Few actors have navigated Hollywood’s shifting landscape with as much grace, range, and longevity as Anne Hathaway. Rising to fame in the early 2000s with The Princess Diaries, Hathaway quickly transcended to become a powerhouse performer, capable of anchoring musicals, thrillers, and prestige dramas alike. Over two decades, she’s earned an Academy Award, global acclaim, and a place among the industry’s most respected stars and top icons of her generation.
To celebrate her birthday, here are 10 iconic roles that made Anne Hathaway a true Hollywood star.
The Princess Diaries (2001)
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This film was Hathaway’s charming breakthrough, introducing her to the world as the relatable, initially awkward high school student Mia Thermopolis who discovers she is heir to the European principality of Genovia. Her performance established her immediate, winning ability to blend slapstick comedy with genuine heartfelt emotion, creating a beloved modern fairy tale that remains a defining staple of family cinema.
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
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Marking her conscious pivot away from family-friendly fare, Hathaway took on a mature supporting role as Lureen Newsome Twist, the pragmatic Texas rodeo queen who marries Jake Gyllenhaal’s closeted Jack Twist. Her quiet, insightful performance tracked Lureen’s subtle emotional journey as she transitions from youthful hope to the somber understanding of her fractured marriage.
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
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This critically acclaimed fashion industry dramedy cemented Hathaway’s status as a formidable adult star. She portrayed Andrea “Andy” Sachs, the smart, ambitious, yet initially naïve assistant thrown into the cutthroat world of high-fashion under the tyrannical rule of Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep). The role perfectly balanced relatability with sophisticated, sharp comedic timing.
Bride Wars (2009)
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Hathaway starred opposite Kate Hudson as Emma Allan, a mild-mannered schoolteacher who is driven to extremes when a booking mistake schedules her dream wedding for the same date and venue as her best friend’s (Hudson). The comedy centers on the escalating, ruthless sabotage between the two “bridezillas.”
Love & Other Drugs (2010)
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Hathaway starred opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in this romantic dramedy, playing Maggie Murdock, a fiercely independent artist coping with an early-onset Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. The film stretched her range by requiring her to portray both great vulnerability and complex emotional defense mechanisms, all while navigating a non-traditional relationship built on physical intimacy and medical complications.
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
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Hathaway masterfully slipped into the iconic catsuit to portray Selina Kyle/Catwoman in Christopher Nolan’s epic conclusion to his Batman trilogy. Her rendition of the anti-heroine was praised for seamlessly blending seduction and cunning with a subtle vulnerability, proving she could thrive in a physically demanding, billion-dollar superhero franchise.
Les Misérables (2012)
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This role secured Hathaway her long-awaited Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her heartbreaking, immersive performance as Fantine, the poverty-stricken factory worker. Her emotionally devastating, single-take rendition of the song “I Dreamed a Dream” became the emotional core of the film and showcased her immense vocal and theatrical depth.
Interstellar (2014)
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Reuniting with Christopher Nolan for this high-concept sci-fi epic, Hathaway starred as Dr. Amelia Brand, a brilliant scientist on a desperate mission to save humanity. Her performance helped anchor the film’s complex cosmological themes with a poignant emotional core, notably debating the scientific and philosophical power of love in the face of time and vast distance.
The Intern (2015)
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In Nancy Meyers’ delightful comedy-drama, Hathaway showcased a contemporary blend of ambition and relatable stress, playing Jules Ostin, the driven founder of a successful e-commerce fashion startup. Her dynamic with Robert De Niro’s older intern formed the heart of the film, highlighting her ability to play a modern, complex businesswoman struggling to balance career demands and family life.
The Idea of You (2024)
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Hathaway returned to the romantic genre in this streaming hit, starring as Solène Marchand, an art gallery owner who unexpectedly begins a romance with a much younger boy band star. Her performance was lauded for its maturity and nuanced exploration of female desire, ageism, and balancing personal happiness against public scrutiny in the digital age
