Anne Hathaway has long been a master of the romantic lead, from the witty writer in One Day to the 40-something single mom falling for a younger man in The Idea of You. Her charisma lights up the screen, and she's built a career on making audiences fall in love with her characters. But her most impactful romantic role might be the one that lasts only half an hour.
In Modern Love, Prime Video's anthology series based on the beloved New York Times column, Hathaway plays Lexi, a successful lawyer whose path to love is complicated by her bipolar disorder. The episode, titled "Take Me As I Am, Whoever I Am," is a standout in the series—and a showcase for Hathaway's extraordinary talent.
A Character of Extremes
Lexi is introduced in a burst of manic energy. She's dressed in a glamorous outfit in the middle of the day, simply because she feels like it. She meets Jeff (Gary Carr) in a supermarket, and their flirtation is electric. She's radiant, confident, and utterly captivating. But when she returns home, the facade crumbles. She sinks into a deep depression, unable to get out of bed, and the contrast is jarring.
Hathaway navigates these shifts with breathtaking precision. In a single episode, she shows us the dizzying highs of mania and the crushing lows of depression, often within the same scene. It's a performance that demands emotional whiplash, and she delivers it flawlessly.
More Than Just a Love Story
What makes this role so remarkable is that it's not just about romance. It's about self-acceptance and the courage to be vulnerable. When Jeff shows up for a second date, Lexi is too depressed to even engage. He leaves, confused and frustrated, not understanding what's wrong. It's a painful reminder of how mental illness can sabotage relationships, even when the desire for connection is real.
The episode's climax comes when Lexi finally opens up to a coworker about her condition. It's a moment of raw honesty that she's never allowed herself before, and it's both heartbreaking and liberating. Hathaway captures the terror and relief of that confession perfectly.
Terri Cheney, whose column inspired the episode, praised Hathaway's portrayal in a 2019 interview with Glamour, noting that she "captured the anguish" of depression while also "moving the viewer to empathy." That's exactly what makes this performance so powerful.
A Career Highlight
Hathaway has delivered Oscar-worthy work in films like Les Misérables, but Modern Love proves she can do just as much in 30 minutes as she can in two hours. It's a masterclass in emotional range, and it's a shame it's not more widely discussed.
If you haven't seen it, Modern Love is streaming on Prime Video, and it's well worth your time. And if you're a fan of Hathaway's, you might also want to check out her recent streaming success with Verity, which has been dominating charts. Or, for more Prime Video gems, consider this list of binge-worthy shows.
In the end, Modern Love is a reminder that great performances don't need a lot of time. Anne Hathaway's Lexi is a character you'll remember long after the credits roll.
