Hollywood has long been a place where celebrities reinvent themselves, from drastic name changes to complete personal rebranding. But for Anne Hathaway, the problem isn’t about adopting a stage name—it’s about escaping the one she’s had all along.
The beloved actress, known for her roles in The Devil Wears Prada, Les Misérables, and Interstellar, has made a surprising request to the public: stop calling her Anne.
For decades, fans have known her by the name she was given at birth, assuming it’s how she prefers to be addressed. However, Hathaway recently revealed that she’s never actually felt like an “Anne” and would much rather go by something else entirely.
A Hollywood Star Who Never Felt Like ‘Anne’
Despite her massive success in the entertainment industry—her films grossing a staggering $6.8 billion worldwide—Hathaway has struggled with an identity issue that’s been years in the making.
While most actors spend time adjusting to the fame that comes with their names being called out at premieres, interviews, and award shows, Hathaway finds it deeply unsettling.
For her, the name “Anne” doesn’t feel like her own. And there’s one particular reason it holds an uncomfortable weight—her mother.
“The only person who ever calls me Anne is my mom,” she admitted in a candid conversation on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
But it’s not in a warm, affectionate way.
“She only does it when she’s really mad at me. So every time I step out in public and someone calls me Anne, I feel like I’m about to be yelled at!”
From Aspiring Actress to Accidental ‘Anne’
So how did Anne Hathaway, one of Hollywood’s most recognized names, end up stuck with a name she doesn’t even like?
The answer takes us back to when she was just 14 years old, an aspiring actress preparing to make a name for herself in the industry.
Like every actor looking to join the business, Hathaway needed to register with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). When the time came to select her professional name, she didn’t think twice.
“They asked me, ‘What do you want your name to be?’ And I thought, well, it should be my name. My name is Anne Hathaway,” she explained.
It seemed like a logical choice at the time. But what her teenage self never anticipated was that the name would follow her for the rest of her life, both on-screen and off.
“It never occurred to me that for the rest of my career, people would call me Anne, and I would never be able to escape it.”
The Breakout Role That Made ‘Anne’ a Household Name
Hathaway first captured the hearts of audiences worldwide when she starred as Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries, the 2001 coming-of-age film that turned her into an overnight sensation.
Unusually, she landed the role in just one audition, winning over director Garry Marshall not just with her acting but with an unintentional moment of clumsiness.
“I got really nervous and fell out of my chair,” Hathaway recalled. “I think that’s what impressed him the most!”
The film’s success cemented Hathaway’s status as Hollywood’s next big star, leading to more major roles, from Ella Enchanted to Brokeback Mountain.
But with fame came a consequence she never saw coming—the permanent association with the name Anne.
A Name That Never Fit—And What She Wants Instead
Over the years, Hathaway has tried to make peace with her professional name, but it has never truly felt right.
She even noticed how uncomfortable people are calling her Anne.
“People are so lovely—they don’t want to be presumptuous. So on set, they come up with workarounds because nobody actually feels comfortable calling me Anne. It doesn’t fit,” she explained.
So what does she prefer?
“I’m an Annie,” she revealed. “That’s what my friends and family call me. I’d rather be called anything but Anne.”
And when she says anything, she really means it.
“People call me Miss H. Some call me Hath. Honestly, call me whatever you want—just not Anne!”
Fans React to the Name Change Request
Following Hathaway’s revelation, fans had a mixed reaction to the news.
Some expressed support, acknowledging that she should have the right to decide how she’s addressed.
“If she doesn’t like being called Anne, then people should respect that. It’s her name, her choice,” one fan wrote on social media.
Others, however, found it amusing that someone could spend over two decades in Hollywood only to decide now that they want to be called something else.
“We’ve been calling her Anne for 20 years, and now she wants us to stop? Good luck with that!” another user joked.
Some even pointed out that Hathaway’s situation isn’t all that unusual.
“It’s like when a kid goes by their full name in school but gets to college and suddenly wants everyone to call them by a nickname. Totally relatable,” one person commented.
Hathaway’s Career Moves Forward—But Anne Stays Behind
While Hathaway may never be able to fully separate herself from the name that made her famous, she is making strides in ensuring that the world sees her for who she truly is.
In recent years, the actress has been busier than ever, balancing major film roles with high-profile public appearances.
She recently starred in The Idea of You, a romantic drama where she plays a 39-year-old single mother who falls in love with a younger pop star, played by Nicholas Galitzine. The film, inspired by Robinne Lee’s novel, premiered on Prime Video in 2024 and quickly gained traction among fans.
Hathaway is also taking on a darker role in Mothers’ Instinct, a psychological thriller in which she co-stars with Jessica Chastain. The film delves into the complexities of maternal love and the dark secrets that can unravel after tragedy strikes.
Despite her ever-growing list of accomplishments, Hathaway’s biggest personal challenge seems to be getting the world to stop calling her by a name that doesn’t feel like her own.
But if she’s learned anything from her years in Hollywood, it’s that reinvention is always possible—even if it means convincing the world that Anne Hathaway no longer wants to be Anne.