Anne Hathaway Marks Disney Honor With a Striking Maternity Look at D23

Anne Hathaway brought a distinctly regal touch to the 2026 Disney Legends Awards as she accepted one of Disney’s highest honours while expecting her third child. The actress appeared at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California, on Sunday, Aug. 16, wearing a flowing purple gown that placed her pregnancy front and centre without taking away from the significance of the occasion.

Hathaway, 43, was among the group of entertainers, creators and executives selected for the 2026 class of Disney Legends. The ceremony, held on the final day of the three-day D23 event, celebrated people whose work has made a lasting contribution to Disney’s entertainment legacy.

A Career Rooted in Disney History

For Hathaway, the recognition came after more than two decades of memorable work connected to Disney. She first became closely associated with the company through her role as Mia Thermopolis in “The Princess Diaries” in 2001 and its 2004 sequel, “The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement”. She later appeared as the White Queen in Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” and “Alice Through the Looking Glass”.

Her appearance at the ceremony also became another notable chapter in what has been an unusually fashion-forward pregnancy for the Oscar-winning actress.

The Purple Gown Moment

Onstage, Hathaway wore a dramatic purple gown designed by Aflalo. The dress featured soft, Grecian-inspired draping and a cape-like silhouette that flowed around her body. Rather than hiding her growing baby bump, the design naturally framed it, giving the outfit a graceful maternity look suited to the formal occasion.

Hathaway kept the rest of her styling relatively understated. Her long dark hair was worn in soft waves, allowing the gown to remain the main focus. During her acceptance speech, she placed her hands around her bump as she spoke about receiving the Disney honour.

The actress expressed gratitude for the recognition and described herself as extremely fortunate to be part of such a major moment.

Why the Disney Legends Honour Matters

Her Disney Legends induction carries particular significance because her connection to Disney stretches back to the beginning of her rise to international fame. The company’s official biography highlights her performances as Mia Thermopolis as an important part of her Disney history, along with her role as the White Queen and other projects associated with Disney and its broader entertainment operations.

The 2026 Disney Legends Class

The 2026 Disney Legends class includes several major names from across entertainment and Disney leadership. Hathaway was honoured alongside:

• Dwayne Johnson
• Lin-Manuel Miranda
• The Jonas Brothers
• Alan Tudyk
• Susan Egan
• Eric Goldberg
• Jerry Bruckheimer
• Chris Berman
• Bob Iger
• Kim Irvine

Disney describes the Legends programme as a long-running tradition that recognises individuals whose creative or professional contributions have had a lasting impact on the company. The programme began in 1987, and the 2026 class brings the total number of Disney Legends to 329.

For Hathaway, the award arrives at a particularly busy stage of her career.

Embracing Maternity Fashion in the Spotlight

She announced her pregnancy with husband Adam Shulman in June, revealing that the couple is expecting their third child. Hathaway and Shulman are already parents to two sons, Jonathan and Jack.

Since announcing the pregnancy, Hathaway has continued appearing at major public events and promoting her work while experimenting with a wide range of maternity-friendly fashion.

Her recent appearances have shown that she has no interest in limiting herself to traditional maternity clothing. Instead, she has repeatedly chosen dramatic silhouettes, bold colours and high-fashion designs that acknowledge her changing body.

Recent Pregnancy Style Moments

At the Los Angeles premiere of “The End of Oak Street” earlier this month, Hathaway wore a sculptural light-blue silk top paired with loose low-rise jeans and colourful heels. The look drew attention because it allowed her baby bump to remain visible while mixing formal couture styling with casual denim.

She has also generated attention for a red outfit worn during a New York City appearance connected to her work on “The Odyssey”. The unusual design sparked online discussion over whether the outfit had been worn backward. Hathaway later responded to the speculation with humour on social media.

That willingness to play with fashion has become a noticeable part of Hathaway’s public appearances during her pregnancy. Rather than following one predictable style, she has moved between elegant gowns, structured tops, bold colors and more relaxed pieces.

Her Disney Legends ceremony look continued that pattern, but with a noticeably more traditional sense of glamour.

The purple gown was especially appropriate for an event built around celebration and legacy. Its flowing construction gave Hathaway a classic red-carpet appearance while also allowing her to move comfortably during the ceremony.

The actress also wore a different outfit earlier in the evening for the red carpet. She appeared in a white dress featuring a large watercolor-style floral design, creating another polished maternity look before changing into the purple gown for the ceremony.

A New Chapter, Personally and Professionally

The evening was significant beyond fashion. Hathaway is entering a new chapter in both her personal and professional life while continuing to maintain a high-profile career.

Her Disney connection remains especially important because Mia Thermopolis helped establish her as a leading Hollywood star. More than 20 years after the first “Princess Diaries” movie, Hathaway is also preparing to return to the role in “The Princess Diaries 3”, giving her Disney history an unusual sense of continuity.

The upcoming film has added another layer of interest to her Disney Legends recognition. Hathaway has spoken about the importance of returning to the character and honouring what audiences connected with in the original films.

Beyond Genovia: Her Wider Disney Filmography

Her Disney career has extended well beyond Genovia. She played the White Queen in Disney’s 2010 “Alice in Wonderland”, which became another major entry in her filmography, and returned for the 2016 sequel.

She has also continued working on other major productions. Disney’s official material identifies her as part of “The Devil Wears Prada 2”, in which she reprises her role as Andy Sachs more than a decade after the original film became a cultural phenomenon.

That combination of nostalgia and new work makes Hathaway’s 2026 Disney recognition particularly timely. She is being honoured for a career that includes some of Disney’s most recognisable modern characters while simultaneously returning to one of those worlds for a new chapter.

Inside the D23 Ceremony

The Disney Legends ceremony itself was the culmination of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, which ran from Aug. 14 through Aug. 16 in Anaheim. The Legends ceremony was hosted by Ryan Seacrest and featured tributes celebrating the achievements of the 2026 honourees.

While the award placed Hathaway among an impressive group of Disney figures, her appearance also reflected something more personal. She arrived at the ceremony not simply as a celebrated actress but as an expectant mother continuing to work and appear publicly during her pregnancy.

That balance has been visible throughout her recent public schedule. Hathaway has continued film promotions and major industry appearances while openly embracing fashion choices that highlight her pregnancy.

A Full-Circle Moment

Her latest look therefore represented more than another celebrity red-carpet moment. It combined three elements that currently define Hathaway’s public life: a significant career milestone, a new stage of motherhood and an increasingly confident approach to maternity fashion.

For audiences who have followed Hathaway since “The Princess Diaries”, the Disney Legends honour also offered a full-circle moment. The actress who once played a fictional teenager discovering that she was a princess has now been formally recognised by the company behind that story as a Disney Legend herself.

And this time, the regal look was entirely her own.