Anne Hathaway, born in Brooklyn in 1982, did not take the conventional path to fame. At 17, she landed her defining role as reluctant princess Mia Thermopolis in 2001’s The Princess Diaries, a film that would alter the course of her life and career. Her experience was largely shaped by learning on the job rather than formal training.
Given the fact that I didn’t go to drama school, and I did start as young as I did, so much of my learning happened on set in real time in the films that I was in,
Hathaway explained to WWD. The success of The Princess Diaries made a significant impact on her life, a reality she reflected on in 2024.
[‘The Princess Diaries’] was the film that changed my life,
she stated to Vanity Fair, emphasizing,
It just felt so big at the time and it wound up being so big and it’s kind of just gotten bigger as my life has progressed,
solidifying her unexpected rise to stardom.
Before this breakout moment, Hathaway had only appeared in a few episodes of the TV series Get Real. The international acclaim of The Princess Diaries paved the way for a variety of other significant movie roles across the next decades, such as The Devil Wears Prada, The Dark Knight Rises, and Les Misérables, outfits and all, showcasing a noticeable shift in her fashion sense. Through it all, she has maintained humility about her influence, sharing to Net-A-Porter,
It is such a sweet feeling to know that you’re kind of woven into someone’s life. I can’t describe the honor of knowing that I’m involved in the moments where people need comfort,
a testament to the deep connection she has with her audience.
Early Stardom and Challenges in Diversifying Roles
At just out of high school, Hathaway became an overnight sensation. The Princess Diaries received widespread affection, earning her a 2002 Teen Choice Award nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy among heavyweights like Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sarah Michelle Gellar. When the BBC inquired about her next move, she candidly expressed her priorities.
I’m going to school right now, so it’ll have to be something pretty special to pull me out of that. If I find it, wonderful, if not, I’m going to graduate with my degree in English and I’ll take it from there.
Despite juggling education, she continued working steadily with roles in Disney’s The Other Side of Heaven and the 2006 film Nicholas Nickleby, along with the New York stage musical Carnival.
Her status as a family-friendly star was further cemented in 2004 with the lead role in the fantasy film Ella Enchanted, followed by a sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. During this period, she encountered difficulty escaping the “princess” label.
It was hard [to] get into rooms, to be taken seriously for roles that weren’t princesses,
Hathaway admitted in an interview with People. Hathaway’s fashion reflected her approachable characters at the time, with appearances at events dressed in casual and sporty ensembles, including halter tops paired with trendy low-rise jeans and experiments in double denim—a far cry from the polished looks that would grace her later career.
The Emergence of a More Mature Screen Persona in 2005
In 2005, Hathaway shifted gears with a pivotal role in the emotionally complex drama Brokeback Mountain, portraying a character worlds apart from her earlier princess roles. She described her mindset at the time of auditioning during a lunch break while filming The Princess Diaries 2.
I remember being very, very calm, which is unusual for me under any circumstances, especially at 21. I just felt so centered and focused … I knew what I wanted,
she told Out magazine. Landing the role affirmed her ambitions.
It wasn’t until ‘Brokeback Mountain’ that I was, like, ‘Okay, this is what I want,’
Hathaway admitted to The Telegraph, adding,
I want to tell stories that move people, and if I’m not moving people I want them to be so entertained that they forget about their lives.
That same year introduced audiences to a new fashion side of Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada, playing Andy Sachs, a journalist navigating a high-fashion magazine’s ruthless environment under Meryl Streep’s iconic Miranda Priestly. The film’s costume designer, Patricia Field, significantly influenced Hathaway’s evolving style. She revealed to Harper’s Bazaar,
I feel I know how clothes go together now. Before, I was so desperate to have a style and a look that I would wear things I didn’t feel comfortable in, that had nothing to do with me,
underscoring her journey toward a more confident and mature fashion identity.
Embracing Reinvention Through Diverse Roles in 2008 and Beyond
The late 2000s marked Hathaway’s deliberate choice to diversify her career through varied roles. Between 2008 and 2009, she starred in comedies like Get Smart—where she learned martial arts—dramatic projects such as Rachel Getting Married, and romantic comedies including Bride Wars. She shared with The Daily Telegraph Australia in 2008,
Now one of my prerequisites for doing a movie is that it has to be on the opposite side of the coin from the last film I did.
