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IN The Devil Wears Prada, ambitions and egos are trampled over by stiletto-heeled rivals desperate to claw their way to the top of the fashion world.

But behind the scenes of the original 2006 film, British star Emily Blunt was playing matchmaker to the cast.

The actress reveals she was partly responsible for connecting co-star Anne Hathaway with her now- husband Adam Shulman.

Speaking ahead of the release of The Devil Wears Prada 2, which is in cinemas today, she also talks about her close ties with cast member Stanley Tucci, who went on to marry Emily’s sister Felicity.

Emily, who has two children with her actor husband John Krasinski, says: “Stanley is my brother-in- law now. I have a little nephew and niece from it.

“And Annie met her husband Adam through me and John. There are so many tendrils that run out from this experience 20 years ago. It’s amazing.”

It certainly is remarkable how much has changed for the cast since the first film.

Before the hit movie was released, Londoner Emily was a relative unknown.

Being cast as Emily Charlton, the put-upon senior assistant to Meryl Streep’s nightmarish fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly, was her big break.

‘So kind to me’

Emily recalls: “It really was my first big role. I mean, I had done some stuff in England that no one knew about. I felt very green but thrilled to be there.

“The first film — I have these lasting, very prominent memories of it. Such an informative time in my life. I really didn’t know anything.”

The actress hit it off straight away with Anne, who she affectionately refers to as Annie.

She continues: “Annie and Meryl and Stan. They were all so kind to me.”

The Devil Wears Prada was a worldwide success, making more than £250million at the box office — ten times its modest budget.

Anne, 43, who played naive aspiring journalist Andy Sachs, and Emily found their lives intertwined again two years later.

Emily met A Quiet Place actor John, 46, in a Los Angeles restaurant in 2008 and, later that year, he helped introduce Anne to his actor and jewellery designer friend Adam, 45.

This was a fortuitous event for Anne because that year her relationship with businessman Raffaello Follieri had ended after he was charged with fraud.

The Devil Wears Prada played an even bigger part in bringing Stanley and wife Felicity together.

We do love talking some s*** about family. It’s great. Bit of goss

Emily Blunt, on working with her brother-in-law Stanley Tucci

Oscar-nominated star Stanley, 65, first met Emily’s sister at the movie’s premiere. At that time, though, he was happily married to Kathryn Spath with whom he has three children.

Tragically, social worker Kathryn died from breast cancer in 2009, aged 47, leaving Stanley heartbroken.

A year later, he reconnected with literary agent Felicity at Emily and John’s star-studded wedding in Lake Como, Italy.

And the love links do not stop there.

In a strange twist, Anne and Adam held their California wedding on the same weekend in September 2012 as Stanley and Felicity celebrated their nuptials in London.

Meryl, 76, who had also remained good pals with Tucci, was one of his guests.

Working with her brother-in-law on the Devil Wears Prada sequel was fun for Emily.

She says: “We do love talking some s*** about family. It’s great. Bit of goss.”

Stanley, who plays Miranda’s right- hand man Nigel Kipling in the movies, has become a well-known foodie thanks to his BBC travel show Searching For Italy.

On their eating habits, Emily adds: “Stanley and I have never had a no-carbs rule. All we eat is beige. We eat only beige food. And John loves to eat.”

Emily’s daughters Hazel, 12, and Violet, nine, enjoyed playing with Stanley and Felicity’s children ­Matteo, 11, and eight-year-old ­Emilia when they stayed together in Italy to film scenes for The Devil Wears Prada 2.

Anne and Emily have also remained good friends since making the original, which meant the cast of the sequel were unusually close.

She says: “I do get nostalgic. I was very moved when we got back together and we did the table read 20 years later. Going into the second film, 20 years felt like a blink and also a lifetime. It’s a really wild thing.”

That continued during filming in New York last summer.

Going into the second film, 20 years felt like a blink and also a lifetime. It’s a really wild thing

Emily Blunt

Emily continues: “When we got back together, I loved working with Annie because she’s a great dance partner in scenes. You know, she’s very spontaneous. She’ll sort of go with whatever you want to do.”

