Andrea "Andy" Sachs , a recent Brown graduate hired as junior personal assistant to a powerful and tyrannical fashion magazine editor.
Miranda Priestly , the British-born (as Miriam Princhek) editor-in-chief of Runway , an influential fashion magazine published by the Elias-Clark company. She is known for wearing a white Hermès scarf somewhere on her person every day, and treats her subordinates in a manner that borders on emotional and psychological abuse.
Emily Charlton , Miranda's former junior assistant, now her senior assistant. She and Andrea have a conflicted relationship.
Alex Fineman , Andrea's boyfriend, who teaches at an elementary school in the South Bronx through Teach for America.
Lily Goodwin , a free-spirited graduate student in Russian literature at Columbia with curly black hair. She is Andrea's roommate.
Nigel , a very tall gay British man who serves as Runway's creative director. He often appears on television as a fashion consultant and is one of the few stars of the magazine Andrea knows before she works there. He is a loud speaker with an outrageous sense of style, and the only person who can get away with critiquing Miranda's personal wardrobe choices.
James , another gay man at Runway who works at the beauty department. He befriends Andrea, and jokes about "calling in fat" on days when he feels unattractive.
Jeffy , who oversees Runway's famous "Closet." The Closet is stocked with clothing on loan from fashion designers for use in shoots, but is rarely returned and often "borrowed" by magazine staff. He is responsible for transforming Andrea's wardrobe so she can fit in among the fashionable hallways of Runway offices.
Hunter Tomlinson , a prominent New York tax attorney who is Miranda's current husband (she is divorced from the father of her two daughters, a well-known British rock star). As nice to Andrea and Emily as his wife is cruel, he is referred to by other close associates of Miranda's as "B-DAD" behind his back, for Blind Deaf and Dumb—the only way they could imagine anyone being able to live with her.
Eduardo , a security guard at the Elias-Clark building, who playfully makes Andrea or anyone else unfortunate enough to work as one of Miranda's personal assistants sing or put on some sort of act before he lets them enter the building.
Christian Collinsworth , a handsome young writer whom Andrea meets at a party. They develop a mutual attraction.
Caroline and Cassidy , the twin daughters Miranda dotes on.
Cara , the girls' nanny, who saves Andrea's skin more than once but is eventually fired by Miranda after she gives the twins a timeout in their bedroom for a bad attitude.
Jill , Andrea's older sister, who is married and lives in Houston, where she has begun to affect a Southern accent, much to Andrea's displeasure.
The Clackers , the magazine's many female editorial staffers, mainly Allison (former senior assistant, now beauty editor), Lucia (fashion department), Jocelyn (editorial), and Stef (accessories). Andrea gives them their nickname for the sound their stiletto heel shoes make on the marble floors of the Elias-Clark building.
Benjamin , referred to as Benji. He is Lily's ex-boyfriend, but they have stayed in touch despite their breakup. He was involved in the car accident with Lily.
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