Anna Wintour Defends 'Devil Wears Prada' Portrayal, Calls It a Caricature but Fair

Anna Wintour says she found The Devil Wears Prada highly enjoyable and funny, describing its portrayal of the fashion industry as a caricature rather than a precise depiction. In an interview with New Yorker editor David Remnick on his podcast earlier this month, the Vogue editor-in-chief discussed the 2006 film, which is currently filming a sequel in New York.

During the conversation, Wintour recalled attending the premiere while wearing Prada and having little idea what the film would be about. She said the fashion industry was concerned the movie might paint her in a difficult light, but she ultimately viewed the portrayal as a caricature and found it entertaining. "I found it highly enjoyable. It was very funny," she said, adding that Miuccia Prada and she have discussed the film, noting, "Well, it was really good for you." She also highlighted the performances of Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt, saying, "They were all amazing," and that, in her view, the movie offered a fair shot.

The remarks come as the film, adapted from Lauren Weisberger’s book, continues to draw attention for its satire of magazine culture. Wintour emphasized that the work depicted in the film is fiction and that Vogue has historically embraced fiction as part of its broader storytelling about the industry. She said the film captured "a lot of humor" and wit, and she suggested that the production’s reception was a mix of amusement and reflection among those who work in fashion media. This framing aligns with her longtime stance that while fiction can exaggerate, it also shines a light on the labor and creativity behind magazine publishing.

Wintour has previously weighed in on the resemblance between the real world and the film’s fictional character, Miranda Priestly. In a 2009 interview with David Letterman, she said she remembered the movie as fiction—and that Vogue enjoys fiction. More recently, she told the BBC last year that the decision about any similarities between her and Priestly lies with audiences and colleagues, underscoring that the character is reportedly based on her but remains a fictional portrayal.

As the New York shoot for the sequel continues, Wintour’s reflections offer a rare, public window into how the fashion industry regards its most well-known caricature and the broader cultural impact of a film that helped shape perceptions of fashion-media power. The project’s location in New York underscores the city’s central role in both fashion and magazine culture, even as the original film’s tone is widely viewed as a satirical snapshot rather than a literal portrait.

The dialogue around The Devil Wears Prada remains a touchstone in discussions about how fashion journalism is portrayed on screen, with Wintour’s latest comments illustrating a nuanced stance: she acknowledges the humor and craft of the film, while reaffirming that the film is fiction and that the industry continues to evolve beyond the caricature it once inspired. The sequel’s production in New York will likely keep the conversation going as audiences and industry insiders reassess the original film’s legacy.