Is Nate the Real Villain of The Devil Wears Prada? Adrian Grenier Weighs In

Whenever The Devil Wears Prada airs on TV, it’s common to see a viral tweet labeling Adrian Grenier’s character, Nate — the boyfriend of Anne Hathaway’s Andy — as "the real villain" of the movie. Fifteen years after its release, Grenier discussed this ongoing critique with Entertainment Weekly, noting that the backlash was unexpected for him and his co-stars.

Grenier admitted, “I didn’t initially grasp the nuances and implications of Nate’s character. It wasn’t until online opinions started targeting him that I really saw his flaws. I was as immature as Nate at the time, and his selfishness became clear only after reflecting on the criticism.”

Anne Hathaway offers a more empathetic perspective, suggesting that viewers might be overly critical of Nate’s hurt feelings. “Nate was upset because Andy missed his birthday. We all have moments of selfishness and regret. Everyone makes mistakes.”

The film’s writer, Aline Brosh McKenna, notes that Nate’s role was designed as a gender-swapped version of the "girlfriend" trope. She explains that the movie is a Faustian tale, depicting Andy’s moral struggle as she sacrifices her values for career success, symbolized by Miranda Priestly. McKenna believes Nate’s role was to challenge Andy’s ethical choices, emphasizing that he was critical of her abandoning her initial values.

Grenier now views the criticism as part of his acting journey. He acknowledges that Nate, being emotionally immature, couldn’t support Andy as she needed. “Andy required more from the world than Nate could offer. He was a fragile, self-centered character, and she needed a more mature partner,” Grenier reflects. “To all the Nates out there: Step up your game!”