After three decades of leading Vogue and establishing herself as a cultural icon, Anna Wintour has appeared on the cover of the fashion magazine alongside Meryl Streep, her Hollywood counterpart.
The global editorial director of Vogue was captured in a photograph by Annie Leibovitz alongside Streep, who famously portrayed the character Miranda Priestly in the film The Devil Wears Prada. This character, a bold and unforgiving editor of a fashion magazine, is widely believed to be inspired by Wintour herself.
During an interview conducted by Greta Gerwig, the director of Barbie, Wintour expressed her gratitude for being portrayed by Streep, calling it “such an honour.” However, she also remarked that the character of Priestly is quite “distant” from her true self, referring to the role as an “extraordinary gift.”
Wintour said, “I appreciate my age. I feel just as vibrant, enthusiastic, and aware as ever, and I continue to learn from my children and my global teams. It’s always an adventure.”
She added that with age comes a greater understanding of balance and perspective, acknowledging that life is inherently imperfect and that setbacks are part of the journey. “You do your best, and if it doesn’t work out, you must move forward. I believe age is genuinely an asset,” she stated.
When asked about the possibility of switching roles with Streep, Wintour humorously responded, “There’s no way. I have no talents. I can’t sing, dance, or act, and I’m not skilled with my hands. Cooking and sewing are definitely not my forte.”
The Devil Wears Prada is adapted from the novel by Lauren Weisberger, who once served as Wintour’s assistant at Vogue. The film features Anne Hathaway as an aspiring journalist who takes on a challenging role as the assistant to the formidable editor of the fictional magazine Runway. A sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2, is set to be released in theaters next month.
Previously, Wintour has offered mixed sentiments regarding the character. In a podcast conversation with New Yorker editor David Remnick, she recounted attending the premiere while wearing Prada, unaware of the film’s premise. When Remnick described the character as “cartoonish,” Wintour concurred, referring to it as a “caricature.” However, she was taken aback by the nuanced portrayal and expressed her overall enjoyment of the film. “I found it highly enjoyable. It was very funny,” she remarked. “Miuccia [Prada] and I discuss it often, and I tell her, ‘Well, it was really good for you.’”
Interestingly, Wintour and Streep may have more in common than just a cinematic representation; a genealogy report from Ancestry has indicated that they are sixth cousins.
