Anne Hathaway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anne Hathaway
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Hathaway in 2026
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| Born |
Anne Jacqueline Hathaway
November 12, 1982 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1999–present |
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Works
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Full list |
| Spouse(s) |
Adam Shulman
(m. 2012) |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Full list |
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Anne Jacqueline Hathaway (born November 12, 1982) is an American actress. She is one of the most famous and successful performers in modern cinema. Her awards include an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award. Her movies have earned more than $6.8 billion at box offices worldwide.
Hathaway first became known to family audiences when she played Mia Thermopolis in the Disney movie The Princess Diaries (2001). Over time, she took on a wide range of challenging roles. She played a busy fashion assistant in The Devil Wears Prada (2006), the comic book character Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises (2012), and the tragic heroine Fantine in the musical film Les Misérables (2012).
In addition to acting in major blockbuster films, Hathaway lends her voice to animated characters, performs in theater productions, and works as an advocate for global charity projects. She serves as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, supporting equal rights and education for girls around the world.
Contents
Early Life and Growing Up
Childhood and Family Background
Anne Jacqueline Hathaway was born on November 12, 1982, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Her father, Gerald, worked as an attorney. Her mother, Kate McCauley, was a theater actress. Hathaway was named after the English playwright William Shakespeare's wife, whose name was also Anne Hathaway. She grew up with an older brother named Michael and a younger brother named Thomas.
When Anne was six years old, her family moved from Brooklyn to the quiet suburban town of Millburn, New Jersey. Her mother loved the performing arts, which gave young Anne an early look at theater life. When Anne was eight years old, she watched her mother perform as Fantine in a touring stage production of Les Misérables. Watching her mother perform under the bright stage lights inspired her to become an actress.
Education and Early Stage Experience
Hathaway attended Brooklyn Heights Montessori School and later went to Wyoming Elementary School in Millburn. She grew up participating in sports, playing on her school soccer team while also acting in school drama productions. At Millburn High School, she starred as Winnifred in the school musical Once Upon a Mattress.
During her teenage years, Hathaway acted in community plays at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey, including productions of Jane Eyre and Gigi. She trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and became the first teenager accepted into the acting program at the Barrow Group Theater Company.
Hathaway was also a talented singer. Between 1998 and 1999, she sang as a soprano with the All-Eastern U.S. High School Honors Chorus at Carnegie Hall in New York. After high school, she studied English and political science at Vassar College before transferring to New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study.
Acting Career and Major Films
2001–2004: Breakthrough and Disney Success
Hathaway landed her first television role in 1999 on the family drama series Get Real. Her big movie breakthrough arrived in 2001 when director Garry Marshall cast her as Mia Thermopolis in the Disney comedy The Princess Diaries. In the story, an ordinary schoolgirl discovers she is royalty and must learn how to rule a kingdom. The movie was a massive hit, earning over $165 million worldwide.
In 2002, Hathaway made her professional New York stage debut in the musical Carnival!, earning strong reviews for her singing voice. She also provided voice acting for the English translation of the animated fantasy The Cat Returns (2002) and starred in the drama Nicholas Nickleby (2002).
Hathaway starred in another family fantasy film in 2004 called Ella Enchanted, based on the popular book by Gail Carson Levine. She performed several songs on the soundtrack. Later that year, she returned as Mia in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004), which earned over $134 million at the box office.
2005–2008: Transition to Dramatic Roles
To avoid playing only one type of character, Hathaway began taking on varied dramatic parts. In 2005, she voiced Red Puckett in the animated mystery comedy Hoodwinked! and appeared in the critically acclaimed drama Brokeback Mountain, directed by Ang Lee. To win her role in Brokeback Mountain, she learned to ride horses and worked closely with actors Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal.
In 2006, Hathaway starred alongside Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt in the hit comedy-drama The Devil Wears Prada. Hathaway played Andy Sachs, a smart college graduate working as a personal assistant to a demanding fashion magazine editor. The movie was a huge international success, grossing over $326 million.
In 2007, Hathaway portrayed famous English novelist Jane Austen in the historical film Becoming Jane. To prepare, she learned 18th-century dancing, piano pieces, calligraphy, and an authentic British accent. In 2008, she starred as secret agent Agent 99 in the action comedy Get Smart alongside Steve Carell, performing many of her own stunts. That same year, she starred in the family drama Rachel Getting Married (2008), earning her first nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actress.
2009–2011: Comedies and Major Hosting Roles
In 2009, Hathaway starred opposite Kate Hudson in the comedy Bride Wars. She also performed on stage in New York's Central Park, playing Viola in William Shakespeare's romantic comedy Twelfth Night. Her stage performance earned her a nomination for a Drama Desk Award.
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Hathaway won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance in 2010 for providing a guest voice on the animated show The Simpsons. She also appeared in the romantic comedy Valentine's Day (2010) and played the White Queen in Tim Burton's fantasy epic Alice in Wonderland (2010), which earned over $1 billion worldwide.
In late 2010, Hathaway co-hosted the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Norway alongside actor Denzel Washington. In 2011, she voiced Jewel, a rare blue macaw, in the popular animated film Rio. The animated adventure was a major success, earning over $484 million.
