Anne Hathaway to campaign for supporting actress for Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’

Universal will position Hathaway alongside co star Samantha Morton in its awards campaign for the film

Anne Hathaway is set to campaign for supporting actress for her performance as Penelope in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, with Universal Pictures positioning the Oscar winner in the category for the upcoming awards season. Variety reported the decision exclusively.

Hathaway plays Penelope, the wife of Matt Damon’s Odysseus, in Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic. The film follows Odysseus as he attempts to return home after the Trojan War, with Hathaway appearing alongside an extensive ensemble that includes Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson and Samantha Morton.

Universal’s decision settles the category in which the studio will campaign Hathaway after her placement had been a subject of awards season discussion. Morton, who plays Circe, will also be part of the film’s supporting actress campaign, creating the possibility of two acting contenders from the same production in the category.

Hathaway already has an Academy Award in the supporting actress category. She won for her performance as Fantine in the 2012 musical drama Les Misérables, making another supporting actress campaign particularly notable as The Odyssey enters the awards conversation.

The new campaign also arrives during a significant box office run for Nolan’s film. The Odyssey has earned more than $1.6bn worldwide and became Universal Pictures’ highest grossing film of all time in September. It also surpassed Deadpool & Wolverine to become the highest grossing R rated film ever.

Hathaway’s Penelope is one of the central figures in the film’s story, as Odysseus remains separated from his family for years during his journey home. Nolan’s version features Hathaway alongside Holland, who plays Telemachus, the son of Odysseus and Penelope.

The campaign comes during a particularly busy period for Hathaway. She also appeared in Mother Mary and returned as Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada 2 earlier this year. Her upcoming projects include Verity, in which she stars alongside Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett.

For Universal, Hathaway’s supporting actress placement forms part of a broader awards campaign for The Odyssey. The studio is also expected to pursue recognition across major technical categories, while Damon is being positioned in the lead actor field.

With the awards season still developing, Hathaway’s campaign now gives her a defined path for consideration following her acclaimed Oscar winning performance in Les Misérables. Her category placement will be closely followed as nominations approach.