Anne Hathaway Shares Her Favorite Line From ‘The Odyssey’
Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ has emerged as a defining cinematic event of the summer, adapting Homer’s ancient epic with a star-studded cast led by Matt Damon as the wayward king Odysseus. Anne Hathaway plays opposite him as Penelope, the devoted wife who spends years fending off a palace full of suitors while awaiting her husband’s return.
Since the film’s release on July 17, several moments have taken on a life of their own online, evolving from serious dramatic beats into full-blown internet memes. Among them is a line delivered by Robert Pattinson’s character, Antinous, the most arrogant of Penelope’s suitors, during a pivotal scene late in the film.
In a recent interview, Hathaway revealed that this viral moment is also her favorite line from the entire movie. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, she highlighted Antinous’s now-famous outburst as her top pick, noting with amusement how fans have embraced the line for their own jokes online.
The moment in question occurs in a key scene where Odysseus, disguised as an elderly beggar, returns to his palace to test the character of the men occupying his home. When he asks the suitors for food, an increasingly frustrated Antinous snaps and demands the “beggar” be thrown out, unaware he’s addressing the king he’s been trying to replace.
Critics who have analyzed its viral spread note that the scene’s effectiveness lies in the dramatic irony. Audiences are aware of the “beggar’s” true identity, while Antinous remains completely oblivious, delivering his dismissive line just moments before his own downfall begins.
Pattinson’s exaggerated delivery of the line quickly gained traction online, spreading through social media shortly after the film’s theatrical debut. The clip has since inspired countless memes, reaction images, and even brand attempts to capitalize on the trend, with fans applying the phrase to everything from customer service complaints to everyday annoyances.
This kind of unexpected internet virality isn’t new for ‘The Odyssey’ as a whole. The film has generated multiple breakout meme moments since its release, including reactions to Zendaya’s stoic portrayal of Athena and a widely shared slow-motion turn from Hathaway’s own character during the film’s climactic bow-stringing scene.
For Hathaway, ‘The Odyssey’ marks her third collaboration with Nolan, following their previous work together on ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ and ‘Interstellar.’ The film represents Nolan’s first project since his Oscar-winning ‘Oppenheimer,’ and it features an ensemble that includes Tom Holland, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, and Jon Bernthal.
Hathaway has previously discussed the physically demanding nature of filming Penelope’s storyline, describing certain sequences as feeling almost like being in a birthing suite due to their intensity and emotional toll. This level of commitment has garnered widespread praise for her performance, even as critics have offered more mixed reactions to the film’s broader palace-set storyline.
With ‘The Odyssey’ continuing to dominate conversations both in theaters and across social media, it’s clear that even the film’s stars are just as delighted by its meme-worthy moments as the audiences discovering them.
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