It turns out Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour have more in common than commanding attention in the fashion world – they’re actually related.
Streep, of course, is best known to audiences as Miranda Priestly, the formidable magazine editor in the 2006 hit The Devil Wears Prada. Based on Lauren Weisberger’s bestselling book, the film depicts Andrea Sachs (Anne Hathaway) navigating the cutthroat, high-fashion world of New York under Priestly’s exacting rule – a character widely believed to be inspired by Wintour herself.
Now, according to DNA testing company Ancestry, it has been revealed that the Oscar-winning actress and the former Vogue editor-in-chief are in fact sixth cousins, sharing fifth great-grandparents with roots in Pennsylvania.
Ahead of the upcoming sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2, both the fictional and real-life editors have playfully acknowledged their parallels. Streep returned as Priestly, and Wintour appeared alongside her on the May cover of Vogue, photographed by Annie Leibovitz and interviewed by Greta Gerwig. Donning Prada from head to toe, the pair discussed fashion, life in their seventies, and the changing business of magazines, which is tackled in the new film.
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“With this one, I thought, well, where are they going to go?” Streep said. “Now that everything’s disintegrating, now that these institutions are being undermined or exploded in a way that who knows what is happening in the world right now – I wondered what they were going to do.”
So, is the cover implicit confirmation that Priestly is based on Wintour? “First of all, I’d like to say it’s such an honor to be played by Meryl, however distant Miranda is from myself,” Wintour said. “Who wouldn’t think that that wasn’t the most extraordinary gift?”
While Wintour has always left it to audiences to spot similarities between herself and Priestly, Ancestry’s revelation gives the connection a whole new layer. And with at-home DNA kits becoming easier than ever, anyone can explore their own family tree – tracing relatives back generations with just a simple saliva sample.
In fact, the company took the top spot in IndyBest’s review of the best DNA kits – here’s everything you need to know. Plus, how to save nearly 50 per cent on your first kit.
Ancestry DNA genetic test kit
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For anyone interested in family matching, our tester Ella Duggan said “the process couldn’t be easier – all it takes is a saliva sample”. The website features interactive visuals and vibrant diagrams that make exploring your ethnicity estimate simple and engaging.
“What really stood out to me was how focused Ancestry is on connection,” Ella added. “Beyond genetic traits and ethnicity estimates, the platform can link you with distant relatives – provided they’re also in the system.” The family tree builder is also great – it uses an extensive database of public records, meaning Ella was able to trace her lineage back to the mid 1800s in Ireland.
“Ancestry also offers a remarkable selection of genetic trait insights – 65 in total.” Ella said. “Though this iteration of the kit costs more, some of the most interesting ones even include coriander aversion, risk-taking tendencies, and whether you’re likely to own a pet or enjoy watching sports. In my case, I’d say about 60 per cent of these traits felt accurate.”
Buy now £79, Ancestry.co.uk
Meryl Streep just wore this mid-range bag on The Devil Wears Prada press tour – I’ve found high street alternatives
