Meryl Streep Reveals She Almost Retired Before Returning for ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’

Meryl Streep has built a legacy on unforgettable performances, but some of her most powerful moments have happened off-screen. As she steps back into the spotlight for the highly anticipated “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” Streep is also sharing the kind of hard-earned perspective that comes with decades in the industry.

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In a recent interview, she reflected on a pivotal career moment that nearly slipped away, one that would go on to shape her legacy in ways even she could not have predicted.

Meryl Streep Says She Turned Down ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ Before Doubling Her Salary

During an appearance on TODAY with Jenna & Friends, the 76-year-old shared that she had been ready to step away from acting before taking on her now-iconic role in “The Devil Wears Prada.”

Instead, that decision led to one of the most unforgettable performances of her career, turning a near goodbye into a defining Hollywood moment.

“They called me up, and they made an offer, and I said, ‘No, not going to do it,’ ” Streep said, speaking alongside co-stars Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci.

When asked why she initially declined, she advocated for herself, saying the decision came down to recognizing her value. “I knew it was going to be a hit and I wanted to see if I doubled my ask…”

“And they went right away and said, ‘Sure.’ And I thought, I’m 50, 60, it took me this long to understand that I could do that,” she continued. “They needed me, I felt.”

“I was ready to retire, but that was a lesson,” she added.

From Miranda Priestly to a Career-Defining Legacy

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Streep was 57 when she stepped into the role of Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada,” delivering a performance that would go on to define an era of modern cinema.

Now, nearly two decades later, she is returning to the role in the highly anticipated sequel alongside Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, revisiting a character that remains as influential as ever.

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In the years following the original film, Streep sustained an extraordinary run with standout projects including “Mamma Mia!,” “Julie & Julia,” and “The Iron Lady,” the latter earning her a second Academy Award for Best Actress.

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More recently, she has continued to evolve her career with roles in “Hoppers,” a cameo in “Project Hail Mary,” and the Hulu series “Only Murders in the Building,” proving her presence on screen remains as compelling as ever.

Streep Reflects on Early Criticism That Stayed With Her

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Ahead of the sequel’s release, Streep opened up about one of the harshest critiques she experienced early in life during a conversation with People magazine.

“My father started taking me to college interviews when I was 15,” she recalled. “The dean met with me and said, ‘What have you been reading this summer?’ I said, ‘Carl Jung.’ She said, ‘Yung. Carl Yung, I think you mean.’ I didn’t know he was [Swiss], but I remember thinking, ‘Why did she put me down?’ “

She added, “You remember stuff like that when you’re young, those cutting things.”

At 76, Streep Finds Joy in Family and Grandchildren

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While her career continues to evolve, Meryl Streep said her greatest joy today comes from family.

Speaking to Vogue, she opened up about her deep love for her six young grandchildren. “I find it divine,” she said. “I have six grandchildren, six under six…. I hope we’re not done, but we’ll see.”

When filmmaker Greta Gerwig pointed out how involved she is in their lives, Streep responded with a touch of humor. “Some say overinvolved,” she said.

She also reflected on how quickly those moments pass.

“It’s just grabbing seconds, just grabbing everything you can of them, with the knowledge of how completely fleeting it all is and how rapidly time goes. This is what my mother said to me, and I said, ‘Yeah, yeah.’ It’s the longest, shortest time. And you can’t get anything back. So take as much as you can.”

Despite the distance between coasts, she makes the effort to stay close. “The only thing is that they’re on two coasts, so I’m in the airplane a lot,” she told Vogue, as reported by AARP.

Streep, who has four children, has previously described her personal life as “a crowded life,” one she embraces fully.

With a new Netflix project, “The Corrections,” in development and a return to one of her most beloved roles on the horizon, she continues to balance a celebrated career with the moments that matter most at home.

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