This commitment led to appearances in wide-ranging films, from the fantastical Alice In Wonderland and dark superhero epic The Dark Knight Rises to the star-studded comedy Valentine’s Day. She also ventured into voice acting for shows like Family Guy and The Simpsons, and the animated film Rio.
Despite global fame, Hathaway maintained a guarded approach to her private life. Speaking to Interview, she highlighted the impact of living under scrutiny:
I think that when actors, whether or not they’ve chosen it or it has been thrust upon them, are living very public lives, it affects your ability to get lost in their performances,
showing how the constant attention influenced her sense of self and work.
Radical Changes for ‘Les Misérables’ and Winning an Oscar in 2012
Anne Hathaway’s commitment to her craft culminated in 2012 during her role as Fantine in Les Misérables, where she undertook a dramatic physical transformation. To authentically portray the ailing character, she significantly lost weight, detailing to The Hollywood Reporter,
I just had to stop eating, all for a total of 13 days’ shooting,
highlighting her intense preparation. She lost 10 pounds before filming and an additional 15 during production.
Complementing her physical changes, she cut her signature long hair into a pixie style as filming continued. Explaining the intent behind this radical look, she shared on The Drew Barrymore Show,
I went to Tom Hooper, the director, and I said, ‘Listen, we’re actors singing live in a movie. And, I think, you know, audiences aren’t used to that. And I think we need to make it real for them. We need to show them that we all left that pound of flesh on the floor, basically,’
emphasizing the raw realism she wished to convey. Hathaway also revealed the emotional toll of this haircut on Live with Kelly! where she admitted,
I’ve now done back-flips out of windows, I’ve jumped off buildings. And cutting my hair reduced me to mental patient-level crying. I was inconsolable.
The dedication paid off with an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 2013 Oscars.
Marriage, Fertility Struggles, and Motherhood from 2012 to 2019
2012 was also a landmark year personally for Hathaway, marrying fellow actor Adam Shulman in California. She stunned in a custom Valentino gown, a thoughtful offer from the designer Valentino Garavani. Reflecting on her relationship with Shulman, she told People,
I am very much in love with him, [only] Adam totally ruined my plan. I was really actually looking forward to a little alone time, and then I fell in love like a fool!
The couple faced challenges when trying to start a family. In 2015, Hathaway opened up about enduring a miscarriage while performing in the off-Broadway play Grounded, sharing with Vanity Fair,
The first time it didn’t work out for me. I was doing a play and I had to give birth onstage every night.
She added,
It’s really hard to want something so much and to wonder if you’re doing something wrong.
Thankfully, later that year she became pregnant again and gave birth to their son Jonathan in March 2016, followed by a second son, Jack, in 2019, quietly adding to her growing family.
Facing Online Backlash and Reinventing Herself Amid Public Scrutiny in 2013
After winning her Oscar, Hathaway experienced intense online criticism that affected her career opportunities. On The Ellen DeGeneres Show, she recalled discovering an article titled,
Why does everyone hate Anne Hathaway?
She confessed,
I hadn’t learned to love myself yet. I hadn’t gotten there. And if you don’t love yourself, when someone else says horrible things to you, part of you is always going to believe them.
The backlash caused her to lose potential roles, as she explained to Vanity Fair:
They were so concerned about how toxic my identity had become online,
and detailed the difficulty of public humiliation. Still, her resolve remained strong.
Humiliation is such a rough thing to go through. The key is to not let it close you down. You have to stay bold,
she emphasized. This boldness extended to her appearance, epitomized by a dramatic shift to a choppy blond pixie cut at the 2013 Met Gala and the Tate Americas Foundation Artists Dinner.
Director Christopher Nolan supported her through this period, casting her in the sci-fi film Interstellar alongside Matthew McConaughey and Jessica Chastain. She described the experience to WWD as,
Getting ‘Interstellar’ at any point in your life would have been a career highlight. The moment that I got to go into that world … it was the safest and most exhilarating place I could ever be as an actor and as a human,
adding,
It was just a gift in that moment.