Emily also lapped up the attention of three-time Oscar winner Meryl.

The actress wore a glamorous tulle and feathered Schiaparelli gown at the New York premiere, which Streep clearly appreciated.

Emily laughs: “Meryl said she almost grabbed my boob on the red carpet just to feel it . . . the furry feathers. I would have loved it — it’s Meryl Streep.”

While her Devil Wears Prada character is famously particular about what she wears, that isn’t the case for Emily in real life.

The actress is far more casual when she is at home in London and New York.

She comments: “I feel like I still dress like a teenage boy. I think most of my life is dressed for comfort, you know, with the kids and everything, and going to set.

“But what I love about a press tour or a red carpet is that it can be a spectacle.”

The cast’s cosy love-in couldn’t be more different to the plot of The Devil Wears Prada 2.

Catty in catwalk

In the sequel, Miranda is still the ruthless editor of Runway, but the magazine is in financial trouble.

Andy, who made it as a writer, suddenly loses her job and finds herself back at Runway.

Meanwhile, Emily’s namesake character — Miranda’s former mistreated assistant, whose witty quotes include “I’m just one stomach flu away from my goal weight” — is now in charge of global brand Dior, which gives her all the power she needs for revenge.

Emily has more money and power now, and access to the archives. So that was thrilling

Emily Blunt, on her character

Emily says: “It’s quite a switch-up in dynamics. She’s a major executive at Dior. And Miranda is ultimately rather beholden to her for the advertising space.

“Emily has more money and power now, and access to the archives. So that was thrilling.”

While Miranda has to tone down her harsh comments due to our woke work culture, Emily can still deliver a biting one-liner.

By keeping the catty in catwalk, it is Emily’s performance that has once again caught the eye of critics.

The Sun’s movie reviewer Dulcie Pearce commented yesterday that “it’s Blunt who steals every scene.”

That will come as no surprise to fans, who have followed the star’s glittering movie career over the past two decades. She has received Bafta nominations for The Devil Wears Prada, psychological thriller The Girl On The Train and ­biopic drama Oppenheimer in 2024.

The actress also enjoyed box office hits with Mary Poppins Returns in 2018 and, in the same year, post-apocalyptic horror film A Quiet Place, which was directed by her husband John.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is expected to earn even more than the first film, with fans desperate to see the gang back together.

That is something Emily fully appreciates.

She concludes: “It feels like ­people really want to unite for something joyful. I love it.”

• The Devil Wears Prada 2 (12A) is in ­cinemas tomorrow.

Noah Kahan has bravely opened up about his battle with body dysmorphia in a new Netflix documentary.

In film Out Of Body, the Stick Season singer says: “I’ve always hated the way I looked. It’s something I’ve struggled with my whole life.

“I binge eat a lot of food when I’m feeling stressed and then I get so hateful about my body and what I look like that I don’t eat for a while and I starve myself.

“When I look in the mirror, I feel like I don’t see what my body actually looks like.”

Later in the film, which was released yesterday, he explains: “Disordered eating is something I’ve experienced in ways my whole life but in my adult life, in the last four or five years

“Sometimes I’ll see a photo and people will be like, ‘You look great,’ and I’ll be like, ‘What do you mean? I look like, 300 or 400lb.’

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“I don’t know what I look like. No clue.”

Other scenes reveal fame has not done him any favours mentally. He is shown in late 2024 working on new album The Great Divide, which is due out on April 24, and says: “Now my mental health has never been as low as it has been the last three months of my life.”

With another sold-out tour in June, I hope he’s got the support he needs now.

Leigh’s reddy to rock

Leigh-Anne had a famous face in the crowd for her solo show in London.

Former Little Mix bandmate Jade was spotted as Leigh-Anne took to the stage at the O2 Forum Kentish Town, proving there’s still plenty of love between the girls.

