Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour Are Actually Related

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Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour actually are cut from the same cloth. 

People often noted a resemblance between actress Anne Hathaway and Vogue editor Anna Wintour, especially after Hathaway played the Miranda Priestly character, widely believed to be based on Wintour. But recent research from Ancestry.com, published on April 2nd, revealed they are actually sixth cousins.

Family history research showed that Anna and Mery are distantly related. They discovered they share common ancestors, Thomas Smith and Elizabeth Kinsey, who lived in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, six generations ago, according to records on Ancestry.

I’ve always been fascinated by Anna Wintour and Meryl Streep! It’s interesting to think about how different their backgrounds are – Anna was born and raised in London, while Meryl grew up in New Jersey. You can really see how their families took different paths over time. But despite that, there was something special that connected them, and it really shone through in The Devil Wears Prada. I’m so excited to see that connection revisited in the new sequel coming out on May 1st!

For years, Anna resisted being compared to Miranda Priestly, the famously tough editor portrayed by Meryl Streep. However, she’s recently started to appreciate the character.

I’ll never forget watching the Oscars in 2026! She really seemed to embrace being playfully rude while she was presenting the awards for best costumes, especially when she was up there with Anne Hathaway, the film’s lead. It was a memorable moment, honestly!

While appearing alongside Anna Wintour, actress Anne Hathaway playfully asked the fashion editor, “Anna, I’m just wondering, what do you think of my dress tonight?”

Anna playfully disregarded the interruption and smoothly continued, announcing, “And the nominees are…”

Anna then acknowledged the nickname Miranda uses for her assistants, responding to Anne with, “Thanks, Emily.”

Anna herself doesn’t want to discuss whether she’s like the character she played. In a 2024 interview with the BBC, she said it’s up to the audience and her colleagues to decide if there are any parallels between her and Miranda Priestly.

Meryl explained she accepted the role of Miranda because she found it interesting that Anna was seen as unlikeable by those who worked under her.

Meryl Streep once told IndieWire she was fascinated by the expectation that Anna Wintour should appear more cheerful and approachable. Streep wondered what Wintour’s actual job entailed, what pressures she faced, and what limited her time, even while maintaining a polished and feminine appearance.

She immediately knew, after reading the script, that it was something fresh and that young women would enjoy it. As she explained, ‘I thought, “This is totally new, and girls are going to love it!”’

For more celeb family ties that are just as groundbreaking, keep reading… 

The actor who voices Bart Simpson, a role they’ve held since the show began in 1989, is the aunt of singer Sabrina Carpenter.

Nancy explained on the January 2026 episode of Toon’d In with Jim Cummings that they aren’t related by blood. Her father was her father’s stepbrother, because her grandmother married her dad.

And that family connection led to Nancy playing a pivotal role in Sabrina’s success.

She explained that they visited her every year and lived with her for about four months during the busiest time for TV shows. They helped her find a manager and an agent.

The award-winning actor finished by saying that the person in question is perfectly capable on her own. He simply gave her a small start, and she’s done incredibly well, which makes him very proud.

In a recent episode of the PBS series Finding Your Roots, host Henry Louis Gates Jr. discovered that Lena Dunham and Larry David are distant relatives through Dunham’s mother’s side of the family.

Genealogist Adina Newman, who shares family history research on Instagram as My Family Genie, has discovered that Tom Sandoval and Tom Schwartz are potentially related through their fathers’ shared grandmother, with roots going back to the 17th century.

Schroeder, a self-professed true crime fan, commented on Newman’s post, “Omg I’m unwell.”

Antonio Banderas, known for his role in The Mask of Zorro, was married to Dakota Johnson’s mother, Melanie Griffith, for two decades before their divorce in 2015. Despite the split, he and Dakota still have a close relationship.

Johnson got emotional when she presented an award to Banderas at the 2019 Hollywood Film Awards.

Johnson, daughter of actor Don Johnson, feels fortunate to have come from a family with lasting marriages. She especially credits her stepfather, who became a major influence in her life. When she was six, her mother married a man who brought joy, creativity, and a wonderful little sister into their family.

The actresses from Teen Witch and Gossip Girl are half-sisters, both daughters of talent manager Elaine Lively.

The singer of “Ex’s & Oh’s” is the daughter of a former “Saturday Night Live” cast member and his ex-partner, model London King.

The Fast & Furious actress is related to the R&B singer through family. Her stepfather, Reverend Edward Best, is the singer’s uncle.

The late-night host and the Rescue Me alum are third cousins.

The former Grey’s Anatomy actor has referred to the famous director as his stepfather since he married his mother, Kate Capshaw, in 1991.

The actress from Grown-ish says she’s related to the rapper—they’re second cousins. She was also a flower girl at his wedding to Kelis back in 2005.

The actress is the daughter of the Back to the Future icon.

I’ve been a huge fan of this actress ever since she was on Veep – she was absolutely brilliant! But it’s amazing to realize she’s actually a celebrity’s daughter in real life, too! I was so surprised to learn her dad is none other than Jack Bauer himself – talk about a legacy!

Some viewers of Emily in Paris were surprised to learn that Lily is the daughter of a famous English Grammy-winning musician.

The comedian and the New York Senator are actually related, as he’s the first cousin of her father.

A family historian at Ancestry.com told People magazine in 2014 that the Fannings and Princess Diana share a common ancestor: King Edward III, who reigned over England from 1327 to 1377. This makes them very distant relatives—specifically, 21st cousins.

The actors are actually brother and sister.

Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe this! I just found out that Kerri Kenney-Silver, Kimiko Glenn, and Mandy Moore are all cousins! Can you even imagine?! Seriously, all that incredible talent just… runs in the family. It makes so much sense now! I’m obsessed with all of them, and knowing they’re related is just… mind-blowing!

In January 2024, Nash posted on Instagram a photo of the three of them at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Third Annual Fundraising Gala, excitedly revealing they are actually cousins!

The SNL alum calls the Cheers icon Uncle George whenever he sees him. At least, we assume he does.

Yep, Game of Thrones‘ Stannis Baratheon is the real-life dad of Fear the Walking Dead‘s Nick Clark.

The singer Sam Smith and the actress Jenna Ortega are distant cousins – specifically, third cousins. Smith shared in a radio interview that they’ve never actually met, explaining that their family is very large.

The Salt actor and the memorable Law & Order: SVU guest star are half-brothers.

You may not have guessed but the Bridesmaids comedian and the former View co-host are cousins.

The actress from We’re the Millers is lucky to have a fantastic mentor in the star of Pretty Woman – who also happens to be her aunt.

Who knew the stunning Dancing With the Stars pro is second cousins with the Friends alum?

The actor who played a vampire on True Blood got into acting thanks to his father, who is famous for his roles in The Avengers and Thor movies.

The actor known for playing Ghost Rider has a remarkably talented family. His cousin directed The Bling Ring, another starred in Saving Mr. Banks, and his uncle famously directed The Godfather.

The British singer, known for speaking her mind, is the older sister of a star from Game of Thrones. She even wrote a song called “Alfie” about him.

The Damages star and the Lipstick Jungle actress are second cousins.

The Terms of Endearment actress originally inspired her baby brother to get into show business.

The Parks and Recreation actress is the daughter of the legendary music producer.

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2026-04-02 16:50