A sequel to a noughties classic? Groundbreaking. But, actually, I saw The Devil Wears Prada 2 over the bank holiday weekend, and it exceeded my expectations – with so many lines joining the quotable movie moments rolodex in my mind.
The 2006 original was a hard act to follow. It’s quotable, the characters are iconic, and it just has the essence of that very particular moment in time: still a little grainy, smartphones yet to be fused to our palms, a romantic optimism one can only dream of having in the year 2026. And Meryl Streep is back as Miranda Priestly – and she’s as iconic as ever.
Gird your loins, these are the new Miranda Priestly quotes that will never go out of style.
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“Really? Where was I?”
When Miranda Priestly meets Andy Sachs again, she appears to have zero recollection of the assistant she gave a dressing down to a decade prior. It’s less about the words than the way they’re delivered, in her trademark breezy yet scathing tone.
Andy enters her office, excited smile plastered on her face, ready for a warm reunion with Miranda, and… she has no idea who she is. Whether it’s just a part of her indestructible demeanour or she actually hasn’t the foggiest, who knows. But the exchange between her and Nigel is just comedy gold.
Miranda: “Who is this? Do you know her? Do I know her?”
Nigel: “You might remember Andy. She was one of the Emilys.”
The reality, though, is Miranda gives all her assistants the same name, so she probably really has forgot her…almost. And because if something's funny once, you may as well give the gag another go around the block, when Miranda and Andy reunite with Emily, it seems Miranda still hasn’t quite managed to place Andy in her memory.
Miranda: "You also know her?"
Emily: "We were at Runway at the same time, Miranda."
Miranda: "Really? Where was I?"
“Amari, we have a cafeteria?”
It’s Miranda’s (ultra privileged) world and we’re just living it. There are multiple moments in The Devil Wears Prada 2 where the writers absolutely rinse the fact Miranda is on another level to the rest of us peasants while simultaneously making a mockery of how out of touch she is.
When Runway’s parent company, Elias-Clarke, is taken over by Jay – a more youthful injection into the company, who cares little about fashion and simply wants to turn a profit, he calls a meeting with Miranda and a group of management consultants. Miranda begins to suggest they book somewhere fancy to have this meeting, but he’s quick to cut in they’ll meet in the cafeteria in ten. Stunned, Miranda turns to her latest assistant, Amari (played by the gorgeous Simone Ashley), “Amari, we have a cafeteria?”
“Some of the bodies are very interesting. Very body... negative?”
Other stunning, borderline uncomfortable moments include exchanges between Miranda and Amari, in which Amari attempts to steer Miranda onto a more politically correct note. When talking about fashion week, Miranda clearly isn’t yet accustomed to a more diverse range of body types in high fashion. Mixing up “body positivity” quite spectacularly, she attempts to call it “body negative.” Excruciating.
“May my suicide be brief and painless.”
Speaking of verbalising your every deepest, darkest thought, during a moment in which Miranda must make a more dastardly choice thanks to cuts, cuts, cuts, she comes out with a healthy helping of dark humour I can’t help but find just a little bit of a slay: “May my suicide be brief and painless.”
Amari clears her throat and mutters under her breath, “No, no,” attempting to once again steer Miranda out of these murky waters. Miranda’s response? “What do you mean, ‘no no?’ I'm not talking about killing other people... yet.” Brilliant.
“You don't have what it takes. I'm sorry, but you're not a visionary. You're a vendor.”
When Emily’s scheme is revealed that her rich, tech bro boyfriend will buy Elias Clarke and she will replace Miranda as editor in chief and transition from advertising back to editorial, Miranda is ready with this comeback that has all the teeth you’d expect. And, look, I know it gets used a lot (in this article alone), but good lord it’s just iconic. Iconic and brutal.
“I always knew that you would end up doing something great.”
Remember how Miranda Priestly said she couldn’t remember Andy? Doesn’t stop her from taking all the credit for the incredible, award-winning journalist that Andy has become. As she flaunts her at her party in the Hamptons, the pair have an exchange in the kitchen, and it’s both so silly and so hilarious.
Miranda: “I always knew that you would end up doing something great.”
Andy: “You forgot I existed.”
Miranda: “Right, but... before that, I knew.”
“In a world where everyone shouts and complains and whines and screws up and tries to cover up... there's you. There's always been you.”
We love to see Nigel get his flowers! Nigel is arguably my favourite character across both films. He has both Miranda’s sass and Andy’s heart, and it’s a beautiful combination. Also, Stanley Tucci. I mean, c’mon.
Constantly in Miranda’s shadow and incredibly loyal, Nigel finally gets his recognition from Miranda, and the opportunity to deliver a keynote at the gala that he had written, intending for Miranda to deliver it.
Andy makes Miranda see that Nigel has held back in order to allow Miranda to shine, and the pair have a special moment that made my heart positively soar.
Miranda: “Have I taken you for granted?”
Nigel: “What?”
Miranda: “In a world where everyone shouts and complains and whines and screws up and tries to cover up... there's you. There's always been you.”
“Just put it all in there. Because people should know. They should know there's a cost. But boy, I love working.”
Andy has secretly been working on a book about Miranda, and Miranda knows all about it, because of course she does. In a rare moment of unity, Miranda gives Andy the greenlight to write it – warts and all. And I’m here for a woman that acknowledges her flaws, but also illustrates the absolute struggle it is to be a woman and get to the position she has.
“You should write it. And you should keep all the juicy bits in. How impatient I am and demanding and imperious. And, you know... how much of my children's lives I've missed. Just put it all in there. Because people should know. They should know there's a cost. But boy, I love working. I really do. Don't you?”
And to absolutely revel in it.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 is out at Cineworld now. Book your tickets and get yourself down that runway.
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