21 'Devil Wears Prada' Behind-The-Scenes Facts/Stories

by Spencer AlthouseBuzzFeedBuzzFeed StaffI’m the Editorial Director at BuzzFeed — where I’ve reported on TV, film, and lifestyle trends (travel, fitness, and food) since 2013 — and I also post about the latest in pop culture news to my 850k+ followers on TikTok.

1.

First of all, pretty much every actor in Hollywood was up for the role of Andy Sachs, which obviously went to Anne Hathaway. Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman, and Kirsten Dunst were all considered for the part.

CBS / 20th Century Fox

2.

Juliette Lewis and Claire Danes both made it super far in the auditions too. Heck, Kate Hudson was literally offered the role of Andy Sachs, but she turned it down, which she completely regrets now, saying, "That was a bad call. And it was, like, a timing thing – one of those things where it was, like, I couldn't do it. And I should have, like, made it happen, and I didn't." Funnily enough, Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway starred in Bride Wars together just a few years later in 2009.

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3.

The entire movie had a budget of $35 million, but they actually cut about $10 million worth of scenes. For instance, according to screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, the scene where Andy misses Nate's birthday was originally meant to take place at a concert, and they filmed several different examples of her disappointing him: "We originally had 20 things there. It was going to be that they were all going to a concert and she shows up late, but that stuff was too expensive. The cheapest way that she let him down was by missing his birthday and coming into that apartment set with the cupcake. We had many versions of that."

20th Century Fox

4.

There's also a deleted opening in the movie where Andy went into the wrong building for her interview, but that was cut to help make the pacing of the film a bit faster. Heck, the screenwriter said there was even a different ending too: "The movie used to end with a slightly more upbeat scene with Nate, more of a reconciliation. They're so young and they're choosing spouses for their life, but we know that 25-year-olds are not in that position…. I had written a more conventional ending where they run through the park together or something."

20th Century Fox

5.

According to Helen Mirren, we have her to thank for Miranda Priestly's hair. (And, yes, Meryl is wearing a wig throughout the entire film.) Helen debunked a rumor that she was almost cast as Miranda, saying, "No, no, no, never. I didn’t have a chance with [Meryl's roles in The Devil Wears Prada or The French Lieutenant's Woman]. Maybe someone mentioned my name at one point, but without me knowing it. The only thing Meryl did tell me was she based her hairdo in The Devil Wears Prada on my hair. That’s all I can claim." Funnily enough, Meryl and Helen were both nominated for Best Actress at the Oscars that year, with Helen beating her for The Queen.

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6.

At the time, The Devil Wears Prada held the record for the most expensive wardrobe of any movie ever, costing $1 million. The total budget was actually only $100,000, but costume designer Patricia Field was able to borrow a ton of luxury pieces from friends in the industry, rather than purchasing them outright. In fact, Meryl Streep even talked about how she wasn't allowed to eat spaghetti on set because the studio was scared she might spill sauce on her expensive clothes, which would prevent them from being returned.

20th Century Fox

7.

The most expensive piece of costuming in the entire film is this 19th-century Fred Leighton necklace, which was worn by Meryl Streep. It cost $100,000 back in 2005, and Edward VII had previously gifted it to his mistress, Lillie Langtry. Aside from that, some of the fur coats that Meryl wore were worth over $40,000 each.

20th Century Fox

8.

Before Meryl Streep was attached to the film, the studio had three other actors in mind to play Miranda Priestly: Michelle Pfeiffer, Glenn Close, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Meryl obviously got the part, and when discussing the script she said she "wasn't interested in doing a biopic on Anna [Wintour]; I was interested in her position in her company. I wanted to take on the burdens she had to carry, along with having to look nice every day."

20th Century Fox

9.

Meryl Streep's own daughter, Mamie Gummer, was literally cut from the movie. She had one line while playing a Starbucks employee who had to make scalding-hot coffee for Miranda (aka her mom). Unfortunately that scene only exists in the DVD extras now, but don't worry because Mamie is a big actor now, appearing in everything from The Good Wife to True Detective.

20th Century Fox

10.

The character of Nigel was one of the most difficult to cast, and they'd literally already started filming the movie before the role was even filled. Stanley Tucci didn't even sign on until the weekend before he had to film his first scene. Over 150 actors were considered for the part, incl