Stanley Tucci, Perennial Tastemaker

Gird your loins: It’s officially Stanley Tucci spring.

To be clear, the 65-year-old actor — his style, his euphonious timbre, the way he oozes la dolce vita — is never not in season, but the past few weeks have been particularly fruitful: First, there was his return as Runway art director Nigel in The Devil Wears Prada 2 and its corresponding whirlwind press tour, followed by a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The actor didn’t slow down from there, however, ringing in the new season of his spy thriller Citadel, attending the Met Gala for the first time in 20 years, and gearing up to debut another round of his National Geographic series, Tucci in Italy, on May 11.

So has he had a chance to take it all in? “Not quite yet,” he tells Bustle with a laugh.

In the midst of it all, Tucci managed to make time for a playful collab with TJ Maxx — yes, the very store Nigel derides in The Devil Wears Prada 2, greeting Anne Hathaway’s Andy with dependable snark: “Well, look what TJ Maxx dragged in.”

Art, however, does not imitate life. As Tucci points out in a new spot put together by Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort team, he holds the store in much warmer regard in reality. In fact, in the ad, he quite enjoys being styled by the brand, whose Runway department of designer labels would be sure to win over a discerning Nigel.

Speaking of: Will fans see the beloved character in theaters again? While it’s too early to talk specifics, Tucci is (theoretically) down for a (theoretical) The Devil Wears Prada 3: “If the script is good,” he says, “and it’s not too far away from my house — yes.”

In the meantime, the actor opens up about embracing his inner Maxxinista, his take on Nigel’s personal life, and the lore behind “Gird your loins!”

Do you have a favorite find from TJ Maxx?

There was a blanket that my wife and I bought — a little throw — on vacation.

It’s actually one of the best places to get a cozy throw. I was also wondering if you’ve taken a stroll through the food aisle.

I haven’t done that yet! I want to do that, I’m very curious.

Nigel always has something to say, and we love him for that. Which fashion or shopping hot take do you swear by in real life?

Well, it’s always nice when you can find things on sale, especially when you’re buying for children who keep growing very quickly — you’re not gonna go buy a $400 cashmere sweater for a 6-year-old. That’ll fit her for about three months. I don’t do that.

What tips do you have for someone trying to find their style?

Look at archival stuff. Look at how men and women dressed through history. Is there a particular era that you like? Are the ’40s interesting to you — the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s? The ’80s, hmm... I don’t know. But it really just depends on what suits you. It could end up being a mix-and-match.

In the spot, you say, “Do you really think that I wrote those words? I’m just a tragically handsome actor.” Are there any moments in either Devil Wears Prada film that you did get to improvise?

Oh, yeah. There were some in the first one with Annie in the closet — I made a lot of stuff up, but some of it you couldn’t keep in because you’d have to rate the film differently. But it was [director David Frankel] who came up with, “Gird your loins.” We had a whole list of them, and I would just do them one after the other. They’re on a blooper reel some place.

David Frankel has said that while we don’t see much of Nigel’s personal life, the team talked about it a lot behind the scenes. I was wondering if there’s an element that was told to you, or you imagined that we don’t see, but is important to your portrayal of him?

I think he’s just a very private person. There’s a part of me that thinks he lives by himself — not that he doesn’t have friends, he’s not a recluse. But he probably has a very small, tight-knit group of friends and family, and that’s it.

Finding out that Nigel played a role in bringing Andy back to Runway was so sweet. Do you think he’s been keeping up with her stories from afar this whole time?

I think he was always tracking — not in a weird way, but he always kept an eye out for her. He knew how smart she was.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.