“Me? A princess? Shut up!” It’s been years since The Princess Diaries hit theaters, but fans will never get tired of the Disney movie’s royal charm.
Released in August 2001, The Princess Diaries was an unexpected hit, raking in more than $165 million worldwide. Only 18 years old at the time, the comedy marked Anne Hathaway‘s big-screen debut. While Drew Barrymore, Kirsten Dunst and Brittany Murphy had also been considered for the role of Mia Thermopolis, late director Garry Marshall was convinced to take a risk on Hathaway because his granddaughters thought she had the most “princess-like” hair.
As iconic as the movie has become, the Dark Knight Rises actress previously admitted to feeling restricted by the playful part.
“Of course, after Princess Diaries, I was labeled a good girl, and for the first eight years of my career I had to fight to get any other kind of role,” she told Glamour in December 2012. “But I like fighting for a job, actually. Once you get it, you feel like you’ve emerged victorious from the scrap and you’re like, ‘OK, this one’s mine. Did it. Done.’ And it’s not based on how many Twitter followers I have: zero. My acting got me this role. So it feels pure to me.”
Hathaway returned to Genovia for the 2004 sequel, Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, alongside original cast members Julie Andrews, Heather Matarazzo and more. To this day, Disney lovers are desperate for a third chapter of Mia’s story.
“There is a script for the third movie,” Hathaway teased during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in January 2019. “I want to do it. Julie wants to do it. Debra Martin Chase, our producer, wants to do it. We all really want it to happen. It’s just we don’t want to unless it’s perfect, because we love it just as much as you guys love it. It’s as important to us as it is to you, and we don’t want to deliver anything until it’s ready.”
Three months later, Andrews chimed in on the rumors, adding that she would be happy to return to her throne at the right moment. “I’m not sure if it’s the right timing, but I think to work with Annie would be lovely again, and sure I’d be up for it,” she said on The Talk.
Scroll down to see where the cast of The Princess Diaries is now!
“Me? A princess? Shut up!” It’s been years since The Princess Diaries hit theaters, but fans will never get tired of the Disney movie’s royal charm.
Released in August 2001, The Princess Diaries was an unexpected hit, raking in more than $165 million worldwide. Only 18 years old at the time, the comedy marked Anne Hathaway‘s big-screen debut. While Drew Barrymore, Kirsten Dunst and Brittany Murphy had also been considered for the role of Mia Thermopolis, late director Garry Marshall was convinced to take a risk on Hathaway because his granddaughters thought she had the most “princess-like” hair.
As iconic as the movie has become, the Dark Knight Rises actress previously admitted to feeling restricted by the playful part.
“Of course, after Princess Diaries, I was labeled a good girl, and for the first eight years of my career I had to fight to get any other kind of role,” she told Glamour in December 2012. “But I like fighting for a job, actually. Once you get it, you feel like you’ve emerged victorious from the scrap and you’re like, ‘OK, this one’s mine. Did it. Done.’ And it’s not based on how many Twitter followers I have: zero. My acting got me this role. So it feels pure to me.”
Hathaway returned to Genovia for the 2004 sequel, Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, alongside original cast members Julie Andrews, Heather Matarazzo and more. To this day, Disney lovers are desperate for a third chapter of Mia’s story.
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“There is a script for the third movie,” Hathaway teased during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in January 2019. “I want to do it. Julie wants to do it. Debra Martin Chase, our producer, wants to do it. We all really want it to happen. It’s just we don’t want to unless it’s perfect, because we love it just as much as you guys love it. It’s as important to us as it is to you, and we don’t want to deliver anything until it’s ready.”
Three months later, Andrews chimed in on the rumors, adding that she would be happy to return to her throne at the right moment. “I’m not sure if it’s the right timing, but I think to work with Annie would be lovely again, and sure I’d be up for it,” she said on The Talk.
Scroll down to see where the cast of The Princess Diaries is now!
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Anne Hathaway (Mia Thermopolis)
Besides Princess Diaries, the New York native is best known for her work in The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Bride Wars (2009), One Day (2011) and Les Miserables (2012). More recently, she starred alongside Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and more in the female-driven heist film Ocean’s 8 (2018). Hathaway has also appeared in The Witches (2020), Locked Down (2021) and Solos (2021).
Hathaway shares two sons, Jonathan and Jack, with husband Adam Shulman.
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Julie Andrews (Queen Clarisse Renaldi)
The British icon had both an Oscar and five Golden Globes to her name before starring in the 2001 Disney classic and its 2004 sequel. She later lent her voice to three out of four Shrek films, Despicable Me (2010) and Aquaman (2018). The Sound of Music star has also earned two Emmys, three Grammys, a SAG Lifetime Achievement Award and a Kennedy Center honor. The actress also lends her voice to Netflix’s regency hit, Bridgerton (2020), and appeared in Julie’s Greenroom (2017) on the streaming platform.
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Hector Elizondo (Joe)
Elizondo has been part of two long-running TV series throughout his career, Chicago Hope (1994 to 2000) and Last Man Standing, which premiered in 2011. He has won two Emmys, an ALMA Award and an OBIE Award, and has also been nominated for a Golden Globe. In 2010, he reunited with Hathaway in Marshall’s romantic comedy Valentine’s Day and appeared in many of the director’s other hits. Elizondo also voiced characters on Disney Channel’s Elena of Avalor and appeared on Last Man Standing.
