Meryl Streep’s chilling voice in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ was inspired by Clint Eastwood.
The 67-year-old star, who played terrifying magazine editor Miranda Priestly in the movie 10 years ago, has revealed she copied the raspy quality of the legendary ‘Dirty Harry’ actor for the character’s powerful speech and her ‘Silkwood’ director Mike Nichols’ ability to deliver a "cutting remark".
She said: "The voice I got from Clint Eastwood. He never, ever, ever raises his voice and everyone has to lean in to listen, and he is automatically the most powerful person in the room. But he is not funny. That I stole from Mike Nichols. The way the cruellest cutting remark, if it is delivered with a tiny self-amused curlicue of irony, is the most effective instruction, the most memorable correction, because everyone laughs, even the target. The walk, I’m afraid, is mine."
Miranda’s wardrobe cost $1 million to supply for the movie and her look was inspired by American model and actress Carmen Dell’Orefice – who is now aged 85 and sports a signature white bouffant hairstyle – and German politician Christine Lagarde, who is Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund.
Meryl added to Variety magazine: "I wanted a cross between (Carmen) and the unassailable elegance and authority of Christine Lagarde."
And Meryl was a big hit with the cast and crew as soon as they heard her read the script.
Anne Hathaway – who played her assistant Andy Sachs – revealed as soon as Streep read the part in front of the cast, they were captivated by the character.
She said: "When Meryl opened her mouth and basically whispered, everybody in the room drew a collective gasp. It was so unexpected and brilliant."
Despite the huge success of the film, which inspired the hit TV series ‘Ugly Betty’, Meryl isn’t interested in making a sequel because the original was so good.
She said: "I’d love to make a movie with all the people again that’s something totally different. But I think that one might have just hit the right note. It’s good to leave it as it is."
Emily Blunt starred as Emily Chalton in the film and says she gained a stepbrother in her co-star Stanley Tucci, who played Nigel, because he met his future wife, her sister Felicity, at Blunt’s wedding to John Krasinski.
She said: "Ten years after ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ Stanley is in my actual family. How frightening is that? He’s married to my sister."
It was also revealed that Hathaway was never the first choice to play the role of Andy, and Fox Studios heavily pursued Rachel McAdams, who turned them down.
Meryl Streep: Clint Eastwood inspired Devil Wears Prada role
