Quote of the day by Meryl Streep: ‘We are not done yet. That is the key, I think, to being alive, always breaking...’, Oscar-winning actress’ powerful message on ageing and embracing change

Ageing is often seen as a chapter of slowing down, but life can remain a journey of curiosity, reinvention and discovery. The way we approach change can shape how we experience every stage of life. For Meryl Streep, growing older appears to be less about looking back and more about moving forward. In a 2026 Vogue cover interview with Anna Wintour and Greta Gerwig, the Oscar-winning actress shared her perspective on ageing, curiosity and staying engaged with the world around her.

Quote of the day by Meryl Streep

In her conversation with Anna Wintour and Greta Gerwig for Vogue, Meryl Streep reflected on returning to the character of Miranda Priestly nearly two decades after first playing the iconic fashion editor. Speaking about imagining Miranda’s life and responsibilities years later, Streep said she tried to think about how curious and interested in the world her character would have remained. She described that curiosity as a key part of being alive, saying it meant “always breaking new water” and “always breaking the waves.” Streep then added the powerful reminder that “we’re not done yet.”

Her words offer a perspective on ageing that goes beyond simply getting older. Instead, she presents life as something that continues to demand curiosity, exploration and the willingness to enter unfamiliar territory.

The meaning behind Meryl Streep’s words on ageing

Streep’s message is ultimately less about age itself and more about refusing to treat age as an endpoint. Her idea of “breaking new water” suggests continuing to explore, learn and remain curious even when life enters a new phase. By adding that “we’re not done yet,” she turns ageing into a reminder that there can always be another chapter, another challenge and another opportunity to see the world differently. For an actress whose career has continued to evolve across more than five decades, the sentiment also mirrors the longevity and reinvention that have defined Streep’s own journey.

About playing Miranda Priestly again

Streep’s comments came while discussing The Devil Wears Prada 2, which brings her back as Miranda Priestly around 20 years after the original film. The actress said she thought about Anna while approaching the character again and tried to imagine what it would be like to carry Miranda’s responsibilities while remaining deeply interested and curious about the world. Interestingly, Streep also revealed that she drew inspiration from several role models while shaping Miranda this time around. Many of those role models were men, which she said gave her a certain freedom in approaching the character.

Her approach highlights how actors can revisit familiar characters while allowing them to evolve with time, experience and changing circumstances.

About The Devil Wears Prada 2

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a 2026 American comedy-drama film directed by David Frankel and written by Aline Brosh McKenna. The film is a sequel to the 2006 movie The Devil Wears Prada and brings back Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci in their respective roles. Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu and Kenneth Branagh have also joined the cast. Set two decades after the events of the first film, the sequel follows Andy Sachs, played by Hathaway, as she helps Miranda Priestly navigate a transformed media landscape and corporate threats facing Runway magazine.

Streep’s return to the role makes her comments about curiosity and continuing to evolve particularly relevant, especially as Miranda herself confronts a very different professional world.

Meryl Streep’s remarkable acting career

Widely regarded by peers and critics as one of the greatest actresses of her generation, and by many as one of the greatest performers of all time, Streep is known for her versatility, technical precision, emotional depth, command of dialects and extraordinary longevity. She studied at Vassar College before earning a Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama. Streep began her professional stage career in 1975 with Trelawny of the Wells. The following year, she received a Tony Award nomination for 27 Wagons Full of Cotton.

Her transition to cinema came with Julia in 1977. She received her first Academy Award nomination for The Deer Hunter in 1978 and won her first Oscar for Kramer vs. Kramer in 1979. She was one of the leading actresses of the 80s after she belted out stellar performances with The French Lieutenant’s Woman, Sophie’s Choice, Out of Africa and A Cry in the Dark. Her performance in A Cry in the Dark also earned her the Best Actress Award at Cannes. She moved beyond the dramatic roles that had established her reputation and took on major mainstream projects, including the formidable Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada and the singing lead in Mamma Mia!

At the same time, she continued to receive critical acclaim for films such as Doubt and The Iron Lady. Her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady earned her a third Academy Award.

Meryl Streep’s awards

Across her career, Streep has received eight Golden Globe Awards, three Academy Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and one Children’s and Family Emmy Award.