What Anne Hathaway Is Letting Go Of After Decades In Hollywood

From her breakout role in “The Princess Diaries” to starring in fashion cult favorite “The Devil Wears Prada” and winning an Oscar for “Les Misérables,” Anne Hathaway has spent more than two decades at the top of Hollywood. She’s built a career defined by range, critical acclaim, and major box office success, but behind the scenes, she says it hasn’t always felt as effortless as it looked. Now at 43, Anne Hathaway is stepping into a new chapter, one where she’s finally letting go of the pressure that once defined her early years in the spotlight.

Anne Hathaway Ditches ‘Stress’ Mindset At 43

“When I started out, I thought I’d be a better artist if I was really hard on myself,” she told PEOPLE after being named the magazine’s “World’s Most Beautiful Cover Star.” “And then turning 40, I just kind of found a different gear, and I was no longer interested in living an awkward life. I was just interested in getting to the fun part.”

Now, Hathaway says she’s done putting so much pressure on herself, and is focused on actually enjoying the moment. “I’m at a stage in my life where I don’t want to focus on the stress,” she said.

Instead, she’s leaning into joy, surrounding herself with people who bring laughter and honesty into her life. “Humor. I love to laugh, and I love people who look for the joke in a situation,” the “The Princess Diaries” actress said. “You want people that you can celebrate the ups with, and you want people that you can laugh through the downs with.”

Hathaway Gets Candid About Childhood Anxiety And ‘Multiple’ Beauty Missteps

Looking back, Hathaway admits she struggled with communication and anxiety growing up, which only added to her feelings of being out of place. “When I was a kid, I found talking really difficult,” she told the magazine. “So I had a bit of stress and anxiety around just, like, communicating.”

Even something as simple as hair and beauty became a learning curve. “Multiple. I didn’t understand that there’s a whole language when it comes to beauty,” the actress said.

Anne Hathaway Admits Confidence Isn’t Constant

Anne Hathaway’s candid comments also come just days after another revealing interview, where she opened up about the ups and downs of confidence. Speaking with Harper’s Bazaar, the actress admitted that even now, self-image can fluctuate. “Some days you look in the mirror, and you’re just like, ‘Not bad,’” she said. “And some days you look in the mirror, and you’re like, ‘What?’ And I was having a ‘What?’ day.”

The “The Devil Wears Prada” star went on to share a relatable moment that forced her to face those feelings head-on. “And you know how you have your aspirational swimsuit that you keep around, just in case you have a good day?” she said. “And then you have your swimsuit that’s got you no matter what? I accidentally packed the aspirational swimsuit.”

The actress added, “Which I then had to wear on a ‘What?’ day. So, I’m ready to have this great day with my family. And I am going to be in front of strangers, and people have phones. And all of the things.”

Hathaway Reframes Aging

Anne Hathaway is also changing the conversation around getting older, and she’s doing it with a refreshing perspective.

“I think that very often, conversations about aging presume that the first part of life is the happiest and the most fulfilling, and I don’t necessarily think that’s true,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting to find another gear at 40.”

For Hathaway, turning 40 didn’t mark a slowdown, but it unlocked a new chapter, one where confidence, clarity, and joy have taken center stage in a way they hadn’t before.

Anne Hathaway Embraces Confidence At 43

These days, Hathaway is finally feeling comfortable and confident in a way she never has before. Whether she’s blasting music from Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, or Madonna on set or embracing a more relaxed mindset, she’s proving that growth doesn’t have a timeline.

And for Hathaway, it’s clear that the best chapter might just be the one she’s in right now.