As a woman surmised to be Shakespeare’s muse reincarnated, it is only natural that Anne Hathaway be the inspirational leading woman behind a majority of recent cinema. From her big break role as Mia Thermopolis in “The Princess Diaries” to her iconic role as our favorite size six fashionista, Andy Sachs, in “The Devil Wears Prada,” Hathaway’s career has been trademarked by her ability to fully embody her character, transforming an audience’s perception of the film as a whole.

Hathaway was born Nov. 12, 1982, to Gerald and Kate Hathaway in Brooklyn, New York, and moved to Millburn, New Jersey, in her early childhood. Her father was a lawyer, and her mother was a stage actress. Watching her mother play Fantine in “Les Misérables” inspired Hathaway to pursue a career in theater. She later reprised her mother’s role, winning an Oscar award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role. 

As a teenager, Hathaway studied with The Barrow Group, a prestigious theater company and acting school in New York City. Hathaway’s acting skills accumulated and flourished, preparing her for the competitive New York atmosphere. From here, she landed her first major role on the television show “Get Real” at 16 years old in 1999. Hathaway studied English and Women’s Studies at Vassar College before transferring to NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. She took a break around 2001 to focus on acting, but never returned to finish her degree.

Everything changed when Hathaway landed the role of Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries in 2001. The movie grossed over $165 million worldwide, providing a strong case for the two sequels. As a major success, Hathaway was no longer just a teenager; she was a woman with obvious talent and now, audience recognition. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Hathaway reflects on the nostalgia of her big-break movie.

“It felt so big at the time, and it wound up being so big, and it has kind of just gotten bigger as my life has progressed,” Hathaway said. “So, this is a total fusion of life and work, and all the things, and I am just so proud to be in this movie.”

Hathaway moved from role to role, showcasing her talent in movies including “Ella Enchanted” (2004), “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006), “Bride Wars” (2009), “Alice in Wonderland“ (2010), “Les Misérables” (2012), “Interstellar“ (2014), “Oceans 8“ (2018), “Serenity“ (2019), “The Hustle“ (2019) and many more over the years. Her highest-grossing film was “The Dark Knight Rises” (2012), with over $1.1 billion worldwide. 

Anne Hathaway’s net worth is between $80-90 million, highlighting her Hollywood success. As her roles matured and her audience grew, Hathaway’s established popularity slowly became monotonous and old news. However, she is returning in 2026 with a new generation of movies. Since “The Idea of You“ in 2024, Hathaway’s media presence has been escalating at an awe-inspiring rate. She is on track to be in five new movies this year: 

• “Mother Mary“  –  April 17, 2026
• “The Devil Wears Prada 2“ –  May 1, 2026
• “The Odyssey“  –  July 17, 2026
• “Flowervale Street“  –  Aug. 14, 2026
• “Verity“  –  Oct. 2 2026

But what makes her so popular? Why does she continue to prosper even though she’s been on the scene for years?

The answer is simple: her versatility. From her role as the White Queen in “Alice in Wonderland“ to Selina Kyle in “The Dark Knight Rises,” she has proven time and time again that she can play both the whimsical and romantic roles as well as the more mature and serious alternatives. Hathaway can play both lighthearted, comedic roles and more intense ones, which ultimately showcase her immense talent for acting. By taking on challenging roles that contrast her previous experiences, Hathaway opens herself up to critique and growth. Her full commitment to becoming her character makes her cinematic footprint extremely noteworthy. 

Hathaway believes that the most challenging role she has ever played is Mother Mary in the upcoming movie “Mother Mary.” To summarize the film, a pop-star reunites with her estranged best friend, who was her previous costume designer, the evening before her comeback performance, uncovering old wounds and memories as she experiences an existential crisis. In an interview with Vogue Magazine on July 7, 2025, Hathaway admits that she learned to accept being a beginner and to keep showing up at her best, despite the hardships.

“Getting to that mindset—I had to shed some things that were hard to shed,” Hathaway said. “It was welcome. But it was hard, the way transformational experiences can be hard.”

Perhaps the most anticipated movie of the year, Christopher Nolan‘s rendition of the classical adventure tale “The Odyssey” is set to release July 17, 2026. The cast is full of big name actors, including Tom Holland, Zendaya, Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson and, of course, Anne Hathaway. The movie follows the famed journey of Odysseus, played by Matt Damon. Anne Hathaway will play Penelope, the wife of the Greek hero Odysseus, bringing to the screen her elegant and dignified demeanor.

Joseph Davila, ’27, is thrilled for this new release. As a movie buff, he hopes that the project fulfills the expectations that the remarkable detail of the epic presents.

“I’m really excited to see how the movie will live up to the reputation of the epic poem and how poetic it is,” Davila said. “With how highly anticipated the movie is, I really hope they don’t mess up the execution of the plot.”

Of her upcoming movies, “The Devil Wears Prada 2″ is second up after “Mother Mary,” with the release date planned for May 1, 2026. The first movie was about Andy Sachs, an aspiring journalist who gets a job as an assistant to a cut-throat magazine editor and is thrust into the fast-paced, demanding world of fashion. The sequel will be about Miranda Priestly’s face-off with her former assistant Emily Charlton as print media popularity declines and Emily thrives as a powerful executive of a luxury advertising company with the funds Miranda needs. Hathaway’s character, Andy Sachs, comes back as Miranda’s secret weapon and Features Editor. 

Fresno Christian Office Manager Silva Emerian, a former fashion columnist for The Feather, is thrilled to finally get a sequel to such an iconic movie.

“Honestly, I am most excited for the fashion,” Emerian said. “There are so many new designers who have exploded on the scene, and I am curious to see if that will be reflected in the sequel. The industry has also changed so much in the last two decades, so it will be interesting to see how that is portrayed.”

The film is projected to gross $600-800 million worldwide, especially with the return of key cast members. Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci are all returning to their prior, revered roles, with some exciting new additions to the cast. Sydney Sweeney and Simone Ashley are also actresses who are on the rise and will appear in this upcoming movie. Theaters are incentivizing attendance to the opening week with red, purse-shaped popcorn buckets so everyone can embrace their inner diva. 

As Hathaway’s popularity resurfaces, with it comes a variety of new role opportunities to challenge her years of experience and push her out of her comfort zone. Her timeless cinema presence and unique skill set make this year’s movie lineup very promising and largely anticipated. Review Hathaway’s upcoming projects and save the dates; the released trailers reveal they will be movies you don’t want to miss!

For more from The Feather, visit Advisor and student joins KMJ Now for Women’s History Month or Book Review: ‘Fantium’ smashes magic and merits together.