The Real-Life Inspiration Behind The Devil Wears Prada’s Emily

Leslie Fremar, a former assistant to Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, has publicly identified herself as the real-life inspiration for the character Emily in the novel and film The Devil Wears Prada. The revelation comes as the release of the sequel, The Devil Wears Prada 2, brings renewed attention to the original story and the interpersonal conflicts that inspired it.

The original novel, written by Lauren Weisberger, was based on her own experiences as an editorial assistant at Vogue. While the book is widely known for its unflattering portrayal of Wintour, other colleagues also became targets of Weisberger’s descriptions. Fremar, who now works as a professional stylist for high-profile actresses including Julianne Moore and Charlize Theron, shared her perspective on the matter during an appearance on the Vogue podcast, The Run Through.

The Inspiration Behind the Character

Fremar confirmed that she was the source for several of the character’s traits and specific lines. She specifically claimed ownership of one of the film’s more memorable sentiments regarding the prestige of working at the magazine.

I was the one who told her a million girls would kill for your job. That phrase was clearly mine, because I truly believed in it, and I knew that she did not have much desire to be there

Leslie Fremar via The Run Through

The character of Emily is depicted as an extremely posh, scheming fashion victim, a role that helped launch the career of actress Emily Blunt. Fremar’s admission suggests that the cinematic portrayal of the assistant’s intensity and disdain for those outside the fashion inner circle was rooted in her own professional demeanor at the time.

Discovery of the Novel

According to Fremar, she did not realize that her former colleague had written a fictionalized account of their workplace until after she had left the magazine to establish herself as a freelancer. She recalls being summoned to Anna Wintour’s office, a request that left her stunned.

During the meeting, Wintour asked Fremar who Lauren Weisberger was. When Fremar replied that Weisberger had been Wintour’s assistant, the editor-in-chief informed her that a book had been written about them. Wintour specifically told her, Well, she wrote a book about us, and you look worse than me.

Workplace Friction and ‘Mean’ Drafts

Fremar’s recollections of her time with Weisberger are critical. She noted that the early drafts of the novel were very mean and described the writer as someone who did not socialize with anyone at Vogue. Fremar expressed that the book made her feel exposed, as the narrative was based on shared experiences between the two women.

Fremar admitted that she may not have been very friendly during that period, attributing her tension to a perceived imbalance in the workload. She claimed she felt she had to perform her own duties as well as those of Weisberger.

It was very frustrating. I think she was sitting there writing her book and not taking the job as seriously as I was

Leslie Fremar via The Run Through

Fremar stated that she has not reunited with Weisberger since that time and has no desire to do so, noting that such an encounter would be very uncomfortable.

Contrasting Reactions

The way the real-life figures have handled their fictional counterparts differs significantly. Anna Wintour has leaned into her role as the inspiration for the formidable Miranda Priestly, even participating in a promotional spot with actress Meryl Streep.

In contrast, Fremar describes her only interaction with Emily Blunt as being extremely cold. She recalled that the actress did not seem particularly interested in her, describing the encounter as lacking warmth or enthusiasm, characterized simply as a well, okay type of interaction.