Looking every inch the pop star, the My Love singer wore this red leather bra and matching hula skirt.

And it was a family affair too, with Leigh-Anne bringing her twins on stage for an emotional moment during her song Heaven, which she wrote about them.

Opening the show, she told fans: “My solo journey has been a rollercoaster, it’s allowed me to find myself again.”

She added: “It’s not easy being an independent artist.

“It means everything that you’re here.”

The crowd lapped it up, screaming her name as she powered through tracks including No Hard Feelings – even joking: “I listen to my own music, is that OK?”

Fans lit up the room with their phone torches, while four lucky punters were pulled on stage to join the show.

With her high-energy choreography and the crowd fully behind her, Leigh-Anne proved this new chapter in her career is already hitting all the right notes.

It will end in tears, Sydney

Sydney Sweeney and her hit show Euphoria are facing a backlash after a trailer for the third series showed her character Cassie shooting adult online content – while dressed as a baby.

The HBO show returned last night and a teaser for future episodes showed Sydney wearing a nappy with her boobs on show, a dummy in her mouth and her hair in pigtails.

Her character will make adult content in the series, but fans think the creator Sam Levinson has gone too far.

One person on X called it “actually disgusting”, while another wrote: “There’s a line and Sam Levinson has severely crossed it.”

Chris gets on his soapbox

Ahead of me competing in the Redbull Soapbox Race this summer, Chris Evans has some words of advice.

And, if I’m honest, myself, Virgin Radio’s Ellie Davis and Kej Kamani, are now quaking in our trainers about the prospect of racing down the hill for the event at Alexandra Palace in London on June 20, which will be broadcast on the Discovery Channel.

Speaking on his Breakfast show on Virgin Radio UK, Chris, right, said: “Full disclosure: I used to own the company that makes this TV show so I’ve known about this forever.

“We have our official Virgin Radio Soapbox. And The Sun’s Ellie, Dennie, our boss, and Kej, who runs TFI Unplugged and Ellie who runs the radio station will be in the Soapbox.

“Ally Pally is a serious hill – this is like Formula One. That is why there are hay bales – it can be more dangerous than the F1.

“A regular Redbull Soapbox race in an hour will see more issues and rebuilding of the track than an F1 race. There have been episodes where not a single soapbox gets to the bottom of the hill because they all crash and burn. Well, not burn, but you know what I mean.”

Gulp.

Precious Stones for a grand

The Rolling Stones have sparked a vinyl frenzy, with fans shelling out more than £1,000 for a record that originally cost just £10.07.

Their ultra-limited white label single Rough And Twisted, released under the alias The Cockroaches at the weekend, was sold in tiny numbers at select indie shops, with some stores getting just four copies.

The mystery drop, teased with cryptic QR codes and a secret website, sent demand soaring.

But it’s left plenty of die-hard fans furious after missing out.

One fan said: “Even the crazies like me left empty-handed.”

Now copies are being flipped online for eye-watering prices, sparking calls for the band to release more and “kill the black market.”

Stones fans, of all people, should know that you can’t always get what you want.

Craig loves a chuckle

I thought Barry Chuckle had come back from the grave when I saw Craig Revel Horwood sporting this bushy moustache.

In a snap shared on Instagram, the Strictly judge posed on a balcony with late Barry’s brother Paul.

Craig, who has a surprising friendship with the Chucklevision entertainer, wrote: “What a treat to hang out with my bestie @officialpaulchuckle to film a secret project!”

One fan wrote: “You can’t ever replace Barry but that’s a cracking moustache.”

I couldn’t agree more.

FKA Twigs is in pole position

FKA Twigs closed weekend one of Coachella in sizzling style by performing while twirling around on a pole.

The British singer, clad in a tight black top and knee-high boots, played a 75-minute set on Sunday night and was brought to tears as she belted out her track Cellophane.

But at another point, Twigs – who won her first Grammy in February and has just completed her US tour – wielded a sword and pole danced, top right, while performing Love Crimes.

