When Anne Hathaway stepped onto the stage at the Honda Center in Anaheim on August 16, 2026, she wasn’t just accepting another award. She was closing a circle that began 25 years earlier, when a young actress with a gap-toothed smile and an awkward curtsy first charmed her way into our hearts as Mia Thermopolis.
The Oscar winner was officially inducted into Disney’s hall of fame during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, joining an illustrious class that included Bob Iger, Dwayne Johnson, the Jonas Brothers, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. But for Hathaway, this wasn’t just another career milestone. It was a homecoming.
The Princess Who Started It All
The Disney Legend honor comes 25 years after Hathaway made her big-screen debut as Mia Thermopolis in Disney’s The Princess Diaries, which hit theaters on August 3, 2001. She reprised the role in the 2004 sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, and went on to star as the White Queen in Disney’s Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass.
But her Disney legacy extends far beyond princesses and fairy tales. In 2006, she starred as Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada — a film that, while not a Disney production at the time, has since become inseparable from the Disney universe following the company’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox. She reprised that role earlier this year in The Devil Wears Prada 2, which grossed more than $690 million worldwide, pushing the franchise total past the $1 billion mark.
A Ceremony Fit for a Legend
The Disney Legends Awards ceremony, hosted by Ryan Seacrest, celebrated individuals who have made a lasting impact on The Walt Disney Company and its legacy. Since the program began in 1987, 329 people have been named Disney Legends. Hathaway now joins a pantheon that includes Miley Cyrus, Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis, Harrison Ford, Julie Andrews, George Lucas, and Robin Williams.
Hathaway was presented with the honor by David Frankel, who directed both The Devil Wears Prada and its sequel. Frankel praised Hathaway’s dedication to her craft, revealing that the studio originally wanted another actress for the role of Andy Sachs. “Thank God for Meryl Streep,” Frankel said. “She saw Annie’s performance in ‘Brokeback Mountain’ and said, ‘Yeah, this girl.’ Game recognizes game”.
Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour also appeared via video to pay tribute. “Over the years, I’ve gotten to know Anne as an ideal front row companion, as well as a perfect theater date,” Wintour said. “There is so much to admire about Anne: her work ethic, her talent, her versatility, but most of all, it’s her kindness that is so impressive”.
“I’m One of the Most Insanely Lucky People in the World”
Hathaway’s acceptance speech was everything fans could have hoped for — emotional, heartfelt, and quintessentially Anne.
“I am here today because I’m one of the most insanely lucky people in the world,” she said, appearing visibly moved. “How lucky am I that I was born into a family where acting, storytelling and imagination were valued and celebrated”.
She thanked the late Garry Marshall, who chose her to play the Genovian princess-to-be, as well as producers Debra Martin Chase and the late Whitney Houston. She also acknowledged the film that changed everything: “I’m so lucky that my first booking led to so many opportunities when I was still so young, [like] getting a job that a million girls were built for in The Devil Wears Prada“.
Then came the levity. “I got to be with Stanley Tucci. I got to be with Emily Blunt. I got to be with um…oh what’s her name,” she joked, pretending to forget Meryl Streep’s name. The crowd erupted.
But the most touching moment came when she reflected on what truly matters. “I’ve gotten to spend my life so far, doing what I love, having so many adventures along the way, knowing joy and valuing the extraordinary good fortune that allows me to share my life with my greatest blessing — a family I couldn’t love more”.
“As cool as all this is, just us being us is where I’m happiest,” she added.
A Rare Family Affair
Speaking of family: Hathaway brought her whole crew. Her husband, Adam Shulman, and their two sons — Jonathan, 10, and Jack, 6 — made a rare public appearance to cheer their mom on. The couple, married since 2012, are notoriously private about their boys, making their presence at the ceremony all the more special.
And there’s more joy on the horizon. Hathaway and Shulman announced this summer that they’re expecting their third child. It seems the Disney Legend is adding to her own fairy tale.
The Road Ahead
One day before her induction, Hathaway confirmed what fans have been waiting decades to hear: The Princess Diaries 3 is officially in the works. Speaking at the Disney Entertainment Showcase, she thanked fans for sticking with her over the years, joking, “Please never stop reciting your favorite lines to me, because I still can’t spell Gabbana”.
From an awkward
teenager discovering she’s a princess to a two-time Oscar nominee and now a Disney Legend, Anne Hathaway’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. She’s grown up on our screens, weathered the ups and downs of Hollywood, and emerged as one of the most beloved, versatile, and genuinely kind actors of her generation.
“I am here today because I’m one of the most insanely lucky people in the world,” she said.
But luck had nothing to do with it. Talent, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to her craft — that’s what turned a princess into a legend.
