<P> Tucci was one of the last actors cast; he agreed to play Nigel only three days before shooting started . The filmmakers reportedly had auditioned Barney's creative director Simon Doonan and E!'s Robert Verdi, both openly gay men highly visible as media fashion commentators, for the part; the BBC's Graham Norton also auditioned . Verdi would later say there was no intention to actually hire him and the producers had just used him and Doonan to give whoever they ultimately did cast some filmed research to use in playing a gay character (he would end up with a walk - on part as a fashion journalist in Paris). Tucci says he was unaware of this: "All I know is that someone called me and I realized this was a great part ." He based the character on various people he was acquainted with, insisting on the glasses he ultimately wore . Daniel Sunjata had originally read for Tucci's part, rather unenthusiastically since he had just finished playing a similar character, but then read the Holt part and asked if he could audition for it . Simon Baker auditioned by sending a video of himself, wearing the same self - designed green jacket he has on when he and Andrea meet for the first time . </P> <P> Weisberger is widely believed to have based Miranda on Anna Wintour, the powerful editor of Vogue . Wintour reportedly warned major fashion designers who had been invited to make cameo appearances as themselves in the film that they would be banished from the magazine's pages if they did so . Vogue and other major women's and fashion magazines have avoided reviewing or even mentioning the book in their pages . Wintour's spokespeople deny the claim, but costume designer Patricia Field says many designers told her they did not want to risk Wintour's wrath . </P> <P> Only Valentino Garavani, who had designed the black evening gown Streep wears in the museum benefit scene, chose to make an appearance . Coincidentally, he was in New York during production and Finerman dared Field, an acquaintance, to ask him personally . Much to her surprise, he accepted . Other cameos of note include Heidi Klum as herself and Weisberger as the twins' nanny . Streep's daughter's film debut as a barista at Starbucks was cut . Gisele Bündchen agreed to be in the movie only if she did not play a model . </P> <P> Principal photography took place over 57 days in New York and Paris between October and December 2005 . The film's budget was $41 million . It was originally lower, which caused problems with some locations--the crew could not get permission to shoot at the Museum of Modern Art or Bryant Park . </P>

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