Princess Mia's Surprising Effect on Anne's Career

More than a decade after The Princess Diaries was released, Anne Hathaway is still beloved for playing Princess Mia. The charming story enveloped viewers with its humor, heart-warming moments and the presence of Julie Andrews. In short, there's a reason it's a classic. However, in an interview with Huffington Post Live, Hathaway revealed The Princess Diaries typecasted her.

It's pretty hard to believe. However, Hathaway's explanation unfortunately makes a lot of sense. She elaborated:

"My whole M.O. in my twenties was 'be in as many different types of films as you can. Work with as many different types of directors as you can.' I think, in part, that's what I wanted to do as an actor. And also, for the first few years of my career, The Princess Diaries was so cool in so many ways because it was a great first job. It was a big hit. But at the same time, it was a hard thing to be like, 'You know, Robert Rodriguez, I swear, I can do one of your movies.' It was hard to get into rooms to be taken seriously for roles that weren't princesses. And so, I think partially, that was why I've tried to have as big of a range as I've had."

Hathaway clearly appreciates the opportunity to play Princess Mia, but it's also understandable how being typecast is frustrating, especially when you want a career based on diversity and range.

However, it's admirable to see how Hathaway stepped up to the challenge. The Princess Diaries was her first film, but since then she's been nominated for two Oscars, including a win for her role as Fantine in Les Misérables. The parts she's played are diverse and include a recovering addict in Rachel Getting Married, the White Queen in Alice in Wonderland, and a woman suffering from early onset Parkinson's disease in Love & Other Drugs. Let's not forget that she also sang live for her Les Mis role, proving this woman can do it all.

Outside of movies, Hathaway also co-hosted the Oscars and is an advocate for gay rights. While I'll always fondly remember her for her part in The Princess Diaries, she's grown far beyond the reaches of that role. Her influence transcends her movies, proving that she overcame any typecasting she had from playing a princess. You can watch Hathaway's full interview in the video above.