Anne Hathaway has been recognized as one of Hollywood's most versatile actresses for over 25 years. From mega-hit franchises to portraying a devastating drug addict and a cowboy character hiding her husband's secret affair, Hathaway is set to reunite with Christopher Nolan in 2026 to play the role of Penelope in "The Odyssey." Variety has ranked Hathaway's best film performances during this significant period.

Born in Brooklyn and raised in New Jersey, Hathaway began her career with a brief stint on the Fox family drama series "Get Real." She made a major breakthrough in 2001 with her role as Mia Thermopolis in Garry Marshall's "The Princess Diaries." This film grossed over $160 million worldwide, leading to the sequel "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" in 2004. Hathaway drew attention with her standout performance alongside the legendary Julie Andrews.

Following this royal-themed start, Hathaway took on various roles in adaptations like Charles Dickens' "Nicholas Nickleby" (2002) and "Ella Enchanted" (2004). She showcased her talents beyond the rom-com genre with her role as Lureen Newsome in Ang Lee's "Brokeback Mountain" (2005), capturing the industry's interest. She continued her career with leading roles in "The Devil Wears Prada" (2006) alongside Meryl Streep and "Get Smart" (2008) with Steve Carell, honing her comedic skills.

In 2008, Hathaway made a significant impact with her role as a drug addict in "Rachel Getting Married," earning her first Oscar nomination for this performance. Four years later, she won the Oscar by showcasing her musical talents in Tom Hooper's "Les Misérables" (2012). In recent years, she has appeared in major productions like "Interstellar" (2014) and "Ocean's Eight" (2018), and starred in the A24 film "Eileen" in 2023, as well as in Amazon's one of the most-watched original films, "The Idea of You," in 2024. Now, she is experiencing one of the busiest periods of her career and will reunite with Nolan in "The Odyssey" in 2026.