Anne Hathaway, one of Hollywood’s most successful actresses, has recently made a surprising revelation – she doesn’t want to be called “Anne.” Despite the name recognition that comes with her stardom, Hathaway has made it clear that the name “Anne” doesn’t resonate with her and she’d prefer to go by something else entirely. This might come as a shock to fans who have adored her work in blockbuster films like The Devil Wears Prada, Les Misérables, and Interstellar, but Hathaway has always had a personal distaste for the name. As she herself put it, “It doesn’t fit.”
From Mia to Millions
Before delving into Hathaway’s name preference, it’s worth looking back at how she became a household name. Hathaway’s rise to fame started with the role of Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries, a film that marked the beginning of her illustrious career. Interestingly, she landed the role after a single audition, leaving director Garry Marshall impressed – not by her acting at first, but by an unscripted fall off her chair during the audition. “I think that’s what he was most impressed with,” Hathaway joked.
A Fairytale Beginning
This role was her fairy tale beginning, a moment she fondly recalled on the film’s anniversary: “That was the day that dreams came true for me.” Following this success, Hathaway was determined not to be typecast, taking on more mature roles that would expand her career beyond teen comedies.
Growing with Her Audience
As Hathaway’s career grew, so did her ability to connect with audiences. From Brokeback Mountain to The Devil Wears Prada, she demonstrated her versatility as an actress, building a loyal fan base along the way. She once mentioned, “It’s lovely to think that my audience is growing up with me.” And indeed, her fans have followed her through different genres, from musicals like Les Misérables to space epics like Interstellar.
Recently, Hathaway has been working on several exciting projects
She starred in the romantic comedy The Idea of You, released on Prime Video in May 2024, and took on a darker role in the psychological thriller Mothers’ Instinct, co-starring Jessica Chastain. With each new film, Hathaway continues to reinvent herself, but the one thing she can’t seem to shake is her birth name.
The Name Dilemma
So, why doesn’t Anne Hathaway want to be called “Anne”? It turns out, the decision to go by her birth name was made when she was only 14 years old. During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Hathaway explained that she had to choose a name when registering for her Screen Actors Guild card. “They asked me, ‘What do you want your name to be?’ And I’m like, well, it should be my name. My name’s Anne Hathaway,” she recalled.
At the time, it seemed like the obvious choice. What she didn’t anticipate was how uncomfortable she would feel hearing it constantly as her career progressed. The only person who still calls her “Anne” is her mother, and that’s only when she’s angry. Hathaway humorously shared, “The only person who ever calls me Anne is my mother, and she only does it when she’s really mad at me.”
Call Her Anything but ‘Anne’
Hathaway has spent her entire career correcting people who call her by her full name. On the Tonight Show, she made a heartfelt plea: “Call me Annie! Everybody, everybody, call me Annie – please!” The actress explained that everyone around her is uncomfortable calling her “Anne” because, as she puts it, the name doesn’t fit who she is.
She even shared that people on set often come up with creative nicknames, like “Miss H” or simply “Hath.““People are so lovely – they don’t want to be presumptuous, and so they come up with workarounds,” Hathaway said, before inviting fans and co-workers to call her anything but “Anne.”
A Name Doesn’t Define Her
Despite the disconnect between her name and her identity, Anne (or Annie) Hathaway’s talent and charm have made her one of the most beloved actresses of her generation. Her films have grossed an incredible $6.8 billion worldwide, and with each new project, she continues to prove that her success isn’t defined by what people call her. Whether she’s Annie, Miss H, or Hath, it’s clear that Hathaway’s career will continue to soar – with or without the name Anne.