Anne Hathaway is officially being positioned for the Best Supporting Actress category at the upcoming Academy Awards for her role as Penelope in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.
Universal Pictures has decided to campaign Hathaway in the supporting category, ending months of speculation over whether the Oscar-winning actress would compete as a lead or supporting performer.
The decision means Matt Damon, who plays Odysseus, is expected to be the film’s sole lead acting contender, while Hathaway will enter the supporting race alongside co-star Samantha Morton, who portrays Circe. Universal could therefore pursue two Supporting Actress nominations from the same film.
Hathaway’s placement is notable because she has already won an Academy Award in the same category. She received the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for playing Fantine in Les Misérables at the 2013 ceremony.
The Odyssey has become one of the biggest cinematic releases of 2026, with the Christopher Nolan epic surpassing US$1.6 billion worldwide. The film is based on Homer’s ancient Greek epic and features a large ensemble cast that includes Damon, Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron and Morton.
Universal is mounting a broad awards campaign for the film, with the studio also seeking recognition across major categories. Alongside Hathaway and Morton in Supporting Actress, Damon is being positioned in Lead Actor, while other members of the ensemble are expected to be considered in supporting categories.
For Hathaway, the campaign comes during an especially busy year. She returned as Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada 2 and also appeared in The End of Oak Street and The Odyssey.
The supporting-actress decision could also create an unusual awards-season scenario if both Hathaway and Morton receive nominations for the same movie. The Academy has previously recognised multiple performers from the same film in the same acting category, making such a campaign possible.
For now, Universal’s decision provides a clearer picture of how the studio intends to position The Odyssey as the 2027 Oscars race begins to take shape, with Hathaway once again pursuing the category where she previously claimed Hollywood’s most prominent acting prize.