Bath-born PinkPantheress, who played in a frilly, checked bra-top, delivered one of the most talked-about sets of the festival including recent hits Stateside and Illegal.

Afterwards, she wrote on Instagram that she had “the best time ever”.

They will both be back on stage in California next weekend for the event’s second and final weekend.

HE IS known to not mince his words – and it seems Simon Cowell could get a taste of his own medicine.

I can reveal that his ex, Baywatch model Carmen Electra, and his fellow American Idol judge Paula Abdul are both working on memoirs — which are set to feature their relationships with the music mogul.

A Los Angeles literary agent said: “Paula and Carmen are strong women and they won’t hold back when it comes to their memoirs.

“Carmen dated Simon, so knows what he is like when the cameras stop rolling.

“Rumours have swirled for years about Paula and Simon.

“They had undeniable chemistry on American Idol and now Paula has the chance to put the record straight.”

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Carmen and Simon were first linked in 2012 when she briefly starred as a guest judge on ITV show Britain’s Got Talent.

The pair were spotted on a series of dinner dates.

Speaking about Carmen in December 2012, Simon said: “She’s not my girlfriend. We’re people who date. She’s adorable, isn’t she?”

Paula had starred on American Idol with Simon for eight seasons between 2002 and 2009.

The pair, who also appear­ed together on The X Factor USA, were known for their chemistry on the shows.

Speaking of their relationship in 2011, he said: “On the first two seasons, we couldn’t travel on the same plane together.

“We really disliked each other that much. I think it was sexual tension — on her part.”

When later asked if the pair had ever dated, Paula replied: “Oh no! No! Ew, no!”.

Simon has proved himself as a family man — after getting engaged to American socialite Lauren Silverman in December 2021.

The couple, who have a 12-year-old son Eric, opened up their home to the cameras for Netflix’s show Simon Cowell: The Next Act.

On the six-part docu- series — which charts how the entertainment boss put together boyband December 10 — Simon praised his ­fiancee.

He said: “Lauren, she’s very strong, very emotional, but I love that.

“The reason we have such a great relationship is she always tells me the truth.”

Let’s hope Simon appreciates the same in these upcoming books.

SIMON likes snacking on oranges while filming the auditions for ITV show Britain’s Got Talent.

A source said: “He loves ­oranges – specifically easy peelers. Runners were tasked with keeping the oranges flowing during filming in Blackpool and Birmingham.

“At one point he was giving them out to the crowd, who were ­asking him to sign them.”

Sabrina’s Carchella

SABRINA CARPENTER revved up the crowd with her headline set at Coachella on Friday night.

In a lace leotard, the starlett danced on top of a convertible car amid a sultry performance at the music festival in Palm Springs, America.

She was supported by Irish singer CMAT, Brit rapper ­Centra Cee and US stars Teddy Swims and Lizzo – who showed off her flute-playing skills.

Sisters Kylie and Kendall Jenner, and Kourtney Kardashian watched on.

It sure looks less muddy than Glasto . . . 

Paul on a Roll with the Stones

HAVING made music history by appearing on a Rolling Stones’ album three years ago, Paul McCartney is repeating the feat.

The Beatles legend will feature on a track on their upcoming 25th album, which is due for release in July.

Believed to be titled Foreign Tongues, the collection of songs is largely being touted as the ­Stones’ final record.

It comes after Macca played bass on Bite My Head Off, a track on the Stones’ 2023 record Hackney Diamonds.

An insider said: “Details surrounding the Stones’ new album have been kept secret, but it’s true that Paul features on a new track on it. It’s a real treat for fans.”

Marty Supreme actress Odessa A’Zion is reported to have filmed their new video in a hushed-up two-day shoot at Battersea Arts Centre in South London last week.

Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood dropped a new single yesterday under pseudonym The Cockroaches.

Macca and Jagger have previously ­competed over who was in the best band.

Caught Live: Craig David

By Olivia Monk

HE is marking 25 years in the game, but Craig David proved he has still got it – and revealed there’s plenty more to come.

