada 2 set to release on May 1, renewed attention is being placed on behind-the-scenes stories from the original film, including the legendary performances of both Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt.
