The Devil Wears Prada 2

Meryl Streep Discovers She’s Cousins with Anna Wintour, the Inspiration Behind ‘The Devil Wears Prada’

The news was met with excitement by Meryl Streep. “Well, that explains everything. As our ancestors would say, I am delighted,” she told Entertainment Weekly.

An Ancestry.com study revealed the biological link between the two women. The site claimed to have found this connection “using its billions of historical documents and public family trees.” A screenshot of these results was shared by Today.

Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour, both born in 1949 just five months apart, are actually sixth cousins through relatives named Thomas Smith and Elizabeth Kinsey, who resided in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Another surprising fact: Lauren Weisberger, the author of the novel ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ which inspired the original film and was formerly Anna Wintour’s assistant, grew up in Allentown, only 20 miles from the ancestors of both personalities, according to the site.

In the context of the film, released in 2006, the Oscar-winning actress and fashion icon have met several times in recent years. In 2025, they reunited at Dolce & Gabbana’s fashion show during Milan Fashion Week, while Meryl Streep was filming the second installment of the cult classic, Variety reported.

This discovery of their familial link comes as Meryl Streep is preparing to reprise her role as Miranda Priestly in ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’, set to be released in theaters on May 1, 20 years after the first film. The original cast, including Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, will return, along with new faces like Justin Theroux, Lady Gaga, and Simone Ashley.