Meryl Streep Says Movie Characters Are More Than Just Good or Bad

Meryl Streep says movies shouldn’t divide characters into simple “good” or “bad.”

On May 1, Streep appeared on the Hits Breakfast Radio Show with her The Devil Wears Prada 2 co-stars Emily Blunt and Anne Hathaway. During the interview, they discussed how audiences often view characters in very black-and-white ways, similar to many superhero films.

The conversation touched on a popular fan theory that Nate, Andy’s boyfriend in the first Devil Wears Prada movie, was actually the real villain rather than Miranda Priestly. Streep responded lightly, praising actor Adrian Grenier and saying he would be fine.

She then explained her broader view: real people are more complicated. According to Streep, modern films sometimes oversimplify characters into heroes and villains, which she finds uninteresting.

She said that in real life, heroes can have flaws and villains can have relatable qualities. That complexity, she believes, makes stories more engaging. She added that the new film reflects this idea by showing characters in a “messier,” more realistic way.

Adrian Grenier, who does not appear in the sequel, has also spoken about how fans now view Nate. In a 2021 interview, he admitted that the character could be seen as selfish and unsupportive of Andy’s career. He said he didn’t realize this at the time but later understood why audiences criticized Nate.

Grenier has since joked about leaving the character in the past.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is currently in theaters.