Kate Hudson Reveals Real Reason She Turned Down Devil Wears Prada Role

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Kate Hudson almost swapped Andie Anderson for Andy Sachs.

Kate Hudson famously had to decline the role that eventually went to Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada. Now, she’s finally explaining the real reason she didn’t get to wear that unforgettable cerulean sweater.

You know, people have been asking me about that, and it wasn’t a firm ‘no’ at first. It just sort of…didn’t work out. As I was telling Drew Barrymore recently, it was a lot of moving parts – scheduling conflicts, ongoing conversations, and just life happening. Ultimately, I decided it wasn’t the right fit at the time. It’s funny how things unfold, especially when I’m juggling everything with filming Running Point alongside Justin Theroux!

Although she admitted she might slightly regret leaving the film, she firmly believes everything unfolded as it should have.

Drew Barrymore revealed on her show that she almost played the role of Rollergirl in the film Boogie Nights. She wasn’t the only famous face to pass on a memorable part, as she also mentioned having Wolfgang Van Halen as a guest during the episode.

The actress, known for her role in Charlie’s Angels, admitted she hesitated to mention it, explaining that Heather Graham was always intended to play the part of Rollergirl.

Drew explained that while it’s disappointing to lose out on a role that later becomes incredibly popular, it’s not about comparing yourself to others. He described it as a ‘sliding doors’ moment – things could have easily gone differently.

Kate admitted she was disappointed when a potential collaboration didn’t happen, saying, ‘You always hope things will work out, especially when it involves someone like Meryl Streep.’ However, she quickly added that Anne Hathaway is incredibly talented and truly shines on her own.

Anne Hathaway was so good in her role that she returned for a sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2, which comes out on May 1st. A lot has changed since the first movie premiered twenty years ago, including how Meryl Streep portrays the famously icy editor, Miranda Priestly.

The Mamma Mia! actress decided not to use method acting for this project, wanting to maintain a stronger connection with her fellow cast and crew members.

During the New York City premiere of the sequel on April 20th, Anne explained to TopMob News that Meryl made a significant personal sacrifice because she truly enjoys being on set. She loves being near the camera crew and simply chatting and laughing with everyone.

Ever wondered who else was considered for the role of Andie Sachs? Read on for more behind-the-scenes stories about how The Devil Wears Prada was made.

Even before the book The Devil Wears Prada was published, a movie adaptation was already being planned. Fox executives were impressed by the first 100 pages and a story outline, which was based on author Lauren Weisberger’s experiences as assistant to Vogue‘s editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour. As Carla Hacken, a former Fox executive, explained to Variety in 2016, she was the first at the studio to read it and immediately recognized the character of Miranda Priestly as a compelling villain. She recalled that the studio quickly secured the rights to make the film.

Even before the book became a New York Times bestseller in 2003, efforts were underway to adapt it for the screen. After four different writers tried to create a straightforward adaptation, Aline Brosh McKenna was brought in to write a new version. Her script focused on the compromises women often make to advance their careers at fashion magazines. “I wrote a first draft quite quickly—in about a month,” McKenna explained. “Then I revised it based on everyone’s feedback.”

Creating the story for the film presented challenges, particularly when it came to getting people in the fashion industry to share their experiences. According to the writer, many were hesitant to speak for fear of upsetting Anna Wintour and Vogue and facing repercussions. One anonymous source even told her the characters were portrayed as too kind, noting that people in that world don’t have time for niceties. As a result, the writer revised the script to make the characters more driven and less agreeable.

Director David Frankel told Entertainment Weekly that Anna Wintour’s influence created challenges finding filming locations. The Met Ball meant the Metropolitan Museum of Art wouldn’t allow them to film there, and Bryant Park—then the usual home of New York Fashion Week—was also unavailable.

We even looked at some famous apartment buildings for Miranda’s place, but the building committees wouldn’t allow us to film there. Finally, a producer friend, Wendy Finerman, let us borrow a five-story townhouse on the Upper East Side.

According to Andy Frankel, the production designer, Jess Gonchor, was the only person from the film who had contact with Vogue. He secretly visited Anna Wintour’s office to study it, and recreated it so accurately that, reportedly, Wintour redecorated her actual office after the movie was released.

The costumes for the film also proved difficult to source. According to Frankel, well-known designers were hesitant to loan clothing, fearing the disapproval of Anna Wintour.

The film’s incredible costumes were created by the renowned Patricia Field, who gathered around 150 pieces from designers like Donna Karan, Zac Posen, Rick Owens, and even Prada. She carefully crafted looks to distinguish Meryl Streep’s character, Miranda Priestly, from Anna Wintour herself. As Streep joked, “Everything was borrowed, so we had to be extra careful – no spaghetti at lunch! – because we couldn’t risk getting stains and not being able to return the clothes!”

Anna Wintour seems to have a playful side, even about herself. Meryl Streep recently spoke with Wintour for Vogue’s 125th anniversary issue about playing Katherine Graham, a friend of Wintour’s, in the 2017 film The Post. When asked which role was the most difficult to portray, Streep started to answer, but Wintour playfully interrupted, saying, “No, no! We’re not talking about that, Meryl.”

