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Meryl Streep surprised fans by confirming a family link with Vogue boss Anna Wintour while talking up the upcoming film The Devil Wears Prada 2. The revelation came during a lively conversation that mixed genealogy, fashion-world lore and the movie’s return to the runway.
How the kinship came to light
The news emerged on a podcast interview where the subject turned to family trees. Streep, flanked by co-stars, explained she only recently learned about the connection.
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Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour share a historic relative: the surprising family link
- Hosts and cast members compared notes on ancestral roots.
- Streep traced the link to family lines in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
- The discovery prompted jokes about who might have copied whose mannerisms.
Exactly how they are related: the genealogy details
Public records and reporting show the pair share distant ancestors. They have the same fifth great-grandparents, identified as Thomas Smith and Elizabeth Kinsey.
That shared ancestry places them among distant relatives commonly called sixth cousins. Both women are in their mid-70s and have long careers that intersect the worlds of art and fashion.
Why the distinction matters
The difference between casual “fifth cousins” talk and confirmed sixth-cousin status is mainly one of labels. Either way, the connection is distant enough to surprise many fans.
What the stars said — playful moments and reactions
The conversation mixed warmth and humor. Streep quipped about possibly having borrowed Wintour’s signature poise for her famed role.
Co-stars reacted with amusement and disbelief. At times Streep joked that Wintour might have been copying her instead.
- Streep referenced her mother’s family name in England.
- Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci chimed in, visibly entertained.
- The exchange felt more like friendly banter than a formal reveal.
From page to screen: the Wintour–Priestly connection
The original 2006 movie introduced Miranda Priestly, a fictional fashion editor long thought to echo real-life Vogue figures. The film came from a novel by a former assistant to a top editor.
For decades, viewers and critics drew parallels between the on-screen tyrant and the magazine world’s power players. The new film’s promotion revived that conversation.
Fashion events, magazine covers and recent collaborations
Streep and Wintour have been seen together at several public moments as the sequel rolled out. Last September, they were photographed at Milan Fashion Week, where the industry gathers to preview trends.
In a high-profile magazine move, Streep persuaded Wintour to appear with her on a Vogue cover in May, styled in Prada. The pairing amplified buzz for both the film and the fashion conversation.
Key public appearances
- Milan Fashion Week meetups and industry events.
- Joint Vogue cover photoshoot in May.
- Interviews and promotional panels ahead of the movie release.
What this means for fans of cinema and fashion
The revelation adds a new layer to an already entwined story of film and haute couture. It gives audiences fresh reasons to revisit the character of Miranda Priestly.
With the sequel arriving on May 1, interest in the real-life ties between actress and editor is likely to climb.
