Simone Ashley has given an insight into her Devil Wears Prada 2 character and lifted the lid on her A-list co-stars ahead of the sequel's much anticipated release. 

The British actress, 31, plays the role of Miranda Priestly's new assistant Amiri who she said is a 'bada**' and nothing like Emily Blunt's neurotic character who did the job in the 2006 original. 

The much-anticipated sequel sees Meryl Streep returning as the intimidating fashion magazine boss, alongside Blunt, Anne Hathaway and Stanley Tucci.

Speaking to Elle Australia Ashley said: 'People are like: "Oh, she's the new Emily" and I guess in theory she is, but I think what was funny about Emily Blunt in the first movie was that she was the first assistant but she was a nervous wreck.'

But she noted there were huge differences between the two characters, with Amiri being much more confident and 'kind of mysterious'.  

'She's the one Miranda turns to every now and then, and the only one who can talk to her and encourage her to take different routes given the industry and the world have changed.' 

Ashley went on to recall filming and said her first day saw her thrown in at the deep end for a big scene with three-time Oscar winner Meryl.

But she took it in her stride and told the publication: 'Stanley Tucci made me laugh all the time,' she says, 'and Annie [Hathaway] is so sweet — she loves singing, so we would just sing stupid songs. Emily was just so wonderful and such a laugh.'

It comes after Streep revealed she was prepared to walk away from the original The Devil Wears Prada if her salary demands weren't met for the now-iconic role.

The 76-year-old said she insisted on a higher fee, admitting she was 'ready to retire' before signing on to the 2006 blockbuster. 

She made the comments during a Today appearance on Wednesday, where she reunited with co-stars: 'I read the script [for the original], the script was great. They called me up and they made an offer, and I said, "No, not going to do it,"' 

'I knew it was going to be a hit, and I wanted to see if I doubled my ask... And they went right away and said, "Sure."

'I thought, "I’m 50-60 [years old]… it took me this long to understand that I could do that! They needed me, I felt. I was ready to retire. That was a lesson.'

Streep ultimately pocketed a reported $4 million for the role, which earned her a Golden Globe win and an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of the icy editor-in-chief of fictional fashion magazine Runway - loosely inspired by Vogue's Anna Wintour. 

Meanwhile, Hathaway reportedly earned a $1 million paycheck for the 2006 film - her highest salary at the time.

Blunt is said to have taken home around $800,000, while Tucci’s salary has not been publicly disclosed.

The film went on to become a global smash, grossing more than $325 million worldwide. 

During the Today chat, Streep also revealed that early discussions about a sequel were already being floated as far back as 2009.

'They started talking about a sequel, but we all waited until we had that good idea,' she said.

'I think we all had to do it as well - you got to have all four of us come back,' added Blunt, who reprises her role as Emily Charlton, Miranda's first assistant in the original film. 

'There were mutterings and rumblings for years.'

'Lots of ideas,' Streep continued. 'But it’s almost like the world had to shift in that way for writer Aline [Brosh McKenna] … to get a new idea that made sense. 

'These people had to confront what’s going on in the world of journalism and publishing and politics. Everything has kind of flipped. And that’s cool, that that had a story embedded in it.' 

As for her paycheck for The Devil Wears Prada 2, Streep reportedly pocketed $20 million.  

Read Simone's full interview in Elle Australia out now