Never before has an actress experienced such profound gratitude for not being cast in the lead role. Tracie Thoms, known for her vibrant performances, reflects on the unique opportunities that come with supporting characters.

Nearly two decades after her memorable role, Tracie Thoms vividly remembers the overwhelming anxiety she faced during the initial table read of The Devil Wears Prada, especially when Meryl Streep delivered her first lines with an intensity that left everyone in awe. The atmosphere was electric, and for Thoms, the moment was both exhilarating and terrifying.

As she portrayed Lily, a graduate student and the fiercely loyal best friend of Anne Hathaway‘s character, Andy Sachs, Thoms felt the weight of the scene. “We could barely hear her,” she recalled, highlighting the power and presence of Streep’s performance.

Initially, Thoms conveyed in her exclusive interview with E! News that she believed the Oscar-winning actress was merely going through the script, still in the process of discovering how to embody the unapologetically demanding Miranda Priestly, a character heavily inspired by Anna Wintour of Vogue fame.

“Some actors approach table reads as an opportunity to explore their character’s nuances,” Thoms explained. “They often refrain from making definitive choices too early in the process, which allows for creative flexibility.”

However, she noted that “maybe, a page-and-a-half in,” during the reading of the script adapted from Lauren Weisberger‘s sensational novel, she realized, “Oh no. That is the choice. Oh my god, this is the most genius interpretation I’ve ever witnessed.” This realization made it clear that Streep’s portrayal compelled everyone at the table to engage with her character, Miranda, in a deeper, more meaningful way.