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Caroline Goodall (Helen Thermopolis)
The London-born actress has starred in a number of films across her decades-long career, including Hook (1991), Schindler’s List (1993), Disclosure (1994) and The Best of Me (2014). She also reprised her role as Mia’s mom in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004). Goodall shares two children with Italian cinematographer Nicola Pecorini, whom she wed in September 1994. She appeared in 2021’s The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard.
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Heather Matarazzo (Lilly Moscovitz)
Matarazzo’s big break was in 1995’s Welcome to the Dollhouse, and she later found her footing in comedies like 2002’s Sorority Boys and 2015’s Sisters. Her television credits include Roseanne, Law & Order, The L Word and Grey’s Anatomy. In 2008, the New York native confirmed her engagement to musician Caroline Murphy, but the duo split four years later. In November 2018, Matarazzo married comedian and writer Heather Turman. Matarazzo continues to work as an actress with roles in 2020’s The Estate and the TV documentary, Equal (2020).
In June 2021, the actress dished about her former character via TikTok. Matarazzo explained at the time, “This is a question I get asked a lot, and here’s the deal: I know for me, that the opinions and feelings I had when I was a teenager are not the same opinions and feelings I have as an adult. The thing I love about Lilly is that she was self-aware enough to admit when she was in the wrong, which is not something I can say for many adults. [For instance], she very clearly said that she needed an ‘attitude adjustment.’”
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Robert Schwartzman (Michael Moscovitz)
The Los Angeles-based artist transitioned to a more behind-the-scenes role after starring in The Princess Diaries, directing Dreamland (2016), The Unicorn (2018) and The Argument (2020). He also appeared in The Virgin Suicides (1999), directed by his cousin Sofia Coppola, and is the lead singer of rock band Rooney. He is married to photographer Zoey Grossman.
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Mandy Moore (Lana Thomas)
The pop star became a fixture within the romantic comedy genre after making her debut in The Princess Diaries, starring in A Walk to Remember (2002), License to Wed (2007) and Love, Wedding, Marriage (2011). She also voiced Rapunzel in Disney’s Tangled (2010).
In 2016, she began playing Rebecca Pearson on NBC’s This Is Us, scoring Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her powerful performance until the series wrapped in 2022.
Moore married singer Taylor Goldsmith in 2018 and announced her first pregnancy in September 2020. Moore welcomed her first child, son August, with Goldsmith in March 2021. Moore announced in June 2022 that the couple were expecting baby No. 2. In October 2022, the Saved! star gave birth to son Ozzie.
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Erik von Detten (Josh Bryant)
The California native, who got his start on Days of Our Lives in 1992, is best known for his work as a voice actor. In 1995, he voiced naughty neighbor Sid Phillips in Pixar’s Toy Story, a role he reprised in 2010’s Toy Story 3. He married Angela von Detten in 2018, and the pair welcomed daughter Claire in May 2020. In March 2021, the pair welcomed their second child together, a son named Thomas.
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Patrick Flueger (Jeremiah Hart)
With early appearances on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and CSI: Miami, the Minnesota native began a successful TV career after starring in the Disney comedy. From 2004 to 2007, he played Shawn Farrell on USA Network’s The 4400. His most recent role, starting in 2014, is officer Adam Ruzek on NBC’s Chicago P.D.
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Sandra Oh (Geraldine Gupta)
From 2005 to 2014, Oh saved lives alongside Dr. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy. The role earned her two SAG Awards, a Golden Globe and five Emmy nominations across 10 seasons. Since 2018, the Canadian actress has starred as Eve Polastri in the BBC America series Killing Eve. In the series’ first year, she became the first Asian actress to be nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in Emmys history and she went on to win the award in 2018. Oh stars as Ji-Yoon Kim in Netflix’s The Chair in 2021.
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Sean O’Bryan (Patrick O’Connell)
Among the Kentucky native’s many television credits are small roles on Cold Case, Chicago Hope, Roseanne, Dexter, The Mentalist and The Middle. He has also worked on films like Big Fat Liar (2002), Deck the Halls (2006), Yes Man (2008) and Playing for Keeps (2012). O’Bryan also appeared on TV shows, Love, Victor, 9-1-1: Lone Star and Shameless.
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Kathleen Marshall (Charlotte Kutaway)
The daughter of late director Garry Marshall, Kathleen’s role as the queen’s secretary is close to her heart. During a 2001 red carpet interview, Garry said that he made The Princess Diaries as a way to bring families together. Since her small part in the Disney movie, which she reprised in its 2004 sequel, Kathleen appeared in Raising Helen (2004), Valentine’s Day (2010) and New Year’s Eve (2011).
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Larry Miller (Paolo Puttanesca)
Before he helped Mia Thermopolis get ready to become a royal, the comedian was known for his work in Pretty Woman (1990), The Nutty Professor (1996) and 10 Things I Hate About You (1999). In April 2012, Miller suffered a life-threatening brain injury when he hit his head on a sidewalk. He was placed on life support for one month and made a full recovery in January 2013. He now hosts his own podcast, “The Larry Miller Show.” Miller once again worked with the late Garry Marshall on Mother’s Day (2016).
