Top 10 Moments That Made Us Love Anne Hathaway
#10: Playfully Calling Out Inappropriate Interview Questions
There’s a conversation to be had about the dangerous lengths some actors will go to embody a role. But, most of the time, interview questions about weight are simply uninspired and sexist. When Anne Hathaway was faced with these kinds of questions for "The Dark Knight Rises," she always cleverly evaded them - to the delight of fans. In one interview, she called the interviewer a “forward young man" for asking, making him squirm before playing it off as a joke. Another exchange saw her asking an interviewer whether he was trying to lose weight himself. In both cases, she called out the issues with the questions while maintaining a level of charm and professionalism that makes her one of the best in the business.
#9: “Somebody to Love”
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Move aside, Queen! Before she was Fantine in “Les Misérables,” Anne Hathaway showed off her musical abilities with a rousing performance of “Somebody to Love” in the teen fantasy film “Ella Enchanted.” Her character, the titular Ella, is given the “gift” of obedience as a baby, and is thus forced to do whatever is commanded of her, whether that’s her sisters, her wicked stepmother or anyone else. In her quest to find her fairy godmother and rid herself of the spell, she finds herself in a giant bar (that is, a bar run by literal giants) where the patrons unknowingly compel her to sing for them. She wows them - and the audience! - with her natural stage presence and “soulful” singing.
#8: Supporting the Vanity Fair Union
Just a month after SAG-Aftra ended their months-long strike for actors’ rights and working conditions, the employees of Condé Nast staged a walkout to protest mass layoffs. The media company encompasses several print and digital news outlets, including The New Yorker, GQ, and Vanity Fair. Anne Hathaway was caught in the middle, scheduled to do a photoshoot with Vanity Fair on the day of the walkout. Instead of going forward with the shoot, the actress decided to show solidarity with her fellow workers - leaving the building before any photos could be taken. We’re sure Andy Sachs would be proud!
#7: Advocating for Women’s Rights as UN Ambassador
Whether she was accepting the crown or making Genovia reconsider its antiquated ideas about marriage, Mia was a pro at giving good, heartfelt speeches. And Anne Hathaway is no different. In 2016, the actress was appointed UN Women Goodwill ambassador due to her years of work fighting for the rights of women and girls around the world. A year later, she would use this new position to advocate for lengthier paid parental leave for parents of all genders. Having recently given birth herself, Hathaway argued that the standard of twelve weeks was simply untenable for new parents. Even now, the actress still hasn’t stopped fighting for women’s equality, playing a key role in the Time’s Up movement and shedding light on pandemic-specific issues of equality.
#6: Winning an Oscar for “Les Misérables”
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In spite of the character’s short time on screen, portraying the starving single mother and sex worker, Fantine, in “Les Misérables” took a toll on Anne Hathaway’s body and mind. When the role ultimately landed the actress her first Oscar win, she felt conflicted about the idea of celebrating her portrayal of human suffering at a cushy awards show. She credits these thorny emotions as the reason behind the public backlash against her following the ceremony, believing she probably appeared ungrateful. But if you ask us, the backlash was totally uncalled for! Hathaway’s complicated feelings about the win are entirely valid, but if you can move someone to tears with fifteen minutes of screentime, that’s worthy of an award in our book!
#5: Her Role in “The Princess Diaries”
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Holding your own in scenes with a living legend like Julie Andrews is no small feat - especially when you’re eighteen and acting in your feature film debut! But Anne Hathaway made it look easy. In “The Princess Diaries,” the actress plays a teen girl named Mia who learns that she is a princess by birth and the sole heir to the throne of Genovia. She struggles to come to terms with her new position, often clashing with her traditional grandmother in the process. While a select few may have already been familiar with Hathaway from the Fox dramedy “Get Real,” this fun and heartfelt teen film is where many came to know and love the actress for the first time.
#4: Selling Her Wedding Photos for Charity
It may seem strange to think about today, but it wasn’t until 2015 that marriage equality was finally legalized in all fifty U.S. states. Three years prior to this landmark decision, Anne Hathaway decided to use her own marriage to help contribute to the cause, selling her wedding photos and donating some of the profits to an LGBTQIA+ charity. As for the rest of the profits? They were split between The American Cancer Society, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Girl Effect, a non-profit that aims to eradicate global poverty, particularly among girls in the Global South. Using her star power to turn her special day into a way to help those less fortunate is just one of the many reasons it’s hard not to love Anne Hathaway.
#3: Her “Lip Sync Battle” Performance of “Wrecking Ball”
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Not everyone who is a good singer is also a good lip syncer, but Anne Hathaway proved she was a pro at both on the third episode of “Lip Sync Battle.” Going head to head with Emily Blunt, Hathaway took on Miley Cyrus’s hit pop ballad “Wrecking Ball” for her second performance of the night. It’s a simultaneously passionate and hilarious performance, with the actress using her acting prowess, and a variety of props, to put on a truly unforgettable show. After playfully intimidating her competition, she breaks out one last surprise - swinging from her own wrecking ball in an emotionally explosive end.
#2: Speaking Up For LGBTQIA+ Rights
While donating the profits from her wedding photos was a nice gesture, it was far from the first or last time Anne Hathaway spoke out about LGBTQIA+ rights. Before she was Mia in “The Princess Diaries” or Meghan in “Get Real,” the actress lived a relatively normal life in New Jersey, with her gay older brother and their accepting family. It was this upbringing that influenced her strongly held beliefs about the rights of gay couples, and eventually led to an acknowledgement by the Human Rights Campaign in 2008. Her increasing stardom has never shaken this penchant for advocacy and, in recent years, she has been more vocal than ever about supporting her “trans brothers and sisters” alongside those who are gay. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Her Depiction of Bipolar Disorder Brought Terri Cheney’s Personal Experiences with Mental Health Issues to Life in “Modern Love” Her Rap Battle with James Corden on His Own Show The Ultimate James Corden Diss Track Hosting “Saturday Night Live” Anne Tickled Our Funny Bones with Strange Love Stories & Perfect Parodies Opening up About Self-Love After Becoming the Target of a Strange Hate Campaign, Hathaway Learned to Love Herself
#1: Her Role in “The Devil Wears Prada”
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Another movie, another makeover! Following the box office success of “The Princess Diaries,” and critical success of “Brokeback Mountain,” Anne Hathaway took on the fashion world in “The Devil Wears Prada.” Sure, it’s true that most of the praise for this film typically goes to Hathaway’s infinitely quotable co-star, Meryl Streep. But the film simply doesn’t work without the efforts of both powerhouse actresses! Wannabe journalist Andy Sachs is our down-to-earth window into the high stakes world of Vogue–or, uh…“Runway magazine.” It’s through her eyes that we eventually come to love Miranda Priestly, and it’s the unconventional pair’s entertaining dynamic that keeps us coming back to the ingenious dramedy again and again. What moment made you fall in love with Anne Hathaway? Let us know in the comments!
