Character Relationship Map: The Devil Wears Prada

Characters

• Miranda Priestly (played by Meryl Streep) — protagonist

  Ruthless editor-in-chief of Runway magazine, known for icy demeanor and exacting standards.

• Andy Sachs (played by Anne Hathaway) — protagonist

  Ambitious journalism graduate turned reluctant assistant, learns resilience and self-worth.

• Emily (played by Emily Blunt) — supporting

  Senior assistant to Miranda, highly competitive and deeply invested in fashion hierarchy.

• Nigel (played by Stanley Tucci) — supporting

  Creative director at Runway, witty, supportive, and a mentor figure to Andy.

• Christian Thompson (played by Simon Baker) — supporting

  Andy's boyfriend, works in publishing.

• Nate (played by Adrian Grenier) — supporting

  Andy's friend, works in publishing.

• James Holt (played by Daniel Sunjata) — supporting

  Runway magazine editor.

• Jacqueline Follet (played by Stephanie Szostak) — supporting

  French fashion designer.

• Editor (played by John Rothman) — supporting

  Magazine editor.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Editor → Miranda Priestly (Professional Reference Recipient) — Miranda's backhanded phone reference persuades the editor to take Andy on.

  The editor recounts that when he called Runway for a reference, Miranda told him Andy was the biggest disappointment she ever had and he would be an i...

• Editor → Andy Sachs (Professional Hiring Editor) — The editor gives Andy her longed-for journalism position.

  Andy has an interview at the New York Mirror; the editor recounts Miranda's warning and, after getting the job, hires Andy.

• Jacqueline Follet → James Holt (Professional New Creative Director) — Jacqueline lands the James Holt creative director post as part of Miranda's countermove.

  Miranda announces Jacqueline as Holt's new creative director at the Paris luncheon.

• Miranda Priestly → James Holt (Power Career Gatekeeper) — Miranda controls who runs Holt's creative operation.

  At a luncheon, Miranda announces Jacqueline as James Holt's new creative director, overriding the earlier Nigel choice.

• Nigel → James Holt (Professional Aspiring Creative Director) — The career payoff Nigel dreamed of, later stolen by Miranda.

  Nigel tells Andy that he has accepted a job as creative director for rising designer James Holt.

• Andy Sachs → Christian Thompson (Romantic One-Night Flirtation) — A brief affair tied to Christian's insider knowledge of the Runway coup.

  In Paris, Andy spends the night with an attractive writer, Christian Thompson.

• Andy Sachs → Nate (Romantic Boyfriend And Ex Boyfriend) — Nate represents Andy's old life and values; their split marks her moral crossroads.

  Andy's boyfriend Nate breaks up with her, disappointed that she became one of the shallow, egotistical women she once ridiculed.

• Emily → Nigel (Professional Runway Coworker) — Same-office colleagues in the fashion hierarchy, though barely shown interacting directly.

  Both serve under Miranda at Runway, with Emily as senior assistant and Nigel as art director.

• Miranda Priestly → Nigel (Professional Boss And Creative Director) — Long-standing Runway working relationship built on shared fashion-world status.

  Nigel is art director and creative director at Runway, working directly under editor-in-chief Miranda.

• Miranda Priestly → Emily (Professional Boss And Senior Assistant) — Miranda delegates to Emily, but replaces her with Andy without hesitation when Emily fails at the benefit.

  Emily is Miranda's senior assistant and yearns to attend Paris Fashion Week as Miranda's assistant.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Jacqueline Follet → Nigel (Conflict Job Displacer) — Jacqueline benefits from the job Nigel was promised.

  Miranda picks Jacqueline over Nigel for the Holt creative directorship, to Andy and Nigel's shock.

• Christian Thompson → Jacqueline Follet (Alliance Connected Power Insider) — Christian moves in Paris publishing circles where the coup is being orchestrated.

  Christian knows in advance that Jacqueline is being prepared to replace Miranda, implying access to the anti-Miranda faction.

• Andy Sachs → Nigel (Alliance Mentor And Protégée) — Nigel becomes Andy's guide to fashion-world survival and her emotional anchor at Runway.

  After failing Miranda, Andy approaches art director Nigel for advice, and he helps her select stylish clothes to wear to work.

• Miranda Priestly → Jacqueline Follet (Conflict Professional Rival) — Corporate power play where the French counterpart is groomed to topple Miranda.

  Jacqueline Follet is Miranda's counterpart as editor-in-chief at French Runway and is being prepared to replace Miranda.

• Andy Sachs → Emily (Conflict Professional Rival) — Competition for Miranda's favor drives the assistants' office friction and culminates in Andy taking Emily's Paris spot.

  Andy outperforms Emily, then steps in at a charity benefit when Emily forgets guests' names, and finally is chosen for Paris instead of Emily.

Story Analysis

An aspiring journalist survives the brutal fashion world at Runway only to decide who she truly wants to become.

Plot Progression

1. An Outsider in the Fashion Jungle — Northwestern graduate Andy Sachs is hired at Runway despite knowing nothing about fashion. She endures Miranda's cruelty and early failures, then reaches out to Nigel for a style rescue after the hurr...
2. The Runway Transformation — Andy commits fully to the Runway lifestyle and starts outperforming Emily. Emily's health collapses while Emily preps for Paris, and Andy saves the charity benefit before being named Miranda's Paris a...
3. The Cost of Climbing — Emily is struck by a car and learns in the hospital that Andy took her Paris spot. Andy's boyfriend Nate breaks up with her, convinced she has become the shallow person she once mocked.
4. Parisian Power Games — In Paris, Miranda's marriage collapses, Nigel reveals his dream job, and Christian exposes the plot to replace Miranda with Jacqueline. At a luncheon, Miranda shocks everyone by sacrificing Nigel's po...
5. Choosing Her Own Reflection — Miranda's limousine confession disgusts Andy, who storms off and throws her phone into the Concorde fountain. Back in New York she reconciles with Nate's new life, wins the Mirror job thanks to a back...