Anne Hathaway Wears Custom Zac Posen Gown on The Odyssey Press Tour

With Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey set to open in theaters on July 17, Anne Hathaway has been making the promotional rounds with the kind of considered, intentional style that mirrors the film's own epic scope. Her latest appearance — a stop at NBC Studios in New York City on Monday, July 13 — offered a masterclass in maternity dressing that drew as much attention as the project she was there to represent.

A Gown Built for the Moment

For her appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Hathaway wore a custom piece created by Zac Posen under the GapStudio banner, where Posen currently serves as Executive Vice President and Creative Director. The design, developed in collaboration with stylist Erin Walsh, centered on an off-white charmeuse fabric cut on the bias — a technique with deep roots in Hollywood's golden era, most famously associated with the fluid, body-conscious gowns of the 1930s. That long, bias-cut silhouette moved gracefully around Hathaway's baby bump while maintaining an air of quiet refinement. Layered over the satin foundation was a sheer tunic-style tank with elongated clean lines and an asymmetrical hem, a structural choice that gave the otherwise restrained look a sense of movement without sacrificing its minimalist intent. Aquazzura metallic open-toe heels, delicate drop earrings, a bracelet, and several rings rounded out the ensemble.

According to Just Jared, Posen spoke warmly about the collaboration: the designer noted that his longstanding friendship with Hathaway makes each opportunity to dress her a particular privilege.

Penelope Takes Center Stage

Hathaway's late-night visit was, of course, in service of The Odyssey, Nolan's sweeping adaptation in which she takes on the role of Penelope — the enduring, strategically patient queen of Homer's foundational epic. It's a casting choice that invites considerable anticipation, given the character's complexity and the film's prestige pedigree. Matt Damon plays the wandering Odysseus at the center of the story, while Tom Holland portrays their son Telemachus. Anne Hathaway has described Holland as a 'dream son' in the lead-up to the film's release, a sentiment that speaks to the evident warmth among the ensemble.

Zendaya, Matt Damon, and Anne Hathaway were among those who made a strong impression at the film's press launch, suggesting the kind of collective enthusiasm from a cast that can sustain a long promotional campaign. Jon Bernthal, who also appears in the film, has separately recalled gathering the cast for dinner after completing his scenes — a small but telling detail about the camaraderie surrounding this production.

Pregnancy and the Press Circuit

For Hathaway, this press tour carries additional personal weight. Since announcing she is expecting her third child, she has navigated the public-facing demands of a major studio release with characteristic composure. Monday's appearance was a reminder that maternity style, when approached with genuine craft rather than as an afterthought, can be as deliberate and expressive as any other form of dressing. The Posen gown managed to honor both the occasion and the moment in her life — a balance that requires sensitivity from everyone involved in the design process.

Looking Ahead

With The Odyssey arriving in theaters July 17, the coming days will determine whether Nolan's interpretation of one of Western literature's oldest narratives can translate the source material's emotional vastness to a contemporary audience. Hathaway's role as Penelope places her at the moral and narrative heart of that story — a character defined not by action in the conventional sense, but by intelligence, loyalty, and a kind of quiet endurance that great screen performances can make genuinely moving. The press tour, gown and all, is simply the prelude.