We all know that Anna Wintour is the inspiration behind the icy editor-in-chief of Runway magazine, Miranda Priestly, in The Devil Wears Prada. But what about the other characters in Lauren Weisberger‘s hit novel? It turns out there was also a real-life Emily Charlton, played by Emily Blunt in the film franchise, and she is finally coming forward to reveal her identity more than a decade later!
On a new episode of Vogue‘s The Run-Through podcast this week, Chloe Malle, the nepo baby who took over for Anna as the magazine’s Head of Editorial Content last year, sat down with Leslie Fremar — the inspo behind Emily! Yes, she is the real Emily!
Related: The Housemaid Author Reveals Her Real Identity After Keeping It A Secret!
Fashion enthusiasts may recognize Leslie! She is now a stylist to the stars, working with clients such as Charlize Theron and Julianne Moore. She even worked on securing Nicola Peltz‘s Valentino wedding dress supposedly last minute, which is part of the Beckham family drama!
What many likely did not know is that Leslie is also the one who inspired Lauren to write the high-strung, sharp-tongued, and super ambitious first assistant, Emily. And after years of staying silent, she decided to reveal her identity ahead of the upcoming film sequel. But why now? She explained on the podcast:
“Everyone really enjoyed the movie. Anna [Wintour]’s clearly embracing it. And so why not? Just put it out there.”
Leslie, who grew up in Toronto, joined Vogue as Anna’s second assistant in 1999. She then rose to the first assistant role and hired Lauren to take over her old position. They ended up sharing a desk for eight months, and Leslie apparently made a huge impression on Lauren during that time! Lauren went on to write about her experience in Anna’s office for the 2003 book The Devil Wears Prada! And if you’re wondering, yes, Lesie really did say “a million girls would kill for this job!” The stylist recalled:
“I definitely told her a million girls would kill for the job. That was definitely my line, because I actually really believed that, and I knew that she didn’t necessarily want to be there.”
Leslie claimed Lauren (AKA the real-life Andy Sachs) was disengaged and uninterested in fashion and often believed the work was beneath her, which is what led to the former first assistant’s harshness toward her:
“I probably was not very nice, and I probably was high-strung because I felt like I was having to do her job as well.”
According to Leslie, she had no idea about the novel until after she stopped working for Anna. You’ll never guess where she had been at the time instead! Leslie shared that she had been at Prada (!!!!) when her former boss gave her an early manuscript of Lauren’s book! OMG! What a coincidence! And upon reading the draft, she was NOT happy with it! Leslie said:
“It was actually quite mean, the galley. I think what got put into the world is a much lighter, nicer version of what she actually wrote.”
Reading the manuscript “felt like a betrayal” to Leslie, so much so that they haven’t spoken since Lauren left Vogue! She wouldn’t even reunite with her now! She
“I think it would be very awkward. I don’t hold a grudge towards her, but… there’s nothing to be said.”
Wow! Lauren burned a bridge for life there!
Leslie went on to debunk some plot points in the book, including that Paris trip:
“Anna did not travel with her assistants. That is fiction.”
She also stated she “did not witness” Lauren transform into a fashionista while at Vogue. As for Anna? Is she really like Miranda Priestly IRL? Well, Leslie had nothing but kind things to say about the icon:
“Anna is my mentor, through and through. I learned everything that I know from Anna.”
We wonder what Lauren thinks about Leslie’s comments! Will their Vogue feud continue all these years later?
Reactions, Perezcious readers? Drop ’em in the comments (below)!
[Image via Leslie Fremar/Instagram, The Devil Wears Prada/20th Century Studios]
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