Anne Hathaway Requests a Change in How She is Addressed

Did you know Anne Hathaway, the beloved American actress known for her roles in hugely successful movies like The Devil Wears Prada, Les Misérables, and Interstellar, doesn’t particularly resonate with the name she’s been known by throughout her career? Yes, that’s right. Anne wishes folks would call her something other than “Anne.”

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Despite a phenomenal film career that has raked in an astonishing $6.8 billion worldwide, Anne feels the name doesn’t quite suit her, and it seems that basically nobody who knows her well actually calls her by that name.

Her journey to stardom has seen her captivating audiences across the globe. But interestingly, amidst her rise to fame, she quietly endured the discomfort of being referred to by a name she never really embraced.

Anne’s unmistakable breakthrough came when she starred as Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries. This film not only captured hearts but also started a fairy tale like no other. Landing the role was truly a dream come true for Hathaway, who, during an unforgettable audition, found her destiny aligned with director Garry Marshall after she tumbled out of a chair due to nerves—an icebreaker that undeniably set the scene for her career.

Yet, even as these fairy tales unfolded, Anne felt differently about her name. During her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, a candid conversation surfaced. Fallon, having known her for some time, inquired, “Do I call you Anne or Annie?” Her immediate reply was both earnest and revealing: “Call me Annie! Everybody, please call me Annie!” This marked not just a request but a hope for a name that truly resonated with her personal and social being.

Trying to avoid being pigeonholed into any particular type of role, Anne took bold and diverse parts in various films like Brokeback Mountain and The Devil Wears Prada. Her fans, growing steadily alongside her career, watched her take on these more mature and complex roles with aplomb.

Anne’s on-screen success continues today. Recently, she starred in a new romantic comedy called The Idea of You, which premiered on Prime Video. In this film, Anne portrays a single mom in a whirlwind romance with a pop star significantly younger than her—a beautiful testament to her versatility as an actress. And let’s not forget her gripping performance in the psychological thriller Mothers’ Instinct, where she starred alongside Jessica Chastain, vividly exploring the intricacies of motherly affection and friendship through a dramatic lens.

Amid her flourishing career, one critical decision at the start remained: how she introduced herself to the professional world. She required a Screen Actors Guild membership card at the tender age of 14 and opted to officially use “Anne Hathaway,” never foreseeing how lasting this choice would be.

Anne explains that only one person, her mother, refers to her by “Anne”—and that’s usually when situations are a bit heated! Perhaps this is why, whenever she’s addressed as “Anne” by the public, she feels as if she’s in trouble!

For Anne, the solution is simple yet heartfelt: call her “Annie.” Friends may choose fun alternatives like “Miss H” or simply “Hath,” anything that steers clear from Anne, making her more comfortable in public exchanges. It’s a small change, but for Anne, or rather Annie, it makes all the difference.

So there you have it, a small insight into the world of a beloved star and the name she’d rather respond to. Anne Hathaway remains a name revered for her luminous performances, though to her friends and fans, she is simply “Annie,” reminding us of the authenticity behind every great talent.