At 76, Meryl Streep is finally ready to pull back the curtain on one of her most iconic roles—and the revelations are as captivating as the performance that made history. The Devil Wears Prada wasn’t just another film on Streep’s legendary resume; it became a cultural touchstone, transforming the way audiences viewed fashion, power, and the art of acting itself. But while moviegoers were mesmerized by Miranda Priestley’s icy one-liners and impossibly chic wardrobe, the true story behind the scenes was far more complex, and only now is Streep sharing what really happened when the cameras stopped rolling.

Born Mary Louise Streep on June 22, 1949, in Summit, New Jersey, Meryl’s journey to Hollywood greatness began in a household steeped in both creativity and discipline. Her mother, Mary Wilkinson Streep, was an artist whose encouragement shaped Meryl’s confidence, while her father, Harry William Streep Jr., brought the grounding influence of a pharmaceutical executive. Growing up alongside her two younger brothers, Harry and Dana, Meryl’s early years were marked by a blend of small-town charm and big dreams. Her mother’s mantra—reminding her that laziness would get her nowhere, but drive could take her anywhere—became the backbone of Streep’s relentless pursuit of excellence.

Though she was crowned homecoming queen and adored by classmates, Meryl’s early performances hinted at something extraordinary. At 12, her singing talent earned her opera lessons, but she quickly learned that artistry meant more than technique—it required honesty and connection. That lesson would echo throughout her career, from high school stages to the world’s grandest theaters. Acting wasn’t serious business for her until college, when a role in Miss Julie at Vassar flipped a switch. Suddenly, the girl with glasses and frizzy hair was the talk of campus, impressing professors with her uncanny ability to memorize lines and slip into accents. She graduated cum laude in drama in 1971, then pushed higher at the Yale School of Drama, where she juggled waitressing jobs and a dozen productions a year, surviving the pressure cooker that nearly drove her to law school instead.

By 1975, Meryl was done being the girl with promise—she was ready to prove she belonged. Her first professional gigs at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s National Playwrights Conference were a baptism by fire, powering through five plays in six weeks. Soon, she moved to New York City, where her Broadway debut in Joseph Papp’s productions of Henry V and The Taming of the Shrew opposite Raul Julia made it clear: Streep was not there to play small. That year, she met John Cazale, the brilliant actor best known for The Godfather, and their romance became one of the deepest, most tragic loves of her life. When Cazale was diagnosed with terminal cancer, Streep accepted a role in The Deer Hunter just to stay close to him, filling her character with a quiet dignity that earned her first Academy Award nomination.

Hollywood quickly took notice, and soon, Streep was cast in Kramer vs. Kramer opposite Dustin Hoffman. The original script painted her character as a villain, but Streep refused to accept a one-dimensional portrayal. She argued for complexity, even rewriting her own dialogue, and the filmmakers listened. The role divided audiences and critics, but no one could deny the power she brought to the screen. When she won her first Oscar, her reign over Hollywood officially began.

The decades that followed cemented Streep’s status as a force of nature. In The Bridges of Madison County, she transformed a love story into a breathtaking portrait of longing and sacrifice, proving that middle-aged women could be romantic heroines, too. But it was The Devil Wears Prada that would become her biggest commercial success, earning more than $326 million worldwide and a record-breaking 14th Oscar nomination. Streep’s turn as Miranda Priestley was nothing short of legendary—cold, commanding, and razor-sharp, she embodied the terrifying fashion editor with such perfection that audiences couldn’t get enough.

Yet landing the role wasn’t as simple as it seemed. When producers first considered Streep for Miranda, some doubted her comedic chops, claiming she had “never been funny a day in her life.” The initial offer felt like an insult, and Streep walked away. Only when the studio doubled the offer did she agree to step into Miranda’s stilettos. Once on set, Streep rebuilt the character from the inside out, insisting on two of the film’s most iconic moments: the scathing monologue about the blue sweater and Miranda’s vulnerable hotel room scene. Both were pure Streep, inspired by the quiet power of Clint Eastwood and the elegance of women like Carmen Dell’Orefice and Christine Lagarde. The genius was in the restraint—while everyone expected Miranda to thunder, Streep made her whisper, turning the character into something chilling and magnetic.

Offscreen, Streep’s real-life story of love and loyalty reads very differently from the icy queen of Runway magazine. For decades, her personal life was the opposite of her career—quiet, steady, and free from tabloid frenzy. Her marriage to sculptor Don Gummer lasted nearly four decades, raising four children. But even the most picture-perfect stories can change, and in 2023, it was revealed that Streep and Gummer had been separated for more than six years, though they remained close.

Rumors about a new romance with comedy legend Martin Short began to swirl, especially after Streep joined the cast of Only Murders in the Building, playing the love interest of Short’s character. Their chemistry was undeniable, and by early 2024, speculation grew that the two were more than just colleagues. Both insisted they were simply close friends, but fans couldn’t ignore the handholding photos and Valentine’s Day sightings. Whether they’re just friends or something more, one thing is clear: Meryl Streep, who has spent a lifetime crafting indelible characters, might finally be living out one of her most surprising roles offscreen—a love story nobody saw coming.

But while her personal life lit up gossip columns, Streep’s professional legacy continued to grow. Few stories have lingered longer than the one about what really happened behind the scenes of The Devil Wears Prada. During the film’s 15th anniversary in 2021, Streep revealed that the set was as intense as Miranda Priestley’s glare. The movie stripped the gloss off the fashion industry, revealing a cutthroat mentality beneath the couture. It was glamorous, ruthless, and magnetic all at once, and Streep’s performance became the heartbeat of the film.

At 76, Streep’s confessions about the role are as fascinating as ever. She admits that the pressure to deliver was immense, but she poured her experience and empathy into every scene. For Streep, the secret to playing strong women isn’t just about power—it’s about truth, vulnerability, and the courage to stand your ground. Every rejection, every heartbreak, every moment of reinvention became fuel for her artistry. That’s the real secret of Meryl Streep: she doesn’t just play strong women—she is one.

As fans look back on The Devil Wears Prada and the remarkable career of Meryl Streep, they’re reminded that the most unforgettable stories aren’t just found on screen—they’re lived, day by day, by the artists who dare to be honest. Streep’s journey from small-town girl to Hollywood legend is a masterclass in resilience, creativity, and the power of staying true to yourself, no matter who’s watching. And with every role, every revelation, she continues to inspire, proving that the real magic happens when you refuse to shrink—and choose instead to shine.