Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour, two of the most powerful names in their respective fields, have long been linked through ‘The Devil Wears Prada’. Wintour, who served as Vogue’s editor for 37 years, is considered the real-life inspiration behind Streep’s iconic portrayal of fashion editor Miranda Priestly. But as it turns out, the connection between the two women is much deeper than fiction.Streep, 76, and Wintour, 76, are also sixth cousins, according to Ancestry.com. By analyzing billions of historical records and public family trees, the genealogy platform determined that the two shared fifth great-grandparents, Thomas Smith and Elizabeth Kinsey, who lived outside of Philadelphia in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Are Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour distant cousins?
The discovery adds a fascinating layer to an already compelling story. Streep’s famous portrayal of Miranda Priestly, regarded as one of her best performances, had a touch of biology behind it. The two women, born in the same year and now linked by ancestry, have spent decades circling each other’s worlds, never knowing the full extent of their connection.Adding another twist to the story, it was Wintour’s former assistant Lauren Weisberger who wrote the novel ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ that inspired the original film. According to Ancestry, Weisberger grew up in Allentown, about 20 miles from where Streep and Wintour’s shared ancestors lived.
What Anna Wintour said about Miranda Priestly
In December 2024, Wintour spoke about the public speculation about a connection between her and Streep’s Priestly. Speaking to the BBC, he said it was “for the audience and the people I work with to decide if there is a similarity between Miranda Priestly and myself” to confirm or deny the long-held assumption.
‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’
The sequel sees the return of Streep as Miranda, Anne Hathaway as Andy Sachs, Emily Blunt as Emily Charlton and Stanley Tucci as Nigel Kipling. The story follows when Runway’s editor-in-chief nears retirement and teams up with Andy to take on his former assistant Emily.
