If you close your eyes and think of 2006, you probably see three things: Razr flip phones, low-rise jeans, and Anne Hathaway strutting across a New York City street in thigh-high Chanel boots. It’s a core memory for an entire generation. But here is the thing that makes most people's jaws drop: Anne Hathaway was actually the ninth choice to play Andy Sachs.
Can you even imagine?
It’s one of those Hollywood "sliding doors" moments. If the studio had gotten its way, the movie that defined a decade of fashion and career anxiety would have looked completely different. Fox 2000, the studio behind the film, was obsessed with landing a "serious" A-list star who could hold their own against the legend that is Meryl Streep.
The Battle for Andy Sachs
Hathaway didn't just walk into the room and get the job. Honestly, she had to fight tooth and nail for it. The director, David Frankel, recently admitted that the studio offered the role to Rachel McAdams three separate times.
McAdams was the "It Girl" of the moment, coming off the massive success of The Notebook and Mean Girls. She was the top pick. Period. But McAdams, who has always been famously selective about her projects, turned it down every single time. She just wasn't "passionate" about it, or so the story goes.
But the list of women who almost played Andy before Anne Hathaway is a literal "who's who" of 2000s cinema:
- Scarlett Johansson was in the mix.
- Natalie Portman was considered.
- Kate Hudson and Kirsten Dunst were on the shortlist.
- Juliette Lewis and Claire Danes even auditioned.
Hathaway was way down that list. She wasn't the first choice, or even the fifth. She was ninth.
"Hire Me"
She didn't let the "no" stop her. To get the attention of Carla Hacken, the Fox 2000 vice president, Hathaway literally traced the words "HIRE ME" in the sand of a zen garden in Hacken’s office. It’s that kind of unhinged, hungry energy that eventually landed her the part.
But the real turning point? It was Meryl.
Streep hadn't seen much of Hathaway's work, but she watched a small, quiet scene from Brokeback Mountain where Anne played a steelier, more mature character. Meryl was impressed. She called the head of Fox and basically said, "This girl is great, and I think we’ll work well together."
When Meryl Streep tells you someone is good, you listen. Hathaway found out she got the role while she was at home putting on a shirt. She ran out into her living room, half-dressed, screaming to her friends that she was going to be in The Devil Wears Prada.
The "Cerulean" Effect and Career Transformation
Before this movie, Anne Hathaway was largely seen as the "Disney girl" from The Princess Diaries. She was the relatable teenager who became a royal. But Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada changed the trajectory of her entire life. It was her graduation into "adult" Hollywood.
The character of Andy Sachs isn't just about a makeover. It’s a case study in enclothed cognition—the idea that the clothes we wear actually change how we think and behave.
The Costume Journey
Patricia Field, the legendary costume designer who also did Sex and the City, didn't just pick "pretty" clothes. She used fashion as a weapon.
- The Beginning: Andy wears "frumpy" sweaters from places like Gap or J. Crew. She looks "unkempt" in the eyes of the Runway staff.
- The Shift: After the famous "cerulean" monologue by Miranda Priestly, Andy realizes she can't just coast on her intellect. She needs the uniform.
- The Peak: The Chanel boots. The green coat. The Galliano gown that Hathaway once described as feeling like it was "made of sex."
There’s a deep psychology here. As Andy’s clothes get sharper, her edges get harder. She starts losing herself. The movie basically asks: What are you willing to trade for a seat at the table?
What It Was Really Like on Set
People always want to know if Meryl Streep was actually mean to Anne. The answer is... sort of?
Meryl famously used method acting for the role of Miranda Priestly. On the first day of filming, she walked up to Hathaway and said, "I think you’re perfect for the part. And that’s the last nice thing I’m going to say to you."
And she meant it.
For the rest of the shoot, Meryl stayed in character—cold, distant, and intimidating. She stayed in her trailer while the rest of the cast (Hathaway, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci) were laughing and bonding. Meryl later admitted she was "miserable" and "depressed" during the filming because she felt so isolated, but she knew it was necessary to create that authentic fear on Andy's face.
That fear was real. Hathaway has said in interviews that she was genuinely intimidated by Meryl, which makes the chemistry between them electric. You can't fake that kind of tension.
Why We Are Still Obsessed (And the 2026 Context)
It’s 2026, and we are still talking about this movie. Why? Because the "Nate is the villain" discourse never dies. Because the fashion is cyclical (Y2K and "Indie Sleaze" are back). But mostly because the struggle of a young person trying to survive a toxic boss is universal.
The movie cost about $35 million to make and ended up grossing over $325 million. It turned Emily Blunt into a star and cemented Hathaway as a powerhouse.
Actionable Insights from Andy's Journey
If you're looking at Hathaway’s performance as a "career guide," here’s what you can actually take away from it:
- Adaptability isn't weakness: Andy didn't "sell out" by wearing Chanel; she learned the language of the room so she could eventually leave on her own terms.
- Persistence pays off: If Hathaway hadn't written "Hire Me" in that sand, she might still be "the girl from the princess movie." Sometimes you have to be slightly annoying to get noticed.
- Know when to walk away: The most powerful moment in the film isn't a fashion choice—it's Andy throwing her phone into the fountain in Paris.
If you haven't rewatched it lately, do it. But this time, look at Hathaway’s eyes in the final scene when she sees Miranda in the car. It’s not a look of hatred; it’s a look of "I see you, I understand you, and I’m done." That's the real magic of her performance.
Next Step: Take a look at your own professional "uniform." Does it represent who you are, or who you're trying to convince your boss you are? Sometimes, changing the boots changes the mindset.