Wintour actually did see a screening of the film—the very same one as her former assistant, Weisberger. She later explained to 60 Minutes that while she found it entertaining, the movie wasn’t an accurate portrayal of life at the magazine.

When it came time to film The Devil Wears Prada 2, Wintour even stopped by to lend her critical eye. 

Honestly, Meryl Streep was Miranda! It was always her, and everyone at the studio knew it. I read this interview with one of the VPs, Hacken, and she basically said they didn’t even think about anyone else. She said she was just praying, ‘Please God, let it be Meryl!’ Can you believe it? And when Meryl’s agent called to say she’d read the script and wanted to meet the director, Hacken put him on hold – on hold! – just so she could scream with joy in her office. It’s perfect! It had to be Meryl, and everyone knew it. It’s just…iconic.

Meryl Streep explained to Entertainment Weekly that she admired the character’s strength and refusal to compromise herself. She appreciated that the character didn’t shy away from her flaws, and particularly liked how she didn’t try to be likable to get what she wanted – something Streep’s friend, Carrie Fisher, used to describe as being overly accommodating. Streep noted that this character, Miranda, simply didn’t engage in that kind of behavior.

Before agreeing to the role, Meryl Streep did something very characteristic of the demanding character she would play. Although she had already won two Oscars and received eleven other nominations, she wasn’t used to negotiating a higher salary. However, this time she confidently asked for more money.

She told Variety that the initial offer felt a little low, and didn’t quite reflect how much she brought to the project. After she prepared to leave, they doubled it. She was 55 years old and had finally learned to negotiate for herself.

Streep also requested specific scenes to ensure her portrayal of Miranda wasn’t overly exaggerated. She wanted to show Miranda’s expertise in fashion – particularly the famous scene about the cerulean sweater – and a more vulnerable side, depicting her alone and without her usual composed demeanor in a hotel room.

Meryl Streep came up with the idea for Miranda’s white hair. She showed up to a meeting with the studio head sporting the icy look. As director David Frankel told EW, Streep fully embodied the character during that meeting, and the studio executives didn’t even need to discuss the hair – they were captivated by her performance and remained silent.

Anne Hathaway revealed she wasn’t the first choice for her role in The Devil Wears Prada. She jokingly said on RuPaul’s Drag Race that she was actually the ninth actress considered for the part – meaning she had to work extra hard to convince the filmmakers she was right for the role, perhaps even more than her character, Andy, worked for Miranda.

Anne Hathaway shared with Variety that while she didn’t need to audition, she had to be very patient and actively pursue the role. This included even writing “hire me” in the sand of a garden! When she finally found out she’d been cast, she was getting dressed with friends at home. She remembers running into her living room, still half-dressed, and excitedly yelling, “I got The Devil Wears Prada! I got The Devil Wears Prada!”

Anne Hathaway landed the role after the studio’s first choice, Rachel McAdams, repeatedly turned it down. Director Frankel told Entertainment Weekly that they offered the part to McAdams three times while she was filming The Family Stone. After the success of films like Mean Girls and The Notebook, McAdams wasn’t interested in doing another popular, mainstream movie. According to Frankel, the studio really wanted her, but she was determined to pass on the project.

I was so surprised to hear that Kate Hudson turned down the part – it sounded like a dream role! She explained on Capital FM’s Capital Breakfast show that it just wasn’t the right time for her. She admitted she probably should have made it work, but couldn’t, and her first reaction when she read the script was honestly a bit of a frustrated ‘Ugh!’ It’s a shame, but I get that things don’t always line up.

Meryl Streep, impressed by Anne Hathaway’s performance in the 2005 film Brokeback Mountain, played a key role in casting Hathaway in The Princess Diaries. Director Garry Marshall remembered Streep watching the scene and then contacting Fox executive Tom Rothman, saying she believed Hathaway was talented and they would collaborate well together.

Finding the right actress for Emily proved even harder. Frankel reviewed over 100 auditions for the role of Miranda’s tough assistant – including one from Tracie Thoms, who later auditioned for the part of Andy’s friend Lily – but it was Emily Blunt, dressed down and relaxed, who really stood out to him.

Emily Blunt was already at the Fox studio auditioning for the movie Eragon when a casting director asked her to read for The Devil Wears Prada. She recalled on The Late Late Show in May 2021 that she was in a hurry to catch a flight and felt flustered. She did the reading while wearing sweatpants, and didn’t feel she looked the part.

A few days after losing out on the role in Eragon, Emily Blunt got a call from casting director David Frankel. She told Variety that she was at a club in London and had to take the call from the bathroom. Frankel explained that while he liked her audition, the studio wanted to see her again, this time dressed more like the character.

Emily was originally conceived as an American character, but after Kate Blunt performed the sharp, witty lines with her British accent, the writers decided to change the character’s background. Screenwriter McKenna explained to Entertainment Weekly that they met for coffee, reviewed the script, and added British expressions to reflect Blunt’s accent.

