Former Miss Universe finalist Maria Poonlertlarp stepped into the spotlight once again as she conducted interviews at the Tokyo premiere of ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ on April 20. The event was graced by film stars Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, who sat down with Poonlertlarp for a unique and engaging conversation about social movements and their implications for their respective generations, reflecting on their careers and the evolving role of women in society.
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Maria Poonlertlarp, who gained prominence as Miss Universe Thailand in 2017 and subsequently reached the top five in the global competition, approached the actresses with a thought-provoking question. Nine years earlier, during her time in the pageant, she had been asked what she considered to be the most important social movement of her generation. This query had left her momentarily speechless, and she sought insight from Streep and Hathaway on how they might respond.
The actresses, embodying their iconic characters from the film, provided articulate and impactful responses. Meryl Streep, renowned for her role as the formidable Miranda Priestly, reflected on the dramatic shifts in women’s roles throughout the latter part of the last century. She recalled how, when entering college, career aspirations for women were predominantly limited to nursing or teaching. Streep noted the progress that has since been made, stating, “When I first came to Japan for interviews 35 years ago, all the journalists were men. And now we’ve gone through so many roundtables and all the journalists are women with men too. That integration of women into the working day is most profound one for me.”
Anne Hathaway, the star who portrayed Andy Sachs, offered her own insights, which resonated deeply given her personal connection to the topic. She pointed to marriage equality as a pivotal social movement that left a significant impact on her life, particularly as her older brother is gay. Hathaway elaborated on the broader implications of social movements, stating, “Just because legally or technically those rights are not honoured yet, that doesn’t mean we don’t have them. And so that was something that gave me a tremendous amount of hope to see the courts catch up to where human beings actually were.”
The film, a much-anticipated sequel to the beloved 2006 classic ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, will be released on May 1, and both Streep and Hathaway have lent considerable time to a press tour promoting it. The sequel promises to bring back familiar faces, with several returning cast members, including Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt, augmenting the film’s allure to fans of the original.
Poonlertlarp’s quest for answers highlighted the evolving conversation surrounding social issues, as she sought to bridge her personal experiences as a beauty queen with those of the accomplished actresses. Her questions ignited a compelling dialogue that underscored the importance of examining societal progress rather than merely celebrating it.
In addition to the sequel, Hathaway has had a busy year, with five film projects set for release, including ‘Mother Mary’, ‘The Odyssey’, ‘Verity’, and ‘The End of Oak Street’. In her recent interview with PEOPLE, Hathaway expressed her gratitude and enthusiasm for revisiting her role as Andy Sachs. She noted, “It was just beautiful… Sometimes you’re like, ‘I wish I could go back to that moment knowing what I know now.’ So for me this was the chance to actually be with the same people again, step back into that world, but with a little bit more perspective.”
As the excitement builds for the release of ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’, the blend of Hollywood engagement and meaningful conversation around social change has created a noteworthy moment in both the film industry and discussions of equality. The reflections offered by Streep and Hathaway exemplify how personal and professional journeys can intertwine, providing hope and inspiration for future generations.
In the ever-evolving landscape of women’s empowerment and social movements, Poonlertlarp’s endeavour to merge her beauty queen legacy with a contemporary dialogue showcases the potential for influence beyond the stage. The warm exchange among these influential women not only entertained but also fortified the audience’s understanding of the significance of cultural conversations today.