It may have been 23 years since The Princess Diaries hit theatres and became an instant sleepover hit, but the iconic piece of noughties pop culture has well and truly stood the test of time.
As news of a third movie is *finally* confirmed, WHO takes a look at what the film’s biggest names are up to in life two decades on.
Anne Hathaway – Mia Thermopolis
Anne Hathaway was a relatively unknown 18-year-old actress when she landed the lead as Mia Thermopolis, a clumsy teenager who learns she is legit royalty in the fictitious nation of Genovia.
Hathaway has gone on to star in several blockbusters, namely The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Bride Wars (2009), Les Miserables (2012), for which she won an Oscar, as well as Ocean’s 8 (2018).
Now 41, Hathaway is happily married to her husband Adam Shulman. The couple, who reside in New York City, welcomed their first son Johnathan in 2016.
In July 2019, Hathaway announced they were expecting their second child together, and opened up about her struggles with conception and infertility. Their second son Jack was born later that year.
Julie Andrews – Queen Clarisse Renaldi
Julie Andrews was already a veteran actress of stage and screen when she appeared in the Princess Diaries as Mia’s classy long-lost grandmother, Queen Clarisse of Genovia.
Since then, the Hollywood icon has starred in Despicable Me (2010), Aquaman (2018), and voiced Queen Lillian in the Shrek franchise.
Andrews’ husband-of-40-years Blake Edwards passed away in 2010. She now resides in Santa Monica, California, and has nine grandchildren and three great-grandkids.
Heather Matarazzo – Lilly Moscovitz
Matarazzo got her big break when she starred as Mia’s sassy, no-holds-barred best friend Lilly Moscovitz.
Since then, Matarazzo has carved out a niche in the horror genre, appearing in Hostel 1 and 2 (2005-7), and starred in the fifth instalment of the Scream franchise in 2022.
In 2008, Matarazzo got engaged to musician Caroline Murphy, but the pair parted ways in 2012.
In 2018, Matarazzo proposed to her girlfriend comedian and writer Heather Turman and the two tied the knot in November that year.
The couple met in 2016 on the set of the film Stuck, which Matarazzo starred in and Turman wrote and produced.
The 41-year-old has long been vocal about fighting for equal rights of women and the LGBTI community.
“There are people that are sexist, that are shallow, that are only looking at the outside in terms of what woman can bring to a screen,” she told MTV in 2015.
“I look to women like Mindy Kaling and Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Amy Schumer, Rose McGowan — speaking up about the insanity of it all. And also, we do have a choice at the end of the day to say yes or to say no [to roles].”
Mandy Moore – Lana Thomas
Mandy Moore absolutely nailed the quintessential mean girl trope throughout her two-hour-long torment of Mia in The Princess Diaries.
She also got the chance to show off her singing chops when performing a duet during the notorious beach party scene.
It’s not surprising the 40-year-old went on to enjoy a successful acting career on both the big and small screen.
Moore starred in several hit romcoms during the noughties including A Walk To Remember (2002), Because I Said So (2007), License To Wed (2007) and Love, Wedding, Marriage (2011).
Moore has also reached great achievements off-screen. In 2019 Moore and a group of friends and fellow hikers reached Mount Everest’s Base Camp.
Nowadays, Moore lives a slower-paced life in LA with her husband Taylor Goldsmith, the frontman for folk rock band Dawes and the pair have three children.
Héctor Elizondo – Joe
Elizondo stole hearts as Queen Clarisse’s nurturing, mysterious butler/driver Joe.
The 87-year-old was already an established actor when he appeared on The Princess Diaries, having starred in 90s classics Pretty Woman and Runaway Bride.
Elizondo went on to feature in rom-com favourites such as Valentine’s Day (2010), Raising Helen (2004), Georgia Rule (2007) and Mother’s Day (2016).
Since 1969, he has been married to Carolee Campbell, an Emmy Award-winning actress and photographer.
The pair live a relatively quiet life in the upscale LA neighbourhood of Sherman Oaks.
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