The Princess Diaries Cast: Travel to Genovia to Catch Up With Mia and the Rest

If it’s not the timeless advice offered from Julie Andrews’ Queen Clarisse, it’s the hilarious comedy that audiences got from the 2001 movie, The Princess Diaries. With a makeover scene that many can recite by heart and a sweet love story between Anne Hathaway’s character and her best friend’s brother, this movie is one for the books.

The Princess Diaries follows shy teenager Mia Thermopolis (Hathaway), who learns that she comes from royalty and is, in fact, a princess and heir to the crown. Mia now has to come to terms with her new life while learning to act accordingly, while also grappling with what she feels is her real identity of a normal teen.

Catch up with the cast of The Princess Diaries and see what the stars have been up to since the film’s release.

Anne Hathaway

Character Played: Mia Thermopolis

Born: November 12, 1982, in Brooklyn, New York

Best Known For: The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Bride Wars (2009), Valentine’s Day (2010), Ocean’s Eight (2018) and The Idea of You (2024).

Thoughts on The Princess Diaries: “Getting the script, it just had that feeling. I touched it, and it was electric… Getting to make it and be on set every day, I got to hug Julie Andrews every day,” she explained. “That part was also very, very magical.”

Julie Andrews

Character Played: Queen Clarisse Renaldi 

Born: October 1, 1935, in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, England

Must Read: The 10 Best Julie Andrews Movies and TV Shows, Ranked 

Best Known For: Films such as Mary Poppins (1964) and The Sound of Music (1965), as well as TV shows, including Bridgerton (2020-24)

Thoughts on The Princess Diaries: “To be involved with a film that gives so much pleasure to children every time they stumble across the movie has been a gift for me… There’s always a new generation that can discover it, and I think The Princess Diaries is that kind of a movie.” 

Hector Elizondo

Character Played: Joe

Born: December 22, 1936, in New York City

Best Known For: Pretty Woman (1990), Runaway Bride (1999) and Valentine’s Day (2010).

Thoughts on The Princess Diaries: “He [Joe] is the head of security for the Queen… Joseph makes sure that he maintains a certain decorum and sets a certain tone, it’s very important.”

Heather Matarazzo

Character Played: Lilly Moscovitz

Born: November 10, 1982, in Long Island, New York

Best Known For: Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995), The Devil’s Advocate (1997) and Scream (2022).

Thoughts on The Princess Diaries: “It's a movie that is relatable to people of all ages. It's not dated. That's when you know you have a good story, when it's [still] just as relevant and funny and whatnot 15 years later.”

Mandy Moore

Character Played: Lana Thomas

Born: April 10, 1984, in Nashua, New Hampshire

Best Known For: Films, including A Walk to Remember (2002), Chasing Liberty (2004) and Tangled (2010). Also known for the TV series This is Us (2016-2022).

Thoughts on The Princess Diaries: “I think being part of a film with a bunch of other people my age and never having done it before — kind of dipping my toe into this experience — it really set the ball in motion for me,” she explained. “I was like, ‘Oh, yeah, this movie stuff is fun. It’s like going to summer camp with all of your friends.’ It was a remarkable experience.” 

Robert Schwartzman

Character Played: Michael Moscovitz

Born: December 24, 1982, in Los Angeles, California

Best Known For: The Virgin Suicides (1999), Dreamland (2016) and The Unicorn (2018). He also directed the film, The Good Half (2023).

Thoughts on The Princess Diaries: “How cool is it to just be able to have been a part of a movie that really had an impact and still is out in the world?” he asked rhetorically

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