Meryl Streep Negotiated Her Way to a Bigger Paycheck for 'The Devil Wears Prada'

Meryl Streep wasn't always set to become Miranda Priestly. The legendary actress opened up about her path to one of cinema's most iconic roles during a recent appearance on Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, revealing she turned down The Devil Wears Prada before ultimately landing a significantly larger payday.

"I read the script — the script was great. They called me up, and they made an offer, and I said, 'No. I'm not going to do it,'" Streep explained. Her reasoning was straightforward: she had unwavering faith in the material. "I knew it was going to be a hit and I wanted to see if I doubled my ask, and they went right away and said, 'Sure.'"

The 76-year-old was in a unique position at the time, having reached a point in her career where she was genuinely prepared to step back from acting entirely. "I'm old — I'm 56, I was ready to retire," she recalled. That confidence in her own value and willingness to walk away gave her significant leverage. "I was sure of it. I was sure it would be a hit. And they needed me, I felt."

The gamble paid off spectacularly. The 2006 film became a cultural phenomenon, earning $125 million domestically and surpassing $326 million worldwide. As Streep reflected on the negotiation, she acknowledged it took years to fully appreciate her own instincts. "It took [me] this long to understand that I could do that," she said.

The conversation comes as The Devil Wears Prada 2 prepares to debut in theaters this weekend, bringing audiences back to the world of high fashion and Priestly's razor-sharp leadership.