Anne Hathaway’s 12 Best Performances That Show Her Range

Anne Hathaway’s 12 Best Performances That Show Her Range

Anne Hathaway has built one of Hollywood’s most impressive careers by fearlessly taking on roles that push her boundaries.

Her ability to transform into completely different characters—whether a struggling factory worker or a powerful CEO—shows why she’s earned both critical acclaim and audience love.

Here are 12 performances that highlight just how talented and versatile this Academy Award-winning actress truly is.

1. Kym Buchman in Rachel Getting Married (2008)

Playing a recovering drug addict returning home for her sister’s wedding, Hathaway delivered something completely unexpected.

Gone was the polished princess America had come to know.

Instead, she embodied a messy, complicated woman struggling with guilt, addiction, and family dysfunction.

Her performance felt so genuine that many viewers forgot they were watching a movie star.

The uncomfortable family arguments and emotional breakdowns seemed ripped straight from real life.

This role earned her an Academy Award nomination and announced to Hollywood that she was ready for serious, challenging work that required true artistic courage.

2. Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

As the naive journalist thrown into the cutthroat fashion world, Hathaway created a character everyone could relate to.

Andy’s transformation from frumpy newcomer to confident professional became a cultural phenomenon that people still reference today.

Her chemistry with Meryl Streep elevated the entire film into something special.

What makes this performance memorable is how Hathaway balanced comedy with genuine emotion.

You laugh at Andy’s fashion mistakes but also feel her struggle to maintain her values while succeeding in a demanding industry.

The role turned her into a household name and proved she could carry a major studio film.

3. Fantine in Les Misérables (2012)

When Hathaway sang “I Dreamed a Dream” live on camera with tears streaming down her face, she created one of cinema’s most unforgettable moments.

Her portrayal of the desperate factory worker who sacrifices everything for her daughter was so powerful that it earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

What made this performance extraordinary was her willingness to strip away all glamour.

She lost weight, cut her hair on screen, and allowed herself to look completely vulnerable.

The raw emotion she brought to Fantine’s tragic story proved she could handle the most demanding dramatic material with grace and authenticity.

4. Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries (2001)

Before she was winning Oscars, Hathaway was winning hearts as the ultimate awkward teenager who discovers she’s royalty.

Her natural charm and perfect comic timing made Mia instantly lovable.

Watching her trip over her own feet and fumble through princess lessons felt genuine because Hathaway brought such authenticity to the character’s insecurities.

This breakout role launched her entire career and remains a beloved classic for millennials who grew up watching it.

Hathaway’s ability to make you laugh while also rooting for Mia’s success showed early signs of her range.

She made being a princess seem both magical and surprisingly relatable.

5. Selina Kyle / Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Stepping into the iconic role of Catwoman came with massive pressure, but Hathaway nailed it with style and substance.

She brought a perfect mix of danger, humor, and moral complexity to Selina Kyle.

Her fight scenes looked believable, and her verbal sparring with Christian Bale’s Batman crackled with energy.

Critics who doubted her casting quickly changed their minds after seeing her command the screen in a blockbuster action franchise.

She made the character feel fresh while honoring what made Catwoman legendary.

Her performance proved she could hold her own in any genre, from intimate dramas to massive superhero epics.

6. Dr. Amelia Brand in Interstellar (2014)

Christopher Nolan doesn’t cast actors lightly, and Hathaway rewarded his faith by grounding his cosmic sci-fi epic with real human emotion.

As the scientist torn between logic and love, she delivered one of the film’s most debated monologues about how love transcends dimensions.

Her performance added heart to a movie filled with black holes and time dilation.

What stands out is how she balanced intelligence with vulnerability.

Dr. Brand never felt like just the token female scientist—she was a fully realized person making impossible choices.

Hathaway brought emotional weight to complex scientific concepts, making audiences care about the mission’s outcome.

7. Maggie Murdock in Love & Other Drugs (2010)

Portraying a free-spirited woman living with early-onset Parkinson’s disease required both courage and sensitivity.

Hathaway dove into the role fearlessly, showing Maggie’s struggle with a devastating diagnosis while maintaining her fierce independence.

The romantic chemistry with Jake Gyllenhaal felt genuine and added depth to what could have been a standard love story.

Her Golden Globe nomination recognized how she balanced the film’s lighter romantic comedy moments with heavier dramatic scenes.

She never let Maggie become defined by her illness, instead showing a complex person dealing with an unfair situation.

The performance demonstrated her ability to tackle difficult subjects with grace and honesty.

8. Ella in Ella Enchanted (2004)

Long before she sang in Les Misérables, Hathaway was belting out musical numbers in this charming fairy tale adventure.

Playing a girl cursed with obedience allowed her to showcase comedy, action, and musical talent all at once.

She embraced the film’s whimsical tone while making Ella a strong heroine kids could admire.

The role demonstrated her versatility beyond the princess image from her breakout film.

She handled fight choreography, comedic timing, and musical performances with equal skill.

This early fantasy comedy proved she wasn’t afraid to take creative risks and explore different genres, setting the stage for her diverse career choices.

9. Jules Ostin in The Intern (2015)

As a young CEO juggling a fashion startup with family life, Hathaway created a character that felt refreshingly modern and real.

Her chemistry with Robert De Niro brought warmth to this generational comedy-drama.

Jules could have been a stereotype of the stressed working mom, but Hathaway infused her with dignity and complexity.

The performance highlighted her strength in contemporary roles that reflect today’s challenges.

She showed vulnerability without weakness, ambition without coldness.

Watching Jules navigate impossible expectations while trying to have it all resonated with audiences who saw their own struggles reflected on screen.

It was a reminder that she excels in relatable, grounded characters.

10. Lureen Newsome in Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Though her role was smaller in this Oscar-winning ensemble, Hathaway made every scene count.

As Jack Twist’s wife, she had to convey layers of unspoken emotion—a woman who knows something’s wrong but can’t quite name it.

Her subtle performance added depth to the film’s exploration of hidden lives and suppressed truths.

Working alongside Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Michelle Williams in this groundbreaking film showed her ability to hold her own with heavyweight talent.

She brought authenticity to Lureen’s transformation from rodeo princess to hardened businesswoman.

Even in a supporting capacity, she contributed meaningfully to one of cinema’s most important films.

11. Solène Marchand in The Idea of You (2024)

Leading this romantic drama showcased Hathaway’s maturity and star power in a story about a woman navigating unexpected love under intense public scrutiny.

As Solène, she portrayed confidence mixed with vulnerability, showing what it’s like to put yourself out there again after disappointment.

Her charisma anchored the entire film and made audiences believe in the unlikely romance.

The role proved she could carry a contemporary love story with depth and authenticity.

She brought emotional complexity to what could have been a simple romance, exploring themes of age, identity, and second chances.

Her performance reminded everyone why she remains one of Hollywood’s most captivating leading ladies.

12. Lexi in Modern Love (2019)

In just one episode of this Amazon anthology series, Hathaway delivered an awards-worthy performance that left viewers stunned.

Playing a woman with bipolar disorder, she showed both the vibrant highs and devastating lows with incredible sensitivity.

Her portrayal never felt exploitative or stereotypical—instead, she brought humanity and understanding to a character dealing with mental health challenges.

The episode earned critical acclaim and awards recognition because Hathaway fearlessly inhabited Lexi’s emotional extremes.

She made you laugh during manic moments and broke your heart during the crashes.

This powerful performance demonstrated that even in a short format, she could create unforgettable characters that spark important conversations.