Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour, two of the most powerful names in their respective fields, have long been linked through the movie “The Devil Wears Prada.” Wintour, who served as editor of Vogue for 37 years, has long been considered a true inspiration behind Streep’s iconic portrayal of fashion editor Miranda Priestly.
But as it turns out, the relationship between the two women runs much deeper than fiction.According to Ancestry.com, Streep, 76, and Wintour (also 76) are sixth cousins. By examining billions of historical records and public family trees, the genealogy platform determined that the two shared a fifth great-grandparent, Thomas Smith and Elizabeth Kinsey, who resided outside of Philadelphia in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
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Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour distant cousins?
The discovery adds a fascinating layer to an already compelling story. Streep’s famous portrayal of Miranda Priestly, widely regarded as one of her best performances, may have had a biological touch throughout. The two women, who were born in the same year and are now related by lineage, have spent decades circling each other’s worlds without knowing the full extent of their connection.To add another twist to the story, Wintour’s former assistant is Lauren Weisberger, who wrote the novel “The Devil Wears Prada” that inspired the original film.
According to ancestry records, Weisberger grew up in Allentown, just 20 miles from where Streep and Wintour’s ancestors once lived.
What Anna Wintour said about Miranda Priestly
In December 2024, Wintour addressed public speculation about any ties between her and Priest Streep. Speaking to the BBC, she said: “It is the right of the public and the people I work with to decide whether there are any similarities between me and Miranda Priestly,” stopping short of confirming or denying the long-held assumption.
“The Devil Wears Prada 2”
The second part sees the return of Streep as Miranda, Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs, Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton, and Stanley Tucci as Nigel Kipling. The story begins with Runway’s editor-in-chief nearing retirement and teaming up with Andy to take on her former assistant-turned-rival, Emily.