Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour are not just linked by one of the most famous fashion characters in film history. Ancestry has confirmed that the two women are related, and the family tie adds a new layer to the long-running conversation around “The Devil Wears Prada.”
The genealogy company said Streep and Wintour share fifth great-grandparents, Thomas Smith and Elizabeth Kinsey, which makes them sixth cousins, TODAY exclusively reported. The connection surfaced as Streep prepares to return as Miranda Priestly in “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” which is set to arrive in theaters in May.
A family link behind a famous fashion comparison
Miranda Priestly has long been viewed as a character inspired by Wintour’s public image as former Vogue editor-in-chief. The new family finding does not change that cultural link, but it does make the connection between the Oscar-winning actor and the fashion executive more personal and historically specific.
Ancestry also said Smith and Kinsey lived in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. That detail is notable because it places the shared family line not far from where “The Devil Wears Prada” author Lauren Weisberger grew up, about 20 miles away, according to the reference report.
Weisberger previously worked as Wintour’s assistant before writing the novel that later became the basis for the hit film. That background has helped fuel years of speculation about how much of the story reflects real fashion-industry experiences.
How the relationship came to light
The family connection was identified through genealogical research, according to Ancestry. Such findings often rely on public records, family trees, and historical documents that map shared ancestors across multiple generations.
Here are the key facts released about the match:
- Streep and Wintour share fifth great-grandparents.
- The shared ancestors are Thomas Smith and Elizabeth Kinsey.
- The relationship makes them sixth cousins.
- The family line is tied to Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
The discovery arrives at a moment when public interest in both women is especially high. Streep is returning to a role that shaped pop culture, while Wintour remains one of the most recognizable figures in global fashion.
Public meetings and playful exchanges
Streep and Wintour have crossed paths more than once since the first film premiered in 2006. One of their best-known encounters came during an interview in Wintour’s Vogue office, where the magazine shared a video of their conversation in a scene styled with a clear nod to Miranda Priestly.
At that time, Streep was promoting “The Post,” while Wintour asked her which woman had been the most difficult role to play. Streep started to answer, but Wintour quickly laughed and cut in with, “No, we’re not going there, Meryl.”
The two also reunited at Dolce & Gabbana’s Milan Fashion Week show, where Streep was filming scenes for the sequel. Vogue posted video of their embrace on Instagram, and the moment drew attention because both women wore sunglasses indoors, echoing the polished image viewers associate with the fashion world.
Wintour’s view of Miranda Priestly
Wintour has spoken publicly about the film’s impact and the comparisons between herself and Miranda Priestly. On “The New Yorker Radio Hour,” she recalled attending the premiere while wearing Prada and admitted she had “no idea what the film was going to be about.”
She said people in fashion appeared concerned the movie might present her in an unflattering way. Wintour called the character potentially “a caricature,” but she later said the film won her over with its humor and wit.
Wintour added that Streep’s performance stood out, along with Emily Blunt’s work in the film. She said, “They were all amazing. In the end, I thought it was a fair shot.”
Why the revelation matters now
The sixth-cousin connection gives the story a fresh angle as interest builds around the sequel. It also shows how entertainment, fashion, and genealogy can overlap in ways that keep older cultural stories relevant to new audiences.
For viewers who have always seen Miranda Priestly as a fictional stand-in for a real fashion authority, the confirmed family link between Streep and Wintour adds another surprising detail to a relationship already shaped by style, satire, and public curiosity.
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