Anne Hathaway Wants Everyone to Stop Calling Her ‘Anne’, Here’s Why
Anne Hathaway, the acclaimed actress behind blockbuster films like The Devil Wears Prada, Les Misérables, and Interstellar, is asking the world to stop calling her by her birth name, ‘Anne.’ Despite her enormous Hollywood success, Hathaway says her given name just doesn’t feel right for her, and she’s not shy about asking for a change.
Known for her roles in movies that have grossed billions worldwide, Hathaway has long been a beloved star, but few know that she has never felt comfortable with the name ‘Anne’, in fact, she says no one in her life calls her that.
The Rise of Anne Hathaway
Hathaway became a household name when she starred as Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries (2001), a role that launched her into stardom. What’s interesting is that Hathaway got the part on her very first audition, a memorable moment she recalls fondly: “I got really nervous and fell out of my chair, and I think that’s what impressed the director,” she shared with Vogue.
Reflecting on the success, Hathaway remembers the day fondly as the beginning of her “fairy tale,” with her saying, “I give thanks to the universe, a big open-hearted thank you because that was the day that dreams came true for me.”
After The Princess Diaries, Hathaway continued to evolve as an actress, consciously avoiding typecasting by taking on diverse and mature roles, including in Brokeback Mountain and The Devil Wears Prada. As her career progressed, she maintained her status as one of Hollywood’s most talented stars, even recently starring in The Idea of You and the psychological thriller Mothers’ Instinct in 2024.
The Name Game: Anne or Annie?
But back to the name issue, Hathaway, like many, had to make an important decision when she joined the Screen Actors Guild at age 14. When she was asked what name she wanted for her membership card, she chose ‘Anne Hathaway,’ assuming it would be a good fit. What she didn’t foresee was how that name would stick with her for the rest of her life.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Hathaway confessed that she preferred the nickname ‘Annie.’ “Call me Annie! Everybody, everybody, call me Annie, please!” she told the host. She explained that ‘Anne’ was simply the name she used to get her SAG card, never imagining how famous she would become and how often she’d be called ‘Anne.’
Her family and close friends have always called her Annie, but the only person who ever uses her full name is her mother, and that only happens when she’s mad at her. “The only person who calls me Anne is my mom, and she only does it when she’s really mad at me,” Hathaway joked.
The actress added that when people call her ‘Anne’ in public, she always thinks they’re about to scold her. “So when someone calls me Anne, I think they’re going to yell at me,” she laughed.
So, what does she want to be called instead? “Call me anything but Anne,” she says. She’s become so accustomed to being called ‘Miss H’ or ‘Hath’ on set that she encourages fans and industry people alike to just stick with those, or any other nickname that doesn’t feel out of place.
Despite her global fame, Hathaway’s request is simple: “I’m an Annie. So feel free to call me anything but Anne.”
