Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway has opened up about why she deeply connects with her iconic character Andrea 'Andy' Sachs in the highly anticipated sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, saying both she and the character have grown into women who prioritise being themselves over seeking approval. Speaking to People.com, Hathaway offered a candid look into how two decades have transformed both her and Andy — and why that evolution feels deeply personal.

Hathaway on Her Personal Connection to Andy Sachs

Anne Hathaway said plainly: "I think we're both more confident." The actress elaborated that in the original 2006 film, Andy Sachs was driven by an anxious need to impress her formidable boss and meet impossibly high standards. That version of Andy was defined by external validation.

"20 years ago, Andy Sachs was really worried about getting it right and she really wanted to please her boss. And now, I think that she wants to be herself. And I relate to that," Hathaway told the outlet. The parallel she draws is not just professional — it reflects a broader generational shift in how women in high-pressure industries now approach ambition and identity.

The Costume That Didn't Make the Final Cut

Hathaway also shared a behind-the-scenes revelation that fashion enthusiasts will find intriguing — her favourite costume from the sequel was ultimately cut from the film. She described it as a Phoebe Philo T-shirt and train ensemble, calling it "a garment more than anything else."

"I loved it so much," she admitted, suggesting that even the discarded wardrobe choices in this franchise carry significant creative weight. Given that the original film is widely credited with shaping mainstream fashion consciousness in the mid-2000s, the sequel's costume direction is already generating considerable anticipation.

Star-Studded Cast and Updated Storyline

The sequel reunites Hathaway with Meryl Streep, who reprises her legendary role as the imperious Miranda Priestly, and Emily Blunt, who returns as Emily Charlton. The new narrative shifts focus to Miranda Priestly herself, now navigating a fierce rivalry with her former assistant-turned-competitor Emily Charlton as both compete for advertising revenue in a rapidly shrinking print media landscape — a storyline that mirrors real-world disruptions facing legacy fashion publications like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar.

This thematic update makes the sequel not just a nostalgia play but a culturally relevant commentary on the collapse of traditional media empires — a subject that resonates far beyond the fashion world.

Hathaway's Research for Mother Mary Role

Beyond the Prada sequel, Hathaway is also generating buzz for her upcoming psychological drama-thriller Mother Mary, in which she plays a pop star entangled in a psychosexual affair with a fashion designer named Sam. In preparation, she personally reached out to British pop sensation Charli XCX.

"The person that I spoke to was Charli ... I wanted to talk to her about the music, she wrote such amazing music that I was going to perform. But I also just had a lot of questions for her about what her life was like, what the experience of being a pop star was," Hathaway revealed to People.com. The move underscores Hathaway's commitment to method-level preparation, a trait that has defined her Oscar-winning career.

Why This Matters Beyond Entertainment

Anne Hathaway's reflections on confidence and self-identity are arriving at a moment when conversations around women's ambition, workplace dynamics, and authenticity are louder than ever. The original Devil Wears Prada became a cultural touchstone precisely because it captured the toxic cost of perfectionism — particularly for women entering elite professional environments.

The sequel's focus on Miranda Priestly facing institutional decline and a challenge from within her own orbit adds a layer of commentary on power, ageing, and relevance in industries that routinely discard women once they are no longer considered commercially viable. With Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Anne Hathaway all at the peak of their cultural authority, the sequel has the potential to spark conversations well beyond its runtime.

As release details for both The Devil Wears Prada sequel and Mother Mary are awaited, audiences can expect Hathaway to remain one of Hollywood's most closely watched figures through the remainder of 2025.