2012–2014: Academy Award and Science Fiction
The year 2012 was one of the biggest in Hathaway's career. She played Selina Kyle, also known as Catwoman, in director Christopher Nolan's superhero movie The Dark Knight Rises. She completed extensive martial arts training for the part. The film earned over $1 billion at theaters worldwide.
"I try to choose roles that inspire me or challenge me to learn something completely new."
Later that year, Hathaway starred as Fantine in the film adaptation of the musical Les Misérables. She sang her musical numbers live on set, including the famous song "I Dreamed a Dream". Her emotional performance won her universal praise, leading to an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe Award, and a BAFTA Award.
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In 2014, Hathaway returned to voice Jewel in the animated sequel Rio 2. She also teamed up again with Christopher Nolan to star in the epic space adventure Interstellar (2014). Playing NASA scientist Amelia Brand, she filmed scenes in freezing water in Iceland. The movie earned over $701 million globally.
2015–2021: Comedy, Mystery, and Ensemble Films
In 2015, Hathaway starred alongside Robert De Niro in the workplace comedy The Intern, directed by Nancy Meyers. Hathaway played Jules Ostin, the energetic founder of an online fashion company who hires a retired senior citizen as an intern. The movie became a family favorite and earned $194 million.
Hathaway reprised her role as the White Queen in Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016) and starred in the quirky monster film Colossal (2016). In 2018, she joined Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett in the heist comedy Ocean's 8. She played Daphne Kluger, a glamorous movie star involved in a museum jewelry robbery. The film was a huge hit, making over $297 million worldwide.
Between 2019 and 2021, Hathaway explored diverse projects. She starred in the legal drama Dark Waters (2019) alongside Mark Ruffalo, played the Grand High Witch in Robert Zemeckis's fantasy movie The Witches (2020), and appeared in the comedy film Locked Down (2021).
2022–present: New Projects and Blockbusters
In 2022, Hathaway starred alongside Jared Leto in the television miniseries WeCrashed, earning strong reviews for her portrayal of businesswoman Rebekah Neumann. She also starred in the period drama Armageddon Time (2022).
In 2024, Hathaway starred in the romantic drama The Idea of You as an art gallery owner. In 2026, she returned to one of her most famous roles by starring in the comedy sequel The Devil Wears Prada 2 alongside Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt.
She also collaborated for a third time with director Christopher Nolan in the action adventure film The Odyssey (2026), portraying Queen Penelope alongside Matt Damon. Both films were major box-office successes in 2026.
Humanitarian Work and Community Support
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Global Rights and Equal Education
Hathaway uses her fame to support charitable causes around the world. She has traveled to nations like Nicaragua, Kenya, and Ethiopia to help vaccinate children against illnesses and support community health initiatives.
In 2010, she partnered with the World Bank on The Girl Effect, a program designed to help young women in developing countries complete their school education and find safe jobs. In 2013, she narrated parts of the documentary Girl Rising, which told the true stories of girls around the globe overcoming big challenges to stay in school.
Work with the United Nations
In 2016, Hathaway was appointed a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. In this role, she speaks at international conferences about the importance of equal workplace rights and fair parental leave for families. She advocates for mothers and fathers having time off from work to care for newborn babies.
She also serves on the board of the Lollipop Theatre Network, an organization that arranges screenings of new family movies for children staying in hospitals.
Personal Life
Hathaway married actor and jewelry designer Adam Shulman on September 29, 2012. The couple held their wedding in Big Sur, California. They sold their official wedding pictures to news outlets and gave all the money to charities supporting equal marriage rights.
The couple has three children: a son born in March 2016, a second son born in November 2019, and a third child born in 2026. They share their time between homes in California and New York City.
Outside of acting, Hathaway is an avid sports fan. She regularly attends basketball games to cheer for the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. She also supports the Philadelphia Eagles in American football and the soccer club Arsenal in the English Premier League.
Key Achievements and Legacy
Over her multi-decade career, Hathaway has become recognized as one of the most versatile actresses of her generation. She can switch easily between family comedies, large musical productions, and intense science fiction adventures.
- Academy Awards: Won Best Supporting Actress for Les Misérables (2012); Nominated for Best Actress for Rachel Getting Married (2008).
- BAFTA Awards: Won Best Supporting Actress for Les Misérables (2012).
- Golden Globe Awards: Won Best Supporting Actress for Les Misérables (2012); Nominated for multiple acting honors.
- Primetime Emmy Awards: Won Outstanding Voice-Over Performance for The Simpsons (2010).
- Hollywood Walk of Fame: Received her own star on the famous Walk of Fame in May 2019 for her lasting contributions to the motion picture industry.
Images for kids
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Paper Mill Playhouse, where Hathaway acted as a teenager.
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Hathaway attending a film festival in 2007.
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Hathaway hosting the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in 2010.
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Hathaway in 2014 promoting animated films.
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Hathaway at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2016.
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Hathaway with Matt Damon and Christopher Nolan.
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Hathaway attending a charity event in Washington, D.C.
See also
In Spanish: Anne Hathaway para niños
