50 Things You Never Knew About the Filming of 'The Devil Wears Prada'

The Movie Is Based on a "True" Story

The movie is based on a book (opens in new tab) written by Lauren Weisberger, the former assistant to the editor-in-chief of Vogue, Anna Wintour.

Casting Miranda's Kids Was Extremely Difficult

The crew went through hundreds of twins (opens in new tab) before they found the right pair for the roles.

Gisele Bündchen Was Mentioned in the Book

She was mentioned in the book (opens in new tab) for giving Miranda a Christmas present.

Gisele Agreed to Act in the Film Under One Condition

Gisele would act in the film as long as her character (opens in new tab) was not a model.

Thomas Lennon Was Offered the Part of Nigel

Lennon had to turn down the role due to conflicts (opens in new tab) with filming Reno 911.

Claire Danes Auditioned for the Role of Andy

The production team (opens in new tab) apparently felt she wasn't fit to play the part.

Juliette Lewis Also Auditioned for Andy

The crew (opens in new tab) decided that Lewis wasn't quite right for the role.

Emily's Character Is Reportedly Based on Plum Sykes

Sykes (opens in new tab) is now a writer and was a former assistant to Anna Wintour.

Frankel Auditioned 100 Girls Before He Found Emily

Emily was in Los Angeles auditioning (opens in new tab) for Eragon when Prada auditions were taking place. At the last minute, her agent put her on a tape for Prada. She flew home thinking all of her auditions were unsuccessful. But Frankel loved her, and called her house to offer her the part. Her mom picked up and said she was out at a bar (she was upset about the audition). "I was in some dive club in London," Blunt said. "I called him back from the bathroom. He said, 'Listen I would have cast you off the tape, but the studio wants to see you one more time. Can you do what you did but dress the part more?'"

The McGraw-Hill Building Was Used as the Front of the Elias-Clarke Building

The front of the Elias-Clarke building (the home of the magazine in the film) was filmed at the McGraw-Hill building (opens in new tab) in Manhattan.

The Cover Featured Here Was Based off of a Real Cover

This cover of Runway was based off of Vogue's August 2004 (opens in new tab) issue that featured Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley, and Riley Keough.

The Call in the Last Scene Isn't Represented Correctly on the Phone

In the last scene, Andy receives a call from Miranda. However, if you look closely at the phone (opens in new tab), you'll see that the call on the screen is actually outgoing rather than incoming.

Valentino Was the Only Designer Who Made an Appearance

While the characters wore pieces from many other designers in the film, Valentino was the only one with a cameo (opens in new tab). Some speculate that Anna Wintour threatened to ban any designers who made an appearance from being featured in the pages of Vogue.

Meryl's Daughter Was Cut from the Film

Streep's daughter, Mamie Gummer, played a Starbucks barista (opens in new tab) in a scene that was eventually cut.

Meryl's Portrayal of Miranda Was Not Based Off of Anna Wintour

"The voice I got from Clint Eastwood," Streep said (opens in new tab). "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 cruelest 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."

Meryl Streep Kept Her Distance from Her Costars on Set

Streep feared that close relationships with her costars would jeopardize the icy rapports she hoped to maintain between Miranda and the other characters. On the first day of filming, she said (opens in new tab) to Anne, "I think you're perfect for the role. I'm so happy we're going to be working together. That's the last nice thing I'll say to you."

Meryl Donated All of Her Costumes to Charity

Miranda's high-end outfits were worth a hefty sum, which Streep chose to donate (opens in new tab) instead of keeping for herself.

The Cast Became (and Still Is) Extremely Close

"Ten years after The Devil Wears Prada, Stanley is in my actual family," said (opens in new tab) Blunt. "How frightening is that? He's married to my sister. All thanks to The Devil Wears Prada." Blunt invited Stanley to her wedding after becoming close friends on the movie and the rest is history.

The Film Impacted Blunt's Career Most Profoundly

Emily Blunt went to the same coffee shop every morning without being recognized. The Devil Wears Prada completely changed that. "The day the movie came out," Blunt said (opens in new tab), "all the people in the bakery suddenly knew who I was. It was surreal."

Hathaway also credits the movie for launching Blunt's career. "I've never witnessed a star being born before," Hathaway said. "That's the first time I watched it happen."

The Prop Used for the Harry Potter Manuscript Was Sold in an Online Auction

People apparently would pay large sums of money to get their hands on a piece of the film. This prop (opens in new tab) went for $586 and the proceeds went to charity.