Anne Hathaway was officially inducted into Disney’s Hall of Fame as a Disney Legend on Sunday, August 16, 2026, during D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California. The ceremony was held at the Honda Center, arriving roughly 25 years after Hathaway’s breakout role as Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries (2001) — a fitting backdrop for an honor that closes a quarter-century loop in her relationship with the studio.
Hathaway was brought to the stage by David Frankel, who directed her in The Devil Wears Prada, alongside longtime Vogue editor Anna Wintour. The pairing drew a massive ovation from the crowd. Once at the podium, Hathaway reflected on her sense of fortune, describing herself as one of the luckiest people in the world and crediting her upbringing in a family that valued acting, storytelling, and imagination, gesturing toward her parents seated in the audience as she spoke.
Frankel used his introduction to share a piece of behind-the-scenes history: the studio had originally considered another actress for Hathaway’s role in The Devil Wears Prada, before he became convinced of her after watching her performance in Brokeback Mountain, a moment he summed up with gratitude toward Meryl Streep. Wintour, for her part, praised Hathaway as an ideal companion for front-row fashion shows and theater outings alike, highlighting her work ethic, talent, versatility, and kindness.
Hathaway, currently pregnant with her third child, walked the red carpet accompanied by her husband, Adam Shulman, and their two sons, Jonathan, 10, and Jack, 6.
Hathaway was one of eleven honorees named to the 2026 Disney Legends class, joining Chris Berman, Jerry Bruckheimer, Susan Egan, Eric Goldberg, Bob Iger, Kim Irvine, Dwayne Johnson, the Jonas Brothers, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Alan Tudyk. Ryan Seacrest returned to host the ceremony.
The Disney Legends Award is the company’s highest individual honor, established in 1987 when Fred MacMurray became its first recipient. Since 2009, the award has been presented every two years at D23, with honorees selected by a committee of longtime Disney executives and historians. With the addition of the 2026 class, 329 people have now received the Disney Legends distinction.
Hathaway’s induction arrives amid a milestone year professionally. Variety noted that her cumulative 2026 box office earnings have crossed $2 billion, a total buoyed significantly by The Devil Wears Prada 2, which has grossed more than $690 million worldwide. Looking ahead, Hathaway is set to reprise her career-defining role as Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries 3, bringing her story with Disney back to where it began.
