Why fans think Anna Wintour channelled Miranda Priestly during an unexpected on-stage moment with Anne Hathaway at Academy Awards 2026

The Academy Awards rarely runs short of dramatic speeches or emotional wins, but one of the most talked-about moments of the evening arrived in the form of a perfectly timed piece of humour. When Anne Hathaway shared the stage with legendary fashion editor Anna Wintour, the interaction quickly turned into a playful nod to one of cinema’s most beloved fashion films.



Wintour, who seldom appears at Hollywood award ceremonies, made a rare on-stage appearance to present the awards for Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling. Standing beside Hathaway, the moment immediately reminded audiences of the enduring legacy of The Devil Wears Prada, the 2006 hit in which Hathaway portrayed an aspiring journalist navigating the demanding world of high fashion. The connection between the film and Wintour has long fascinated fans. Many believe the intimidating editor Miranda Priestly was partly inspired by the Vogue chief, though Wintour herself has often addressed that speculation with careful diplomacy over the years.

As the presenters introduced the category, Hathaway leaned into the moment with a playful tone. She spoke about the importance of costumes in shaping a film’s storytelling, describing how wardrobe choices help define characters, historical settings, and cinematic worlds. At the same time, she jokingly admitted that standing beside one of fashion’s most influential figures made her feel slightly nervous.



The Oscar-winning actress then turned the conversation toward her own outfit, suggesting that clothing in real life can be just as important as costumes on screen. With the audience already anticipating a humorous exchange, Hathaway asked Wintour what she thought of her dress for the evening.

Instead of offering a critique, Wintour calmly looked away, slipped on her signature sunglasses, and proceeded to announce the nominees without answering the question. The understated reaction drew immediate laughter from the audience inside the theatre and quickly became one of the night’s most replayed moments online. The exchange continued after the winner was announced. In a subtle but unmistakable callback to The Devil Wears Prada, Wintour thanked Hathaway by calling her “Emily,” the name Miranda Priestly famously uses for her assistants in the film.



For viewers familiar with the movie’s sharp humour, the reference landed perfectly. It added an extra layer of nostalgia to the moment and highlighted how deeply the film still resonates with audiences nearly two decades after its release.



As clips of the exchange began circulating online, social media users quickly weighed in on Wintour’s perfectly timed response. Many viewers interpreted the moment as a playful acknowledgement of the long-running comparisons between Wintour and the fictional editor portrayed in the film.

One fan on X said: "Anne literally asked for fashion advice from the Devil herself and got ratio'd on live TV 😭

Was this planned or pure Anna shade?"