Hollywood superstar Anne Hathaway has officially cleared the air regarding recent internet speculation about her appearance. Following her striking red carpet appearance at the 2026 Academy Awards, rumors began circulating online that the 43-year-old actress had undergone a facelift. The rumors peaked after Hathaway shared a behind-the-scenes video on Instagram showcasing her pre-Oscars prep. In her latest cover story for the Summer 2026 “Epic Issue” of ELLE Magazine, The Devil Wears Prada 2 star addressed the noise directly, clarifying that her snatched red-carpet look was the result of a clever styling trick rather than a medical procedure.
The viral aesthetic was actually created by her longtime celebrity hairstylist, Orlando Pita, who utilized a non-invasive “instant facelift” technique. The process involved pulling small, interior sections of hair tightly from the temple area, braiding them, and securing them flat at the back of the head beneath the rest of her hair. This temporary styling method creates physical tension that naturally lifts the brow and eye area, making the face look instantly more awake and sculpted. While the look dominated social media and sparked global beauty trends, hair experts have since cautioned the public that repeating this high-tension style too frequently can cause headaches, hair breakage, or traction damage along the delicate hairline.
During her ELLE interview, Hathaway explained that while her personal preference is usually to ignore public commentary and “live in the mystery,” the speculation had simply gotten too loud to ignore. She emphasized that undergoing a facelift is a major medical choice, and she wanted to clarify that no such decision had been made, jokingly adding that it was “just two braids”—though she didn’t rule out the possibility of getting a facelift somewhere down the line.
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Beyond the beauty rumors, the Oscar-winning actress is currently navigating one of the busiest chapters of her professional life. Due to previous production delays aligning with current release schedules, Hathaway is set to premiere five major film projects over a six-month period. This massive rollout includes high-profile titles such as Mother Mary, the highly anticipated sequel The Devil Wears Prada 2, the sci-fi thriller The End of Oak Street alongside Ewan McGregor, and the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel Verity.
Most notably, this summer she will star as Penelope in Christopher Nolan’s historical epic The Odyssey alongside Matt Damon. The project marks her third collaboration with Nolan, following her memorable roles in The Dark Knight Rises and Interstellar. Reflecting on her career longevity and her evolution as an actor, Hathaway expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity to work with Nolan again, noting that returning to his set after twelve years allowed her to bring a newfound maturity, depth, and quiet calm to her performance