"I am not huge on looking back", Anne Hathaway on forgetting about her role in Princess Diaries

Almost a year ago, Anne Hathaway left fans surprised when she shared a moment of complete blankness about one of her most loved roles.

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"I don't know...I am not huge on looking back"

It is a confession in Hathaway's own words that struck many, especially since The Princess Diaries still lives fresh in iconic pop culture memory. While speaking about an unexpected trivia miss on her own filmography, Hathaway casually admitted to forgetting pieces of her past work, showing just how much she's moved forward.

A royal role Anne Hathaway doesn’t quite revisit

During her chat on The Tonight Show, Anne Hathaway recalled a trivia game played on set where she forgot a key detail about her own career. She was on a winning streak until a simple card stumped her. A card that read: "Junior Executive Assistant - The Devil Wears Prada."

Without a second thought, Hathaway named Emily Blunt's character. But the real answer was her own character, i.e., Andy Sachs. The mix-up had everyone surprised, but what made it more interesting was her reaction. She genuinely didn't recognize the question that referred to her.

Jimmy Fallon asked whether forgetting roles is something she does intentionally, and that's when Hathaway responded with;

"I am not huge on looking back."

The idea wasn't said with regret, but rather with ease, as though she chooses to keep her eyes on the road ahead rather than the rearview mirror. What stood out was her comfort with detachment from past work, even ones as defining as hers. And though she holds those memories with respect, she doesn't carry them around like badges.

A legacy she treasures, just not actively

Though Anne Hathaway's memory might have skipped a beat, it doesn't mean she doesn't appreciate how these iconic pop cultural films like The Devil Wears Prada and The Princess Diaries have played a role in her life.

At just 17, Anne Hathaway starred as Mia Thermopolis, the awkward teenager turned Genovian princess now known as Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi.

It was the kind of role that launched her career that we know of today. While she says she hasn't seen the film in a long time, she's fully aware of the love people continue to have for it.

She spoke about fans constantly quoting lines to her, ones she can't always place because it's been years since she watched it. However, rather than brushing off the moment, Hathaway acknowledged how The Princess Diaries has become a "family touchstone."

She may not live in that past chapter, but she's grateful it helped shape the journey. Her comment wasn't dismissive, just a reminder that even if actors move on from the stories the world still holds close.

Anne Hathaway might not look back often, but her past roles, especially The Princess Diaries, continue to echo in today’s culture. Her honesty about forgetting parts of her history isn’t a sign of disrespect, but rather a reflection of how she chooses to grow.

And even if she doesn’t remember every line, the world surely does.