Rihanna's unforgettable compliment to Anne Hathaway on Ocean's 8 set
Synopsis
Rihanna's blunt, affectionate compliment to Anne Hathaway on the Ocean's 8 set — 'You got an ass like mine' — turned out to be exactly what the actress needed after struggling with post-pregnancy body image. With Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett also chiming in, it became a rare moment of collective on-set warmth that Hathaway says she had never experienced before.
Key Takeaways
Anne Hathaway was filming Ocean's 8 shortly after giving birth to her son Jonathan , at a time she felt self-conscious about her body.
Director Gary Ross reassured her by noting the film needed diverse body types across its eight leads.
Rihanna greeted Hathaway on set with the spontaneous compliment: 'Damn, girl you got an ass.
You got an ass like mine.' Sandra Bullock said 'Looking good, mama,' and Cate Blanchett told her 'Nice jeans, Hathaway,' further boosting her confidence.
Hathaway described the experience as the first time she had felt 'that much love and understanding' on a movie set.
Anne Hathaway has revealed that a spontaneous compliment from Rihanna on the set of Ocean's 8 became one of the most uplifting moments of her career — arriving at a time when the actress was struggling with post-pregnancy body image. Hathaway shared the story during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, offering a rare glimpse into the warmth that defined the all-female ensemble cast.
The backstory: filming after motherhood
Hathaway had just given birth to her son, Jonathan, when production on Ocean's 8 began. She recalled that postpartum weight loss was slower than expected, leaving her at a different size than usual. The film's director, Gary Ross, sought to ease her concerns, telling her: 'That's great, we have eight women in this movie and need to have as many body types as we can.'
Despite the reassurance, Hathaway made a quiet personal decision before stepping onto set. 'I walked on the set, and I'm in my jeans, and I've done my best, and I'm gonna love myself no matter what,' she recalled telling herself.
Rihanna's show-stopping remark
What happened next, Hathaway said, she did not see coming. The moment she arrived on set, Rihanna looked at her and said: 'Damn, girl you got an ass. You got an ass like mine.' Hathaway admitted she was caught completely off guard. 'I, of course was freaked out and loved it so much. And I was like, "Really?"' she told Ellen DeGeneres.
Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett join in
The affirmation did not stop with Rihanna. Co-stars Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett also offered warm words. 'Sandy Bullock just looked up at me and said, "Looking good, mama,"' Hathaway recalled. Cate Blanchett added: 'Nice jeans, Hathaway.' According to Hathaway, it was the first time she had experienced that kind of collective warmth on a film set.
Why the moment resonated
'It was so beautiful to be surrounded by that much love and understanding. It was so great,' she told Ellen. The anecdote has since struck a chord with audiences, underscoring how workplace environments — even on high-profile Hollywood productions — can shape an individual's sense of self-worth. Notably, Ocean's 8, released in 2018, was already widely celebrated for its groundbreaking all-female lead cast; behind-the-scenes stories like Hathaway's add another layer to that legacy.
Point of View
But it also quietly exposes the norm it disrupts: that women in Hollywood — even at the top of their careers — routinely arrive on set bracing for judgment rather than affirmation. The fact that Hathaway found this level of acceptance remarkable, rather than ordinary, says more about the industry's usual atmosphere than it does about the Ocean's 8 cast. Rihanna's offhand remark landed hard precisely because unsolicited body positivity from peers is still the exception, not the rule, on film sets.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Rihanna say to Anne Hathaway on the Ocean's 8 set?
Rihanna told Anne Hathaway, 'Damn, girl you got an ass. You got an ass like mine,' when Hathaway first arrived on the Ocean's 8 set. Hathaway said she was completely taken aback but loved the compliment.
Why was Anne Hathaway struggling with her body image during Ocean's 8?
Hathaway had recently given birth to her son Jonathan, and post-pregnancy weight loss was slower than expected, leaving her at a different size than usual. She admitted she had to consciously decide to love herself regardless before stepping onto set.
What did Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett say to Anne Hathaway?
Sandra Bullock told Hathaway 'Looking good, mama,' while Cate Blanchett complimented her with 'Nice jeans, Hathaway.' Hathaway recalled both remarks as part of an unusually warm and supportive on-set atmosphere.
Where did Anne Hathaway share this story?
Hathaway shared the story during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. She described the experience on the Ocean's 8 set as the first time she had felt surrounded by that level of love and understanding from co-stars.
When was Ocean's 8 released?
Ocean's 8 was released in 2018. The film featured an all-female lead ensemble including Anne Hathaway, Rihanna, Sandra Bullock, and Cate Blanchett, directed by Gary Ross.
