Anne Hathaway is entering the Oscar race for The Odyssey. Universal Pictures will campaign her as a supporting actress for her performance as Penelope, Odysseus’s wife and the queen of Ithaca.
This is a campaign decision, not an Oscar nomination. The studio has chosen the category in which it will promote Hathaway; Academy voters will decide later whether she reaches the final ballot.
What does Anne Hathaway’s Oscar campaign mean?
Studios decide how to position performances during awards season. They arrange screenings, interviews, advertising, and other events intended to put a film and its cast in front of voters. Universal is placing Hathaway in supporting actress instead of lead actress.
The campaign confirms that the studio sees Penelope as one of the film’s awards contenders. It does not guarantee a nomination, and it does not mean the Academy has endorsed the placement.
Why is Hathaway running as a supporting actress?
The Odyssey follows Matt Damon’s Odysseus as he tries to return home after the Trojan War, so Damon carries the central journey. Hathaway’s Penelope anchors the story in Ithaca while she waits for him and protects their household from the men trying to take his place.
Universal’s category choice keeps Hathaway in supporting actress, where she previously won. The studio has not publicly explained the decision in terms of screen time.
Has Anne Hathaway won an Oscar before?
Yes. Hathaway won Best Supporting Actress in 2013 for playing Fantine in Les Misérables. She was also nominated for Best Actress for Rachel Getting Married in 2009.
A nomination for The Odyssey would be her third. A win would give her a second supporting actress Oscar.
Who stars with Anne Hathaway in The Odyssey?
Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, with Tom Holland as his son Telemachus. Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron are also part of the cast. Our guide to The Odyssey covers the cast, story, and IMAX production.
The film opened in theaters on July 17, 2026. The Odyssey movie page collects our latest coverage.
Is Anne Hathaway nominated for an Oscar yet?
No. Universal has started her campaign, but the Academy has not announced the nominees. Hathaway now has an official category and a previous win behind her. The next result that counts is whether voters place her among the supporting actress nominees.
