An epic in every sense of the word, The Odyssey may focus on Odysseus’ journey home after the Trojan War and the countless obstacles along his way, but it’s also the other characters featured that make the story as lively as it is. One such figure is Penelope. A queen and wife awaiting her husband’s return, Penelope’s character is complex and vigilant. As she is bombarded with the interest of suitors she cannot refuse, she uses cunning ways to deflect them until the return of Odysseus. She proves herself more than a match for the predators at her court with tactical prowess equal to that of her husband.
To play such an important role, director Christopher Nolan turned to trusted collaborator, Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway. The actress is no stranger to working with Nolan. She has starred in his films as cat burglar Selina Kyle in The Dark Knight Rises and astronaut-scientist Amelia Brand in Interstellar. Now, in The Odyssey, she reunites once more in a role she’s absolutely thrilled to play.
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Anne Hathaway on Her Reunion With Christopher Nolan
“When Chris told me what he was doing, I had zero calm about it because I am completely in love with Greek mythology and have been since the eighth grade,” Hathaway says. “In my spare time I watch shows about Greek mythology and my favorite thing is alternative literature that retells Greek mythology. So, The Odyssey occupies a very special place in my heart. It is among the greatest pieces of storytelling that human beings have ever produced: a blend of philosophy and myth, emotion, logic and scope and imagination. When Chris said that he was going to tell the story, I thought, ‘Well, there is no better filmmaker-material pairing than that.’”
Nolan’s previous experience with Hathaway convinced him that the actress had all the qualities he wanted Penelope to embody. “Anne conveys a maturity and stillness as Penelope that is remarkable,” Nolan says. “Penelope is controlled and strategic on the surface, navigating the dangerous politics of Ithaca with apparent calm, but Anne is able to convey all the passion Penelope has to hide. I’ve worked with Anne twice before, and I knew I needed her incredible ability to play the layers of this character, to bring out the tension between Penelope’s controlled exterior and the intense emotions underneath.”
In Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey, Penelope’s character was developed in a way that exceeded Hathaway’s expectations. “In all of my years imagining the story, the Penelope that Chris wrote is beyond anything I could have anticipated,” she shares. ”She had so much fire and passion inside of her. One of the things I appreciated so much was that Chris brought in the possibility that Penelope might have felt misunderstood and that that is part of the bond that she shares with Odysseus. I also thought it was wonderful that Chris really attended to the relationship between Odysseus and Penelope. They’re important figures to other people, but in many ways the story hinges on what they mean to each other and the quality of life that they experience when they are together.”
Getting Penelope’s Look Right
The way Penelope’s look came together was instrumental in helping Hathaway come into her role. The actress thanks costume designer Ellen Mirojnick and make-up designer Luisa Abel for elevating Penelope’s story through her looks. “Ellen has such an open heart, sure hand, and I am going to say it, genius,” Hathaway gushes. “I wear ten outfits in the film, and they are a vibrant splendor of colors, as colors on Penelope should be. They tell you something about a woman whose husband has been missing for a very long time: they tell you she does not think of herself as a widow, that this queen dresses like a queen every day, in part because this could be the day he comes home. It meant that I do not need to speak a word, and you know exactly what you need to know about Penelope.”
“And Luisa is an extraordinary master of her craft,” Hathaway continues. “I was so grateful for how rigorous she was about testing different makeups to create something that allowed the story to be told, that wasn’t distracting, and that allowed the passage of time to be shown. Everything was applied intentionally and delicately, and that set you up well for the day’s work: you always felt like you were a part of something.”
One odd skill that helped Hathaway prepare for the role was weaving on a loom, which plays a vital role in the story of The Odyssey. “Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas found me the most amazing, extraordinary teacher in Northern California who is an expert at weaving thread with ancient kinds of looms,” Hathaway says. “We began with a simple, starter loom and worked our way up to a much bigger one. There was a moment when everything just clicked, like I was connecting with a skill that is foundational to being a human being. To be clear, it takes years to learn how to make something truly beautiful and intricate with a loom. But I am grateful I learned what I did so I cast the illusion of it and make you believe Penelope herself had spent years at her loom.”
The Odyssey sets off in Philippine cinemas on July 15.
Featured Image and Photos: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Frequently Asked Questions
Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway plays Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, in Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey. It marks her third collaboration with Nolan, following roles in The Dark Knight Rises and Interstellar.
The Odyssey opens in Philippine cinemas on July 15. The film is directed by Christopher Nolan and stars Anne Hathaway as Penelope alongside Tom Holland as Telemachus.
Costume designer Ellen Mirojnick created Penelope’s wardrobe, featuring ten vibrant outfits meant to convey that the queen refuses to see herself as a widow. Makeup designer Luisa Abel worked to show the passage of time through subtle, intentional makeup choices.
Hathaway learned traditional loom weaving from a specialist teacher in Northern California, since weaving plays a central role in Penelope’s story. She described the process as connecting to a foundational human skill, helping her convincingly portray a character who has spent years at the loom.
Tom Holland plays Telemachus, the son of Odysseus and Penelope, in Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey.