The 7 Days singer told fans at the venue in Hammersmith, West London that he is working on new music.

At his Born To Do It: 25th Anniversary gig on Thursday he had the crowd hooked from the off, admitting with hand on heart: “Oh man, we’re getting emotional here.”

But the biggest moment came when he brought out Grammy award-winning producer, songwriter and musician Fraser T Smith – who has worked with Craig as well as Adele and Rita Ora among others – and confirmed they are collaborating again.

Craig said: “He’s my brother, and also someone I’m back in the studio making new music with.”

The pair shared a stripped-back set, with Fraser cheekily flipping Craig’s famous ad lib to: “Fraser T all over your . . . ”

Still, fans were there for the classics – and Craig delivered.

Introducing 7 Days – his second consecutive UK No1 in 2000 – he said: “This song changed everything for me.” Delighted fans sang every word back.

Hit song Rewind sparked more chaos, with one over-excited fan even throwing a red bra on stage as the Apollo turned into one big party.

With energy like that, Craig won’t be Walking Away from the music industry any time soon.

SERIES two of Disney+ hit Rivals is set to feature shocking sex scenes between Danny Dyer and his on-screen partner Katherine Parkinson.

The actress, who plays novelist Lizzie Vereker in the show, back next month, teases: “You’ll see a lot of me and Danny, possibly more than you’ll want to see.”

An insider added: “It’s raunchier than the first series and will raise a lot of eyebrows.” I can’t wait.

LOUIS PARTRIDGE is the latest actor tipped to play the next James Bond – and aged 22, he could be the youngest to take the iconic role.

The Brit, whose two-year romance with Olivia Rodrigo ended last year – starred in House of Guinness, which dropped on Netflix last September.

The historical drama series was created by Steven Knight, who is writing the script for the next Bond film.

Of impressing Steven, Louis said: “Maybe I could just be at the bar swilling a martini, saying nothing.”

Glam dash for Doc in frock

SURANNE JONES does a runner as she films for the third and final series of BBC One drama Doctor Foster.

The actress was spotted running in a black satin dress and heels has returned as the titular character.

She was also seen behind the wheel of a burgundy Porsche, and springing from the motor during filming in Hertfordshire this week.

Of her third season in the thriller, Suranne said: “When I got the call to ask if I wanted to return as Gemma Foster, I knew the time was right.”

The first series premiered in September 2015 and followed Dr Foster as she uncovers her husband Simon – Bertie Carvel – having an affair.
Series two aired in 2017.

DESPITE winning dream roles, Anya Taylor-Joy admits her real wish is to retreat from Hollywood and live on a farm.

The 29-year-old is one of the world’s best-known actresses but has spent years feeling nervous on the red carpet, struggled to watch her award-winning performances and now wants calm.

She voices love interest Princess Peach in the new Super Mario Galaxy movie, which is released on April 1.

But Anya described her ideal life as “on a farm”.

She said: “I want goats, chickens, ducks, horses — all of it. I want to work, come into the city when I want to, then disappear and ride all day.”

The film is the follow-up to 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which grossed more than £1billion worldwide.

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Princess Peach is the main female character and head of state of the Mushroom Kingdom.

Anya said: “I was so touched by how strong she is and how cool. The fact that’s going to be a role model kids can have nowadays is unbelievable. I left feeling very inspired by her.”

Anya knows all too well that life can be difficult as a child.

She was born in Florida, then lived in Argentina for five years where she rode horses in the idyllic countryside.

Her African-Spanish mum, a psychologist, and Scottish-Argentine dad, who raced powerboats, then moved the family to London when she was six — and things became dramatically different.

Anya was bullied, “locked in lockers, barred from classrooms, not invited to things” and did not speak English.

Watching films helped her navigate through the traumas.

She told the Happy Sad Confused podcast: “I’ve never been good at being cool, this is why I didn’t get along well with people in school.

“If I like something, I love it and it just pours out of me.

