Anne Hathaway Shares Her Secret Battle with a Health Condition
Anne Hathaway, the acclaimed actress known for her iconic roles in films such as The Devil Wears Prada and Les Misérables, has recently opened up about a personal struggle that she kept hidden for over a decade. In an interview on the New York Times podcast Popcast, she revealed that she lived with a severe health condition that left her legally blind in one eye.
A cataract, which is described as ‘a clouding of the lens of the eye’ by the Mayo Clinic, can cause blurry vision, faded colors, and sensitivity to glare. For Hathaway, this condition significantly impacted her daily life. She explained that she was essentially legally blind in her left eye for ten years before undergoing surgery to correct it.
‘It impacted my vision so much that I was basically legally blind out of my left eye and I wound up getting surgery,’ she shared during the conversation with hosts Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli. ‘I didn’t realize how bad it had gotten until I could finally see the full spectrum.’
Fans were shocked by the revelation, with many expressing their admiration for her resilience. One person tweeted, ‘Anne Hathaway just casually revealing she was legally blind out of her left eye for ten years on a random podcast with 87,000 subscribers. Girl, hello??’
Another fan commented, ‘The fact that she powered through ten years of major movies with that and never once complained or used it for press…actual legend behavior.’ Others echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the incredible feat of completing numerous film projects while dealing with such a significant health issue.
Hathaway emphasized the importance of vision in her life. ‘I appreciate vision because I literally feel like every day I wake up and I get to see the way that I do, it’s a miracle,’ she said. She also reflected on how advancements in medical technology have made such procedures possible, noting that ‘two generations back’ her vision-saving surgery ‘wouldn’t have been an option for someone like me.’
New Film and Upcoming Projects
Hathaway’s recent appearance on Popcast coincided with the promotion of her latest film, Mother Mary, in which she plays the titular pop star. The film follows Mary as she reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer, Sam Anselm, on the eve of her comeback performance.
The movie features a stellar cast including Michaela Coel, Hunter Schafer, Kaia Gerber, Atheena Frizzell, Jessica Brown Findlay, FKA Twigs, and Alba Baptista. Hathaway cited Taylor Swift as an inspiration for the project, as director David Lowery is a big fan of the Grammy winner. The film also includes songs written and produced by Charli XCX, Jack Antonoff, and FKA Twigs.
Hathaway discussed her upcoming projects in the same interview, mentioning that she has three very different movies scheduled for release in the next few months, with five in total coming before the end of 2026. These include The Devil Wears Prada 2, where she returns as Andy, and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, in which she plays Penelope, Queen of Ithaca.
A Career of Versatility and Resilience
Throughout her career, Hathaway has shown a remarkable ability to take on diverse roles and adapt to different genres. She discussed her early inspirations in music, including Taylor Swift, and how her work on Mother Mary allowed her to explore new creative avenues. ‘I mean, she was kind of like an angel that I felt like was over our heads all the time,’ she told a late-night host earlier this year. ‘And I was influenced by her tour film Miss Americana and how vulnerable she just let herself be.’
Hathaway has also spoken about the challenges of navigating public scrutiny and internet discourse. Despite these difficulties, she continues to choose her roles strategically and remains committed to her craft.
In addition to her film projects, Hathaway was recently named the Most Beautiful Woman in the World by People magazine, further cementing her status as a global icon. As she continues to build her career, her journey serves as a testament to her strength, talent, and dedication.
