From Princess Diaries to Oscar Winner: Birthday Girl Anne Hathaway's Hollywood Journey

Mar. 15, 2025

01of 17The Princess DiariesPhoto12/PolarisThe Princess Diaries(2001) was Anne Hathaway’s feature-film debut. According to director Garry Marshall on the film’s DVD commentary, his daughters saw Hathaway’s audition tape and said the actress had the best “princess hair” of any of the girls in the running for the part.

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The Princess Diaries

Photo12/Polaris

The Princess Diaries(2001) was Anne Hathaway’s feature-film debut. According to director Garry Marshall on the film’s DVD commentary, his daughters saw Hathaway’s audition tape and said the actress had the best “princess hair” of any of the girls in the running for the part.

02of 17Ella EnchantedMiramax/Courtesy Everett CollectionHathaway originally read the book the 2004 film is based on when she was 16. The actress, who did her own singing in the film, cited the self-aware humor of the film as a draw for her: “Ellamakes fun of itself,“she said in 2004.

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Ella Enchanted

Miramax/Courtesy Everett Collection

Hathaway originally read the book the 2004 film is based on when she was 16. The actress, who did her own singing in the film, cited the self-aware humor of the film as a draw for her: “Ellamakes fun of itself,“she said in 2004.

03of 17HavocKobal/Shutterstock"In terms of the princess role, there is only so long that you can play those as a young lady before you start feeling really ridiculous,“Hathaway said in 2004, which may explain why she took such a hard left with her next starring role in 2005’sHavoc. She appeared nude as part of her role as a spoiled socialite who gets caught up gangland violence, a role in which Mandy Moore was originally intended for.

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Havoc

Kobal/Shutterstock

“In terms of the princess role, there is only so long that you can play those as a young lady before you start feeling really ridiculous,“Hathaway said in 2004, which may explain why she took such a hard left with her next starring role in 2005’sHavoc. She appeared nude as part of her role as a spoiled socialite who gets caught up gangland violence, a role in which Mandy Moore was originally intended for.

04of 17The Devil Wears Prada20th Century Fox FilmFor her role as a fashion magazine assistant in 2006’sThe Devil Wears Prada, Hathaway stuck to a strict diet that had her and costar Emily Blunt leaning on each other (literally) for moral support: “[We] would clutch at each other and cry because we were so hungry,“she said in 2008.

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The Devil Wears Prada

20th Century Fox Film

For her role as a fashion magazine assistant in 2006’sThe Devil Wears Prada, Hathaway stuck to a strict diet that had her and costar Emily Blunt leaning on each other (literally) for moral support: “[We] would clutch at each other and cry because we were so hungry,“she said in 2008.

05of 17Rachel Getting MarriedCourtesy Sony Pictures ClassicsHathaway’s portrayal of the drug-and-alcohol-addled little sister Kym inRachel Getting Married(2007) wound up snagging her an Academy Award and Golden Globe nomination.

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Rachel Getting Married

Courtesy Sony Pictures Classics

Hathaway’s portrayal of the drug-and-alcohol-addled little sister Kym inRachel Getting Married(2007) wound up snagging her an Academy Award and Golden Globe nomination.

06of 17The SimpsonsFoxHathaway resumed her princess role (sort of) for a 2010 episode ofThe Simpsons, playing a children’s show entertainer name Princess Penelope. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for her role.

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The Simpsons

Fox

Hathaway resumed her princess role (sort of) for a 2010 episode ofThe Simpsons, playing a children’s show entertainer name Princess Penelope. She won a Primetime Emmy Award for her role.

07of 17The Academy AwardsA.M.P.A.S./ABC via GettyIn 2011, Hathaway co-hosted the Academy Awards with James Franco. The pair’s mismatched chemistry largely failed to win over viewers, and many critics panned their turn as hosts.

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The Academy Awards

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In 2011, Hathaway co-hosted the Academy Awards with James Franco. The pair’s mismatched chemistry largely failed to win over viewers, and many critics panned their turn as hosts.

