She knows her worth.
Meryl Streep has revealed that she initially turned down the role of Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada.
“I knew it was going to be a hit,” she told host Jenna Bush Hager on Wednesday’s “Today with Jenna & Sheinelle” show about the 2006 cult classic.
“I read the script. It was great. They called me and made me an offer. And I said, ‘No, I’m not going to do it,'” Streep, 76, recalled.
When Bush Hager, 44, asked Streep why she turned down the role, the iconic actress replied, “I knew it was going to be a hit, so I wanted to ask double, and they just went right in and said, ‘Sure.'”
“Mamma Mia! ”The then 56-year-old star said, “It took me this long for[her]to understand that I could do it!
“I was sure of it. I was sure it would be a hit, and I felt like they needed me,” she explained.
“And I wanted it, but if they didn’t want it, I was fine with it. I was getting older, I was 56 years old, and I was ready to retire.”
Fans were shocked by Streep’s salary reveal and took to social media to express their feelings.
One user commented: “Not many women realize this early in their careers. We all need to become better advocates for ourselves.”
“Does she know she’s Meryl Streep?” added another.
“They can quadruple her demands and she’s still worth every cent 😍Icon❤️,” a third fan said.
“She realized that the script was fine and the movie wouldn’t be as good without her. And she was right,” a fourth netizen wrote.
Streep continued in the role, playing Runway magazine’s ruthless editor-in-chief alongside Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci, and Emily Blunt.
The film, directed by David Frankel, was a commercial success, grossing approximately $125 million in the United States and Canada and more than $326 million worldwide.
Twenty years later, Streep returns as Priestley in the film’s sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2, which is expected to gross nearly $180 million in its worldwide premiere, according to Deadline.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 will be released in theaters on May 1st.
