The decision to position Hathaway in the supporting category for Nolan's latest cinematic triumph immediately elevates her profile within what is shaping up to be a highly competitive field. Her portrayal of Penelope, the steadfast wife of Odysseus, has garnered considerable praise, and the move strategically places her in a category that, at this early stage of awards season, appears less crowded than the lead actress race.
This placement also has broader implications for 'The Odyssey's' overall awards strategy. It firmly establishes Matt Damon, who stars as Odysseus, as the film's sole lead actor contender. Furthermore, it creates a fascinating dynamic in the Supporting Actress race, potentially pitting Hathaway against her co-star Samantha Morton, whose performance as Circe has also received strong notices. Historically, two supporting actress nominees from the same film is the most common double-acting nomination combination in Academy history, a feat Universal now aims to replicate.
Hathaway is no stranger to Oscar glory, having won the Best Supporting Actress award in 2013 for her transformative role as Fantine in 'Les Misérables.' The Academy has a track record of recognizing established stars in major prestige films, and 'The Odyssey,' with its global box office haul exceeding $1.6 billion and strong Best Picture buzz, certainly fits that mold. Nolan's follow-up to the Oscar-winning 'Oppenheimer' is expected to be a dominant force across technical and artistic categories.
Should Hathaway secure a nomination and ultimately win, she would join an elite group as only the third woman to win the Supporting Actress Oscar twice, alongside Dianne Wiest and Shelley Winters. An even rarer historical alignment could occur if both Hathaway and Julianne Moore (a strong contender for 'The Debut') were to win their second career Oscars on the same night. This hasn't happened since 1995, when Jessica Lange and Dianne Wiest achieved the feat.
Hathaway's turn in 'The Odyssey' caps off an exceptionally busy and diverse year for the actress. Prior to embodying Penelope, she starred in A24’s 'Mother Mary,' reprised her role as Andy Sachs in the highly anticipated sequel 'The Devil Wears Prada 2,' and featured in Warner Bros.' creature adventure 'The End of Oak Street.' Still to come is a major role as the title character and producer in Michael Showalter’s thriller 'Verity.'
'The Odyssey' is gearing up for a comprehensive Oscar campaign, with Universal eyeing multiple acting nominations beyond Hathaway. John Leguizamo and Robert Pattinson are also in contention for Supporting Actor bids, further solidifying the film's widespread artistic recognition. Pattinson, like Hathaway, has had a prolific year, appearing in four films, including 'Dune: Part Three' alongside 'The Odyssey' co-star Zendaya.
With a previous Oscar win and a central role in one of the year's biggest cinematic achievements, Anne Hathaway presents Universal with a formidable and recognizable contender as the awards season continues to unfold.