08of 17The Dark Knight RisesWarner Bros Pictures/Kobal/ShutterstockHathaway underwent extensive martial-arts training for her role as Catwoman inThe Dark Knight Rises(2012), her first action film.

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The Dark Knight Rises

Warner Bros Pictures/Kobal/Shutterstock

Hathaway underwent extensive martial-arts training for her role as Catwoman inThe Dark Knight Rises(2012), her first action film.

09of 17Les MisérablesWorking Title Films/Kobal/ShutterstockHathaway picked up her first Oscar for her role in 2012’sLes Misérables, for which she did all her own singing. She also collected a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award and a BAFTA Award.

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Les Misérables

Working Title Films/Kobal/Shutterstock

Hathaway picked up her first Oscar for her role in 2012’sLes Misérables, for which she did all her own singing. She also collected a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild Award and a BAFTA Award.

10of 17Hathaway Getting MarriedMeg Smith/WireImage/American Cancer SocietyHathaway got engaged to actor Adam Shulman, whom she’d been dating since November 2008, in November 2011. They married just under a year later, in September 2012, in Big Sur, California.

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Hathaway Getting Married

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Hathaway got engaged to actor Adam Shulman, whom she’d been dating since November 2008, in November 2011. They married just under a year later, in September 2012, in Big Sur, California.

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Grounded

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12of 17The Pregnant DiariesAmanda Edwards/WireImageNews of Hathaway’s first pregnancy emerged in November 2015. She and Shulman kept much of the pregnancy under wraps, but in April 2016, PEOPLE confirmed the pair welcomed son Jonathan Rosebanks Shulman that March.

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The Pregnant Diaries

Amanda Edwards/WireImage

News of Hathaway’s first pregnancy emerged in November 2015. She and Shulman kept much of the pregnancy under wraps, but in April 2016, PEOPLE confirmed the pair welcomed son Jonathan Rosebanks Shulman that March.

13of 17Modern LoveBAUER-GRIFFINAfter taking a bit of a break from the spotlight, Hathaway returned to the screen in 2018’s all-femaleOcean’s Eight,following that up with the movieSerenityand a role on the acclaimed new seriesModern Love.

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Modern Love

BAUER-GRIFFIN

After taking a bit of a break from the spotlight, Hathaway returned to the screen in 2018’s all-femaleOcean’s Eight,following that up with the movieSerenityand a role on the acclaimed new seriesModern Love.

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Theo Wargo/Getty

In July 2019, Hathaway confirmed she was pregnant again, hinting thatshe struggled with infertilityin an Instagram post.

15of 17Making MagicCourtesy Warner Bros. PicturesWhile pregnant with son Jack — whom she welcomed at the end of 2019 — Hathaway filmedThe Witches, in which (ha, ha) she reprised Anjelica Huston’s role from the 1990 original film, adapted from the Roald Dahl children’s book.

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Making Magic

Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures

While pregnant with son Jack — whom she welcomed at the end of 2019 — Hathaway filmedThe Witches, in which (ha, ha) she reprised Anjelica Huston’s role from the 1990 original film, adapted from the Roald Dahl children’s book.

16of 17Pandemic ProjectChiwetel Ejiofor and Anne Hathaway in Locked Down.Susie Allnutt / HBO MaxDespite the stellar pairing of Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor, 2021’sLocked Down, — which saw the actors playing a couple who has just decided to separate when the COVID-19 pandemic hits (forcing them to continue living together) — was simply too soon for audiences, who gave the movie a 27 percent onRotten Tomatoes.

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Pandemic Project

Chiwetel Ejiofor and Anne Hathaway in Locked Down.Susie Allnutt / HBO Max

Despite the stellar pairing of Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor, 2021’sLocked Down, — which saw the actors playing a couple who has just decided to separate when the COVID-19 pandemic hits (forcing them to continue living together) — was simply too soon for audiences, who gave the movie a 27 percent onRotten Tomatoes.

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James Devaney/GC images

source: people.com