Anne Hathaway has opened up about the emotional journey behind her third pregnancy, revealing that she and her husband, Adam Shulman, approached the possibility of expanding their family with cautious optimism rather than certainty.
Speaking at the New York premiere of The Odyssey on July 14, the 43-year-old actress admitted that she had tempered her expectations while trying for another child, aware that pregnancy becomes increasingly unpredictable with age. Rather than planning with confidence, Hathaway said she and Shulman chose to accept whatever outcome awaited them.
“There’s always hope until there’s not, but when you get to a certain age, that hope looks like 1% to 2%,” she told Access Hollywood. “So we just decided to see where life took us, with a very, very healthy, realistic expectation, which was very low.”
Her remarks shed light on a reality that many women face but that is often overlooked in public discussions surrounding motherhood and fertility. While advances in medicine have expanded reproductive options for older parents, age remains a significant factor in conception and pregnancy outcomes. Hathaway’s comments reflect both the optimism and uncertainty that can accompany family planning later in life.
The actress described the pregnancy as a blessing that she and her husband do not take for granted, acknowledging that not everyone who hopes to have children is able to do so. By speaking candidly about her experience, Hathaway joins a growing number of public figures who have used their platforms to discuss the emotional complexities of parenthood, fertility and aging.
The Oscar winner announced her pregnancy on June 19 through a video posted on Instagram, where she appeared in a flowing white dress that revealed her baby bump. The child will be the couple’s third together. Hathaway and Shulman, who married in 2012, are already parents to Jonathan, 10, and Jack, 6.
Earlier this year, Hathaway described the pregnancy as a “buzzer-beater” during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, a phrase that captured the unexpected nature of the news. The comment underscored her own surprise at becoming pregnant at a stage in life when she had largely adjusted her expectations.
Beyond the excitement surrounding the new addition to her family, Hathaway has often spoken about the impact motherhood has had on her life. She has credited raising two sons with influencing everything from her fashion choices to the way she balances her career with family responsibilities.
“I’m a tomboy,” the actress previously remarked, noting that being a “boy mom” has shaped her personal style.
Hathaway’s announcement comes at a busy moment professionally as she prepares for the release of The Odyssey, which arrives in cinemas on July 17. Yet, amid the demands of Hollywood, her latest chapter is one defined less by red carpets and film premieres than by the unexpected joy of welcoming another child.