“But if I was sad, like if my hamster died, my parents could put me in front of a movie and I would feel better at the end of it.

“I could get lost in something like that.”

It was her love of movies that eventually helped her learn English.

She says: “I learned English when I was eight. I stuck it out for two years in London, refusing to speak English because I wanted to go home. Then eventually I was like, ‘I have no friends, this is going to be a needed skill’.”

Anya told her parents she was going to be an actress.

But first, after being “picked up” outside Harrods, she became a model at 16.

She was recruited by Sarah Doukas, boss of Storm model agency, who had discovered Kate Moss.

But at first Anya thought she was a stalker.

She said: “It was absurd. A black car comes up, starts chasing me. I pick up my dog, start running and a head comes out of the window and they say, ‘If you stop, you won’t regret it,’ and I stop.

“It was the head of a modelling agency. I don’t encourage other people to do this.

“I had no idea what I was doing, but luckily it worked out and my parents came with me the next day to the modelling agency.”

Her parents always supported her. Anya said: “They’d had six kids, so were like, ‘Oh, just do whatever you’re going to do’.

“I’m so grateful for the approach my parents have had because I did some pretty ballsy things in my teenage years and luckily they paid off, but they were always supportive.”

She did many auditions before getting her breakthrough role at 19 in film The Witch.

Anya said: “I thought that audition went so badly. I truly thought I had messed that up massively because I had a huge panic attack before I went into it, and luckily that really worked for the scene.”

It was then that Anya found where she truly belonged.

She said: “Going into work every single day felt like such a joy.

“I could breathe because I’d found a place where I was doing something I loved, with people who didn’t think I was a psychopath. And I could have fun with it. I loved every second of making that movie.”

She found it “mind blowing” that The Witch was a hit and forced herself to watch the performance.

Anya said: “It’s like getting hit by a bus. I personally don’t agree with not watching your films, it’s not all about you. It’s a whole bunch of other people who have done a lot of work and different departments that you have to go and support, because they deserve it and you love them. So I have to watch it.

“But the first time, I always feel I’ve let people down and I’m always like, ‘Oh, I messed it up’.

“Then I process it and the second time I watch it, it’s slightly more palatable and I’m able to lose myself a bit more.

“By the third time I’m just like, ‘OK, whatever’. You just have to get over yourself and applaud the people you care about that worked with you.”

Anya became a household name in 2020 after starring in Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit, which led to a Golden Globe for Best Actress.

She went on to roles in horror film Last Night In Soho, black comedy The Menu and the apocalyptic film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Anya said she works “very hard, very gratefully hard” because she feels lucky to do a job she feels passionate about.

But it is not always easy. Despite her modelling background, Anya struggles with the limelight.

She said: “When I first started doing red carpets, I couldn’t handle the notion of being pretty.

“I was like, ‘I don’t do that’. I am a scummy, mud-caked ferret and striving for anything different felt disingenuous and scary.”

She has even been known to dress up “like an East Berlin spy” at times so nobody recognises her.

Now she is trying to make time for some balance in her life.

She said: “I’ve been living on film sets for five years and, occasionally, I think it would be nice to find out what Anya would do with three months if she wasn’t playing another person.

“So I’m trying to be more careful with my time there.

“You spend 18 hours a day thinking, behaving and breathing as another human being. That doesn’t leave a lot of time to figure out what it is that you like.”

And the person she wants to spend it with is her husband, US musician Malcolm McRae, who she married in 2021.

The couple split their time between homes in the Hollywood Hills and London.

She said: “I’ve finally found someone who will happily sit in silence with me, reading. We’re basically 80 years old and seven at the same time, and it works really well.

“When you are together, you are really valuing the time you have. Everyday, mundane activities are so full of joy.

“I love going to the petrol station with him and filling up the car and going to get breakfast.”

But right now, her focus is all on Princess Peach.

Anya told US Today: “She wants to find out where she comes from and is on a quest for adventure and prioritising herself a little bit more.”

Princess Peach sounds very much like the actress playing her.