Anne Hathaway won an Oscar and became the internet’s punching bag. Then she made one of 2026’s biggest hits. Her story.
A Jersey Girl With Big Dreams
Anne Hathaway was born on November 12, 1982, in Brooklyn, New York. Her father, Gerald, was a labor lawyer, and her mother, Kate, was a former actress. When Anne was 6, the family moved to Millburn, New Jersey.
She became the first teenager admitted to the Barrow Group’s acting program in New York. She later studied at Vassar College and New York University.
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From Princess to Fantine
In 2001, The Princess Diaries made her a star. In 2006, she starred opposite Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada, which earned more than $326 million worldwide. Rachel Getting Married brought her first Oscar nomination, for Best Actress.
For Les Misérables, she cut her hair on camera and lost a significant amount of weight to play Fantine. On February 24, 2013, she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
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The Backlash
Instead of celebrating, she faced a wave of online mockery. Critics called her speeches calculated and overdone, and many attacked her “It came true” line. The hostility became known as “Hathahate.”
She stepped back from the spotlight. She later said she had essentially lost her mind making the film, and that standing in an expensive gown, winning an award for portraying pain, felt wrong. She had tried to pretend she was happy, and people noticed.
The Director Who Didn’t Care
Here’s the surprising part. Christopher Nolan, who had cast her as Catwoman, chose her for Interstellar in 2014. She later said he didn’t care about her online reputation, and that was why her career didn’t lose momentum. She called him an angel.
Choosing Clarity
In October 2018, she gave up alcohol. She has also spoken openly about a miscarriage in 2015, before her first son was born in March 2016. Her second son arrived in November 2019. She has been married to Adam Shulman since September 29, 2012.
The Last Laugh
On May 1, 2026, The Devil Wears Prada 2 opened in 4,150 theaters. It earned $233.6 million worldwide in its first weekend and $693.5 million in total, on a $100 million budget, making it one of the biggest films of the year. In July 2026, she reunited with Nolan in The Odyssey.
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By then, writers who once mocked her had long since rethought their verdict.
Her story is a reminder that the internet’s verdict isn’t final. Sometimes one person’s faith, and your own patience, outlast the noise.
