Miranda Priestly (born Miriam Princhek; October 25, 1949) is a character in Lauren Weisberger's 2003 novel The Devil Wears Prada, portrayed by Meryl Streep in the 2006 film adaptation of the novel.
She is a powerful New York City-based editor-in-chief of the fictional fashion magazine Runway. She is known as much for her icy demeanor, as for her outstanding power within the fashion world.
She was born Miriam Princhek in the East End of London. Her family was orthodox Jewish and was poor but devout. The family relied on the community for support because her father worked odd jobs only occasionally and her mother had died in childbirth. Miriam's grandmother moved in with the family to assist in raising the children. Miriam saved the small bills that her siblings would give her and worked as an assistant to a British designer. She made a name for herself in London's fashion world and studied French at night and was made junior editor of the Chic magazine in Paris. When she was twenty-four Miriam changed her name to Miranda Priestly and replaced her rough accent with a sophisticated one. Miranda spent ten years at French Runway before Elias-Clark transferred her to American Runway. She, her two twin daughters, and her husband moved to a penthouse apartment on Fifth Avenue and 76th Street. She is the editor-in-chief of Runway, a very chic and influential fashion magazine published by the Elias-Clark company. She is known for wearing a white Hermès tissue in her everyday outfit and treating her subordinates in a manner that borders on emotional and psychological abuse.
While she reminds employees "a million girls would die for this job", Priestly's cruel treatment of staff causes a high turnover rate among personal assistants.
Priestly has twin daughters, who one review suggested "look like extras from The Omen." Peter Howell, "The devil in Ms. Streep", Toronto Star, Toronto ON: Torstar, 30 June 2006. Page C3, 6 columns.
In the film version, her past is not mentioned at all.