2015 and the Revival of Hathaway’s Versatile Career
Following the turbulence, Hathaway reclaimed her place in Hollywood with a string of diverse roles starting in 2015. She returned to her natural brunette hair styled in a sleek bob and took part in projects like The Intern with Robert De Niro, the sequel Alice Through The Looking Glass, and the all-star heist film Ocean‘s Eight. Discussing her choice to join Ocean’s Eight, she said to The Hollywood Reporter,
To actually let it go and to lean into all the ridiculous fame nonsense that I’ve been trying to side-step for all of these years just felt really, really fun,
and continued,
It just felt great and to play someone who had such an enormous ego and someone who takes herself so seriously, and is so insufferable, came very naturally to me.
By 2021, Hathaway’s focus had expanded to include both television and film. She appeared in Amazon Prime Video’s anthology series Solos and the limited series WeCrashed alongside Jared Leto. Simultaneously, she maintained her momentum on the big screen with roles in Armageddon Time, Eileen, and The Idea of You, continuing her reputation as a versatile, enduring star.
Renewed Fashion Boldness and a Return to Genovia in 2023
In 2023, Anne Hathaway’s fashion choices captured attention worldwide as she adopted a more daring and sophisticated style. Collaborating with stylist Erin Walsh, she embraced risk-taking looks showcased at the CFDA Awards, wearing a strapless denim top paired with a long tie-dye skirt and a striking red gown adorned with poppy appliques, confidently riding the wave of the sheer dress trend.
Her involvement in Versace’s Icon campaign cemented her status as a fashion icon, especially advocating for representation of older women in the industry. She told WWD,
I am very excited to work for a company that wants to have 40-year-old woman as their face. And by the way, 40 years old does not have to be the ceiling,
highlighting the importance of inclusivity and rejecting age limitations.
Reflecting on her personal growth, Hathaway shared,
I just didn’t have any confidence [in my 20s]. And I think that there’s been so much growth. There’s been so much character development that’s happened since then for me in all aspects of my life,
explaining why returning to her role as Mia Thermopolis felt fitting. In 2024, she confirmed her involvement in The Princess Diaries 3, captioning an Instagram post, Miracles Happen.
2025: A Youthful Appearance Ignites Speculation
Alongside her fashion evolution, Hathaway’s noticeably youthful appearance at events such as the Ralph Lauren Collection Fall 2025 show and the 2025 Met Gala sparked widespread conversation. Her smooth skin, full lips, and lack of visible aging fueled rumors about possible cosmetic enhancements. Observers on social media speculated,
That’s all Botox and filler her face never moves even when she smiles,
while others thoughtfully remarked,
If she’s had work done it’s very very good. But let’s not discount the power of the slick back ponytail face lift.
Though Hathaway has not publicly addressed any cosmetic procedures, she offered a perspective on privacy to Vogue France in 2024:
As for my opinion on the matter, I would say that asking people about surgery is a bit like asking them if they have sex: it’s an extremely intimate question.
Her discretion illustrates the balance she maintains between public life and personal boundaries.
Anticipation Mounts for Sequel Projects and New Ventures in 2026
Anne Hathaway’s career came full circle with the announcement of The Devil Wears Prada 2 in 2025, reuniting her with co-stars Emily Blunt and Meryl Streep. She reflected on the experience with WWD, saying,
I was a very, very young woman when I made ‘Devil Wears Prada.’ I was so guided and looked after and cared for … I’m so excited that now I can do that for other people, that now I have the knowledge and the experience and the confidence to take care of other people on sets in which I’m looked at as a leader.
The sequel surprised many given her previous 2022 statement on The View,
It’s tempting, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. They could relaunch it, get some new people and do it,
proving how unpredictable entertainment can be.
Early promotional material for the sequel highlighted a return to iconic fashion moments. A trailer previewed Hathaway as Andy Sachs in a chic belted dress, while her appearance at a 2026 Ralph Lauren event on Instagram revealed a confident new style with dark sunglasses, a black semi-sheer halterneck dress, and a fur-like wrap, signaling her evolution both on screen and off.
She also revealed an ongoing ambition beyond her existing achievements, confessing to WWD,
I haven’t made a great Christmas movie … I’m desperate to make a Christmas movie,
inviting fans to watch this space for future festive projects.
If she’s had work done it’s very very good. But let’s not discount the power of the slick back ponytail face lift.
— Kelly Clarkson’s New Stylist (@MarkMyT) April 18, 2025
