AceShowbiz - Meryl Streep recently uncovered a surprising family connection to Anna Wintour, the real-life inspiration behind the iconic character Miranda Priestly from The Devil Wears Prada. Ahead of the upcoming sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2, this revelation sheds new light on the enduring legacy of the 2006 hit film.

The original The Devil Wears Prada movie, based on Lauren Weisberger’s bestselling 2003 novel, introduced audiences to the ruthless and demanding Runway magazine editor Miranda Priestly, a character inspired by Vogue's legendary editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour. The film starred Meryl Streep as Miranda and Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs, a young assistant struggling to meet Miranda’s exacting standards.

The recent discovery, made through a detailed genealogical study by Ancestry, revealed that Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour are actually sixth cousins. Their connection traces back to their fifth great-grandparents, Thomas Smith and Elizabeth Kinsey, from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This link was determined by analyzing billions of historical records and publicly available family trees.

Both Streep and Wintour share the same age, 76, with Meryl Streep born on June 22, 1949, and Anna Wintour following just months later on November 3, 1949. Upon learning of the genealogical connection, Streep expressed delight, stating, “THAT explains EVERYTHING. As our ancestors would say, I am chuffed!”

Despite Wintour being the basis for Miranda Priestly, Streep revealed that she did not directly model her portrayal on the fashion editor. Instead, she drew inspiration from filmmakers Mike Nichols and Clint Eastwood, a creative choice she shared during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

The 2006 film was a notable success, earning a Certified Fresh rating of 75% on Rotten Tomatoes and grossing $326 million at the box office. Its memorable dialogue and characters quickly made it a pop culture staple, with quotes like “That’s all,” and “You have no style or sense of fashion,” becoming widely recognized.

Anna Wintour herself attended the film’s New York premiere and later commented that she found the movie both enjoyable and humorous, demonstrating her good humor about the character based on her.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of The Devil Wears Prada, and 20th Century Studios is commemorating the milestone with the release of the eagerly awaited sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2. The film reunites the original stars, including Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, reprising their beloved roles.

The sequel’s storyline picks up with Andy Sachs returning to Runway magazine, now working once again under Miranda Priestly’s leadership. The film is directed by David Frankel and features an expanded cast, including Justin Theroux, Kenneth Branagh, Simone Ashley, Lucy Liu, and Lady Gaga, among others.

The trailer for The Devil Wears Prada 2 broke records, becoming the most-viewed trailer in 20th Century Studios history with over 200 million views on its first day. Fans are eagerly anticipating the release scheduled for May 1, 2026, when the film will hit theaters nationwide.

Reflecting on the original film’s impact, it’s clear that The Devil Wears Prada has left a lasting impression on fashion and film culture. The newfound familial bond between Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour adds an intriguing new layer to the story behind the scenes and highlights the enduring connection between the characters and their real-life inspirations.

As the sequel approaches, audiences can look forward to revisiting the high-pressure world of fashion publishing through the lens of these iconic figures, now linked by both their professional legacies and surprising ancestral ties.