Honestly, looking back at 2004, it’s wild how much the cast of Ella Enchanted basically took over Hollywood. At the time, critics were kinda lukewarm about the movie—it’s sitting at around 51% on Rotten Tomatoes—but if you grew up with it, the film is a total fever dream of early-2000s camp. You've got Anne Hathaway singing Queen, a pre-Hannibal Hugh Dancy being the ultimate heartthrob, and Cary Elwes playing a villain after literally being the hero of The Princess Bride.
It’s been over two decades since we first visited the Kingdom of Frell. While the movie didn't smash the box office back then, it’s become this massive cult classic on streaming. The actors? Well, they’ve gone from wearing tunics and fighting ogres to winning Oscars and leading major TV procedurals.
Anne Hathaway: From Obedience to Oscar Royalty
When Anne Hathaway took the lead as Ella of Frell, she was still mostly known as the "Princess Diaries girl." She actually did her own vocals for the soundtrack, which was a huge deal. Remember that "Somebody to Love" scene? Iconic. She recently admitted that she took mime lessons for two weeks just to get those "forced obedience" movements right. That’s dedication for a movie with a talking snake.
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Fast forward to 2026, and she's basically an industry titan. After Ella Enchanted, she ditched the tiara for gritty roles in Havoc and Brokeback Mountain before eventually winning her Academy Award for Les Misérables. Most recently, you've probably seen her in The Idea of You or the thriller Mother's Instinct. She’s managed to maintain that "theatre kid" energy while becoming one of the most respected actresses in the world.
Hugh Dancy: Prince Char’s Darker Turn
Let's talk about Prince Charmont. Hugh Dancy was the "it boy" for anyone who liked their princes with a bit of a British accent and floppy hair. He’s gone on record saying the experience of filming in Ireland was just as fun as it looked on screen.
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But if you only know him as the prince, his later career might give you whiplash. He spent years playing the deeply traumatized Will Graham in Hannibal, which is about as far from a fairy tale as you can get. These days, he’s a staple of the Law & Order revival as EADA Nolan Price. It’s kinda funny seeing him go from running away from fan-girl mobs in Frell to arguing in a Manhattan courtroom.
The Villains and the Fairies: What Happened to the Rest?
The supporting cast of Ella Enchanted was honestly stacked with British acting royalty and comedy legends.
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- Cary Elwes (Prince Regent Edgar): He played the guy who murdered the King (Char's dad). Since then, Cary has been everywhere. He was in Saw the same year Ella came out, and more recently, he’s popped up in Stranger Things and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning.
- Lucy Punch (Hattie): She played the "evil stepsister" role so well that she basically made a career out of being hilariously awful. She’s currently starring in the Motherland spin-off Amandaland in 2026.
- Minnie Driver (Mandy): Our favorite household fairy! Minnie has stayed busy with a mix of indie films and major TV roles, including Speechless and The Serpent Queen.
- Joanna Lumley (Dame Olga): Already a legend before the film, the Absolutely Fabulous star continues to be a powerhouse in British media and travel documentaries.
Why It Still Works
What people get wrong about Ella Enchanted is that it’s "just a kids' movie." If you watch it now, the satire of celebrity culture and the subtle political commentary about the treatment of giants and elves is actually pretty sharp. The chemistry between the leads wasn't faked; Dancy and Hathaway really did click, which is why that final "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" number feels so genuine.
Misconceptions About the Production
A lot of fans think the movie was filmed on a massive studio lot, but it was actually shot largely on location in Ireland, specifically around Powerscourt Estate. Also, there's a common rumor that the movie followed the book closely—it didn't. The author, Gail Carson Levine, was reportedly surprised by how much they changed (like adding the Jukebox-musical elements), but she eventually came around to its charms.
If you’re looking to revisit the magic, most of the cast of Ella Enchanted has projects currently streaming. You can catch Hugh Dancy on NBC's Law & Order or see Anne Hathaway’s latest work on Prime Video. For the full nostalgia hit, the movie itself recently moved back to Paramount+ as of late 2025.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out the 20th Anniversary behind-the-scenes footage on YouTube, which features rare interviews with a young Hathaway and Dancy.
- Look for Lucy Punch’s new series Amandaland if you miss her comedic timing from the film.
- Give the original Gail Carson Levine novel a read to see just how different the "curse of obedience" was intended to be.