Phoenix 24
Personal experience shaped her performance in Nolan’s epic.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — July 2026. Anne Hathaway revealed that her experience as a mother influenced her portrayal of Penelope in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Speaking during the film’s world premiere in London, the Oscar-winning actress said she connected personally with the character’s determination to protect her son, Telemachus. Hathaway described herself as a “mama bear” who will not allow anything to come between her and her children.
Penelope is the wife of Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, and the mother of Telemachus, portrayed by Tom Holland. While Odysseus struggles to return home after the Trojan War, Penelope and her son remain in Ithaca surrounded by men seeking to seize power. The suitors want to marry the queen and replace the absent king, placing Telemachus in a vulnerable and potentially dangerous position.
Hathaway said the extraordinary circumstances surrounding Penelope required the character to become protective in several different ways. She had to preserve her family, defend her son and maintain control of the kingdom while facing constant political and personal pressure. Her maternal instincts helped her understand the fear, vigilance and emotional strength required of a woman attempting to protect her child without her husband present.
The actress also sought to move beyond the traditional image of Penelope as a passive symbol of patience. Hathaway approached her as a monarch carrying anger, passion and emotional intensity throughout Odysseus’ 20-year absence. She emphasized that Penelope and Odysseus chose each other in a society where many marriages were arranged for political advantage. Their relationship therefore provides an emotional center for a story otherwise dominated by war, danger and mythological obstacles.
Christopher Nolan’s adaptation follows Odysseus through his prolonged journey back to Ithaca while examining the consequences of his absence for those awaiting him. Robert Pattinson plays Antinous, the leading suitor attempting to exploit the king’s disappearance. The ensemble also includes Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, Elliot Page, Jon Bernthal, Mia Goth, Benny Safdie, Himesh Patel and Samantha Morton.
Hathaway shares two sons, Jonathan and Jack, with her husband, Adam Shulman, whom she married in 2012. The couple announced in June that they are expecting their third child. Her pregnancy coincides with an unusually active professional period that includes The Odyssey, Mother Mary and The Devil Wears Prada 2, along with additional projects scheduled for release later in 2026.
At the premiere, Hathaway described the combination of personal happiness and professional momentum as exciting and surreal. She acknowledged that such periods do not occur frequently or last forever, expressing a desire to appreciate the experience while it continues. Her performance as Penelope consequently arrives at a moment when motherhood, career and artistic maturity are intersecting directly in her own life.
The Odyssey reaches theaters on July 17, presenting Penelope not simply as the woman waiting for a warrior’s return, but as a mother and ruler fighting to preserve her family. Hathaway’s interpretation places maternal protection at the heart of the ancient story and gives its emotional stakes a deeply personal foundation.
For Hathaway, Penelope’s greatest strength begins with a mother’s instinct.