Why Miranda Priestly Remains an Icon in Film & Theatre

Why Miranda Priestly became such an iconic character

The rise of Miranda begins with The Devil Wears Prada book, released in 2003, written by Lauren Weisberger. The book quickly rose to success as a New York Times bestseller, due to the whispers of Wesiberger’s previous job as a personal assistant to none other than American Vogue editor, Anna Wintour, who was much likened to the antagonist, Miranda Priestly. Wintour/Priestly is fashion, power, and the very height of glamour. 

Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada 2

Miranda Priestly, played by Meryl Streep in the film franchise, has created the perfect villain, flawed yet poised, deliciously malicious, yet sometimes aspirational- as her character says in the first film, ‘don’t be ridiculous Andrea, everybody wants this.’ We’d be fools to admit we didn’t want her life for ourselves. 

As the 1st of May is around the corner, with the release of the sequel The Devil Wears Prada 2, we’re questioning if this girl-boss character has evolved over the 20 years. With the outdated faux feminist tone and Miranda pulling the ladder up behind her, to any woman who wants a career in fashion, we’re eager to see if Priestly is up to her old habits of intimidation and that disapproving look. Bosses who have carried CEO positions for 35+ years are only now being flustered by the ever changing digital landscape and the looming presence of AI. We look forward to seeing Priestly’s hot take on it all.

Who played Miranda Priestly and why the performance mattered

Meryl Streep made the character Miranda Priestly her own, creating some of the most iconic one-liners in cinema history giving us decades worth of memes for the groupchat. Her razor sharp tongue, comedic timing and deadpan expression is a perfect recipe of a dish best served cold.

The lasting appeal of Miranda Priestly quotes

You know the seasons are changing when, colour returns to the tree leaves, lighter skies beyond 8pm and of course the re-emerging iconic Miranda Priestly quote ‘Florals? For Spring? Groundbreaking.’

With each one-liner more memorable than the last, we all wish we could say what we really mean like Priestly. Sometimes it’s easier to share a gif into the group chat with ‘details of your incompetence do not interest me,’ just to get to the point. 

Amongst the iconic liners, the sweater monologue put cerulean on the colour map, with no one looking at the colour blue the same ever again. And that is truly why no one can do what Priestly does. 

How Miranda Priestly outfits helped define the character

When you think of Miranda Priestly you instantly think of the pinstripe power-suit ensemble. With an open collared white shirt, fitted waistcoat and shoulder padded blazer, you are sending a message to the world - I mean business. And Priestly certainly does with this fit. What is interesting about this iconic outfit is the nod to her masculinity; she is not a woman’s woman in the workplace. 

In another scene Miranda Priestly wears a giant red fur coat, which she throws onto Andy’s desk. The red being a nod to the devil, the fur a hint towards her morals when it comes to fashion, and the sheer size of it to overpower anyone that steps in her way. It’s a larger than life symbol of her authority and status. 

Sometimes, it’s not about the full outfit but the accessories. Sunglasses being an absolute staple for Priestly; often oversized, dark but always Gucci or Chanel. Interestingly, the inspiration for Priestly’s character, Anna Wintour often wears sunglasses to hide her emotions acting as an armor in public. Wintour herself has described them as ‘incredibly useful’ to hide her boredom. We’re taking notes on this one. 

Miranda Priestly on screen and on stage

Miranda Priestly on stage is just as sharp as on screen. However, the beauty of the stage is that you can get more from the character from their dialogue or from solo songs. The stage version of Miranda Priestly, portrayed by Vanessa Williams, is more to the point and says exactly what she needs rather than Meryl Streep’s Miranda who keeps you second-guessing with what she really wants. 

With the stage version of Miranda Priestly, you can see the joy in what she does. Especially in the song ‘City of Dreams,’ where she sings about her love for Paris and fashion week. The height of stress, yet the glamour pays off. 

In Miranda’s solo ‘Stay on Top’ the audience gets to step into her mind, she is on the verge of being pushed out of her role with someone younger with a fresh perspective to the fashion industry. She smells the resentment from her peers around her, and the joy they would have in witnessing her downfall. She secretly fears being a cliche, getting older and out of touch, which reflects the whispers in the fashion industry. She may be an icon, but how long can the dream last? 

Why Miranda Priestly still feels relevant now

Miranda Priestly will always be relevant. Young women in the workplace are often faced with their own Mirandas, who instead of lifting them up and sharing years of wisdom and knowledge, they pull the ladder up behind them. The feminist boss is a tired act, when it only means rooting for oneself. 

However, there is no denying the sexism and ageism that comes with being a woman at the top of her game in business. The fears Priestly face towards the end is a cycle is something we often see in the workplace; whispers, doubts from peers and the crushing pressure to stay on top. It is no wonder the ladder is pulled up so quickly, when the fall seems so far down. 

See Miranda Priestly live on stage in London

See the glamour for yourself in the most extravagant way, at The Devil Wears Prada The Musical in London, at the Dominion Theatre. Here’s your chance for an in-depth refresher on the iconic and always relevant character of Miranda Priestly. 

Miranda Priestly FAQs

Bore someone else with your questions. Or read more here. 

Was Miranda Priestly based on a real person?

Miranda Priestly is rumoured to be based upon Anna Wintour. However, in recent press flurries around the sequel of the Devil Wears Prada, Wintour claims she is nothing like the character. 

How many husbands did Miranda Priestly have?

In The Devil Wears Prada film, Miranda Priestly had three husbands and goes through a divorce for the third time in the film. Who knows if she’s collected new husbands along the way in the sequel…

How much of the Devil Wears Prada is true?

The Devil Wears Prada is heavily based on Lauren Weisberger’s experience as an assistant to the editor-in-chief of Vogue, Anna Wintour. Weisberger has said the story is a combination of bosses she has had. However, the story is a criticism of the fast-paced, highly pressurised, demanding work culture of the fashion industry, whilst having to maintain a perfect image to suit the expectation of the glamorous job.