Anne Hathaway thinks she's "entering a new chapter" after incredible year

Anne Hathaway has opened up about "entering a new chapter" in her impressive acting career. The star first rose to fame in 2001's The Princess Diaries and has gone on to play a number of iconic roles.

The Odyssey sees her playing Queen Penelope, the wife of King Odysseus. Speaking at an awards press conference for the historical epic, Hathaway reflected on how the role has ushered in a new era for her.

"I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I think I'm entering a new chapter. It feels that way, like maybe that's happening," she told Digital Spy and other media.

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"I felt no apology in [Penelope]. Odysseus is the king of Ithaca during a time period where that was a very specific role that had a ton of power, but within their relationship, she was very much his equal and I think within the kingdom, she was a person of tremendous respect."

Hathaway explained how her character was left "in charge" while Odysseus was away and had to "manoeuvre specifically based on other people's perceptions" of her role.

Though Penelope was "always aware of the danger of stepping over the line", especially with the attention of potential suitors, Hathaway pointed out the queen's reluctance to alter her conduct.

"When Antinous, for example, comes into her chamber, she doesn't attempt to please him or charm him or be nice or do any of those things," she highlighted.

Related: The Odyssey has a hidden detail in Penelope's costumes you might not have noticed

"She's not imperious in the way she dismisses him, but she's kind of like, 'Oh you can get out of here, you're not important to me.'"

Referencing her age, the actor added that she now enjoys roles where the character is "just on her own journey and focused on how she feels" without trying to "smooth the road for other people".

"Normally when I play characters like that, they're the bad guy, but she's not. She's just sitting in her power, such as it is."

The Odyssey is out now in cinemas.

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Divya is a freelance writer with experience in entertainment and lifestyle news. Described as a "telly addict" since childhood, Divya was able to translate her interests into a BJTC-accredited, Honours degree in Journalism and Media. After working in communications and marketing, Divya joined Digital Spy as a Freelance News Reporter. She has also written for various publications including Metro, Asian World News and TwitCelebGossip; as well as interviews, features and reviews on her own blog. Divya prides herself on her TV, film and showbiz knowledge, always offering (not so) fun facts to her long-suffering friends and family. From soaps to superheroes, Divya is the go-to person for tailored recommendations and up to date information.  

Movies Editor, Digital Spy  Ian has more than 10 years of movies journalism experience as a writer and editor.  Starting out as an intern at trade bible Screen International, he was promoted to report and analyse UK box-office results, as well as carving his own niche with horror movies, attending genre festivals around the world.   After moving to Digital Spy, initially as a TV writer, he was nominated for New Digital Talent of the Year at the PPA Digital Awards. He became Movies Editor in 2019, in which role he has interviewed 100s of stars, including Chris Hemsworth, Florence Pugh, Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba and Olivia Colman, become a human encyclopedia for Marvel and appeared as an expert guest on BBC News and on-stage at MCM Comic-Con. Where he can, he continues to push his horror agenda – whether his editor likes it or not.