Hollywood star Anne Hathaway has stunned fans with a surprising revelation about her name—despite being globally recognized by it, she doesn’t actually like being called “Anne.”
The Oscar-winning actress, best known for her roles in The Devil Wears Prada, Les Misérables, and most recently The Idea of You, made the unexpected confession during a 2021 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Hathaway, now 42, shared that her real name has never quite felt right to her, even though it’s the one she’s been credited with throughout her successful career. She recalled a pivotal moment from her early years when she was just 14, doing a commercial that required her to obtain a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) card. At the time, she registered with her full name—Anne Hathaway—not realizing that it would stick with her permanently.
“I never imagined that name would follow me forever,” Hathaway said, explaining that the name “Anne” now feels disconnected from who she truly is. “The only person who calls me Anne is my mother—and that’s only when she’s really mad at me,” she said with a laugh. “So every time someone calls me Anne in public, I instinctively feel like I’m in trouble.”
The actress, known for her charm and relatability, added that even on film sets, people avoid calling her Anne. “Nobody’s comfortable saying it. It just doesn’t fit. I’m an Annie,” she clarified. Hathaway’s candid admission has sparked empathy from fans who often associate her real name with elegance and poise—but she insists she prefers a more laid-back identity.
Currently, Hathaway is busy filming Verity, an upcoming adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel. With Hathaway leading the project, anticipation is high among fans of both the actress and the book.
Despite her complicated relationship with her name, Anne Hathaway remains a beloved and respected figure in Hollywood. Still, it seems clear that deep down, Hathaway would rather be known simply as “Annie”—even if the world continues to call her Anne Hathaway.