This week we’re joined by the writer Vanessa Lily Chung to (finally!!) tackle Anne Hathaway, an unassailable Stargirl whose Dream / Threat has always been totally vague but universally felt. We explore our own girlhood memories young Anne (Princess Diaries, Ella Enchanted, The Devil Wears Prada) and the latent “makeover” dream therein, reflect on the near-decade of #Hathahate, trace her comeback in the last few years via her fashion and beauty renaissance, and speculate on the major 2026 she’s about to have with TDWP II, Mother Mary, The Odessey, and more. Plus: Vanessa’s fascinating racial misidentification with Anne as a young woman, Anne’s obsession with playing “sick girls,” the psychology of the default brunette, and the Threat of plainness. 

Vanessa Lily Chung is a writer from Brooklyn. Her criticism has appeared in The Baffler, The Brooklyn Rail, and The Henry James Review. Follow her on IG or email her at [email protected].

*Emma’s opening a few more personal training spots for Winter 2026. If you’re interested in learning more, book a free consult call here!

Discussed:

• Performances mentioned: Princess Diaries, Ella Enchanted, Brokeback Mountain, The Devil Wears Prada, Rachel Getting Married, Love and Other Drugs, Get Smart, Bride Wars, The Dark Knight Rises, One Day, Les Mis, Interstellar, The Intern, Ocean’s 8, Eileen, The Idea of You, Mother Mary, The Devil Wears Prada II, The Odessey, Verity

• #Hathahate archive in The Cut (!!)

• Anne at the 2008 Oscars

• Anne in pink Prada fake nipplegate moment

• Anne in Les Mis Fantine vibes…

• People Magazine cover July 2008: “The Princess and the Con Man”

• Lip Sync Battle: Anne Hathaway “Wrecking Ball” (2015)

• Anne on Mark Maron (2017)

• Anne at Cannes 2022 (internet-breaking)

• Anne in Interview Mag (2022)

• Anne and Emily Blunt Variety Actors on Actors (2024)

• Anne recent Vogue profile (2025)

• Mother Mary preview (2026)
  STARGIRL episode on Bianca Giaever (2023)