Anne Hathaway Says She’s Finally Learned to ‘Chill Out’ After Years of Taking Her Career Seriously

Anne Hathaway is looking back on her career with a different perspective after an unusually busy year that has put her in five movies. Speaking with Gayle King on CBS Mornings, the Oscar-winning actress said she has learned to “chill out” and become more open to enjoying the experience instead of taking everything so seriously. Her comments come as she wraps a packed 2026 that has included major films, multiple press tours and the anticipation of welcoming her third child.

Hathaway Has Had an Exceptionally Busy Movie Year

Hathaway told CBS Mornings that she had not originally expected five of her films to debut in the same year. She admitted that having audiences see her repeatedly over such a short period initially made her wonder whether it might be “a little bit” too much, but she ultimately decided to embrace the opportunity. Her 2026 slate has included Mother Mary, The Devil Wears Prada 2, The Odyssey, The End of Oak Street and Verity.

She Says Her Approach to Acting Has Changed

After years in Hollywood, Hathaway said she has become less focused on treating every part of her career as something that must be controlled or taken extremely seriously. She described herself as more willing to “chill out” and have fun with the work than she was earlier in her life. For Hathaway, the experience is increasingly about the feeling of making something and the connections formed with the people around her.

Hathaway Wishes She Had Learned That Earlier

Hathaway acknowledged that she wishes she had discovered this perspective sooner in her career. She said she is nevertheless grateful to have reached a point where she can appreciate those connections and enjoy the process more fully. The change reflects a broader shift in how she appears to view success, with the experience of working with other people becoming as meaningful as the final result.

Rihanna Inspired Her Maternity Style

Hathaway also credited Rihanna with changing the way she thinks about maternity fashion. She said seeing Rihanna’s approach during her pregnancies made her realize she could use her imagination and have more fun with her own looks. Hathaway’s recent appearances have included everything from more relaxed separates to dramatic red-carpet gowns that highlight rather than hide her pregnancy.

Her Pregnancy Has Added Another Major Chapter

Hathaway is expecting her third child with husband Adam Shulman, adding another major personal milestone to an already extraordinary professional year. She and Shulman are parents to two sons, and Hathaway said the family is concentrating on enjoying their current life as a family of four before the new baby arrives. She described the coming transition as something that will change the family, particularly for her children, while calling the moment beautiful.

Verity Gave Her a Very Different Acting Challenge

Her latest film, Verity, is an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling psychological thriller and gives Hathaway a role unlike some of her more recognizable recent performances. She plays Verity Crawford, a successful author who becomes incapacitated after an accident and is at the center of the film’s unsettling mystery. Hathaway explained that because the character spends much of the story unable to move freely, collaboration and small details became especially important to creating the eerie atmosphere.

Five Movies Have Shown Her Range

The unusually crowded release schedule has also allowed Hathaway to move between very different characters and genres in a single year. She returned as Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada 2, appeared in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and took on roles in Mother Mary and The End of Oak Street before moving into the psychological thriller Verity. The variety has made 2026 an unusually visible year for an actress who has already spent decades working in major Hollywood productions.

She May Be Ready to Step Away From the Spotlight

With Verity completing her five-film run, Hathaway has indicated that she is ready for some breathing room after months of premieres and press appearances. The timing also coincides with her pregnancy, making a break from the spotlight particularly understandable as she prepares to welcome another child. After such an intense year, her new philosophy of enjoying the moment may be especially relevant as she moves into a different stage of both her career and family life.

A New Perspective After Years in Hollywood

Hathaway’s comments suggest that one of the biggest changes in her career may have less to do with the roles she chooses and more to do with how she experiences them. After an extraordinary five-film year, she says she is more interested in connection, collaboration and having fun rather than carrying the same pressure she once placed on herself. With a new baby on the way and a major run of films behind her, Hathaway appears to be entering this next chapter with a lighter approach and a greater appreciation for the journey.