Emily Blunt shared that she often draws inspiration from real life, even ‘stealing’ moments she observes from others. She recounted an instance on The Howard Stern Show where she overheard a frustrated mother in a supermarket scolding her child. The mother emphatically said, ‘Yeah, I’m hearing this, and I want to hear this,’ while making a specific hand gesture. Blunt found the phrase so impactful that she incorporated it into one of her films.

Stanley Tucci played a key role in creating some of the most memorable lines in the film. According to Tucci, he joined the production as Nigel, the art director, very late in the casting process. He then perfectly captured the character’s witty and sarcastic personality, and even came up with many of Nigel’s most famous lines on the spot.

Stanley Tucci recalled fondly a scene where Miranda first arrives at the office, causing a bit of a panic. He told Buzzfeed they kept laughing throughout the filming, and director David Frank kept improvising lines for him. Ultimately, ‘Gird your loins’ was the line that made the final cut. Tucci also shared with Entertainment Weekly that one of his suggestions, ‘Tits in!’, didn’t make it, but always got a big laugh on set.

One of his most cherished memories from making the film is the connection he made with his costars. He became close enough with Emily Blunt to be invited to her wedding to John Krasinski in 2010. It was there he reconnected with Felicity Blunt, whom he later married in 2012. They now have two children, Matteo and Emilia.

Joe Tucci shared with People magazine that he first met his current wife at the premiere of a film in 2006. He was still married to his late wife, Kate, who had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. He explained that he made the film, Kate began treatment, and then they attended the premiere. Kate lived for four more years after that. Interestingly, Felicity—Emily’s sister and now Joe’s wife—and Kate actually spoke at the premiere, and Joe has a photo of them together.

Rosario Thoms, similar to Anne Hathaway, vividly remembers getting the call about landing the role of Lily – it happened on her 30th birthday in August 2005. Although she felt good about her audition – she’d often been cast as the supportive best friend and thought Lily would be a natural fit – she was still overjoyed when she found out she’d gotten the part.

She remembered being at Dartmouth, workshopping a new play by Alan Ball. She found out she’d been cast in The Devil Wears Prada while having lunch in the cafeteria. “Someone just casually told me, ‘Oh, you got The Devil Wears Prada.’ It was my birthday!” she said. “It’s a really nice memory.”

Thoms recalls seeing Adrian Grenier, who was very popular during his time on Entourage, surrounded by enthusiastic fans. Instead of signing autographs, Grenier cleverly gave each fan a CD by his band, The Honey Brothers.

Thoms observed that Josh Grenier, who played Nate, used his role to highlight his bandmates, since he wasn’t the lead singer. Thoms admired how Grenier thoughtfully acknowledged everyone’s support and actively returned that appreciation to his fellow band members.

Thoms had a wonderful time filming – she even compared it to being on the set of Sex and the City, describing a vibrant, adult New York atmosphere. However, she does have one thing she wishes had gone differently.

Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe what I found out about that Marc Jacobs bag! It was the one Lily and Thoms were completely losing it over in that scene, and honestly, it was EVERYTHING. Apparently, the actress specifically asked the prop people to hide it until they were actually filming. She wanted our reaction – my reaction, basically – to be real! She said all that grabbing and gasping and begging? Totally genuine! Because honestly, that bag was gorgeous, and I totally get it. I would have done the exact same thing!

She confessed to TopMob News that she loved the purse so much she’d actually planned a way to keep it. She even imagined a scene where she’d accidentally leave it in her trailer, but that part of the storyline was removed. Sadly, she never got a chance to ‘forget’ and keep it, and didn’t get the purse back.

Meryl Streep didn’t travel to Paris for the film. Originally, no one was scheduled to film in Paris for the scenes depicting Miranda and Andy’s trip to Paris Fashion Week. Director David Frankel was shocked by this, but he created a compelling preview that convinced the studio to move the film’s release to the summer and increase its budget.

I was so thrilled to hear that Meryl Streep and Simon Baker were filming together! They actually went to France for a couple of days to get some shots, but apparently, the studio decided it was too expensive to fly Meryl over, so she did all her scenes here in New York. It’s a bit disappointing she didn’t get to film on location with Simon, but I understand the budget concerns, and honestly, she’s amazing no matter where she is!

Meryl Streep actually ended up missing out on a lot of the enjoyable moments on set. She explained to Entertainment Weekly that her decision to fully embody her stern Miranda character and distance herself from casual conversation with the cast was deeply unpleasant. She could hear everyone having fun and felt really down. She joked to herself that it was the cost of playing the boss, and that experience made her decide to never again use such an intense acting approach.

Before Meryl Streep playfully turned distant, she quickly encouraged Anne Hathaway, telling her, “I think you’re going to be great, and I’m really happy to be working with you… but that’s all the kindness you’re getting from me!” as Hathaway recalled to People magazine.

That’s all. 

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2026-04-30 22:19