Anne Hathaway Biography

Birth name
Anne Hathaway
Date of birth (location)
12 November 1982
Brooklyn, New York, USA

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With her long dark hair, large expressive eyes and obvious talent, Anne Hathaway was earmarked as one to watch from the time she made her primetime acting debut as eldest daughter Meghan Green in the short-lived Fox drama series "Get Real" (1999-2000). The Brooklyn-born, New Jersey-raised player developed her craft as a child performer in theater, earning her stripes in several productions at the famed Paper Mill Playhouse (including "Gigi" with Gavin MacLeod and early stagings of the musical version of "Jane Eyre"). Hathaway was reportedly also the first and (to date) only teenager accepted into the acting program at The Barrow Group based in Manhattan.

Although she had attempted to land Broadway roles, Hathaway found her height (five feet eight inches) and youth detrimental. (She was too tall to be accepted in children's roles and too young-looking to portray adult parts.) She was perfect for TV and films, though, and soon landed the part of the overachieving high schooler on "Get Real" which earned her positive critical reviews. Segueing to the big screen, Hathaway was cast in the independently produced fact-based tale of a missionary to Tonga "The Other Side of Heaven" (scheduled for a fall 2001 release). Audiences, however, first saw the actress as Mia, an awkward San Francisco teen who learns she's actually royalty, in the comedy "The Princess Diaries" (2001), directed by veteran Garry Marshall. Holding her own with such talented co-stars as Julie Andrews (as her grandmother), Hector Elizondo (as an adviser) and Heather Matarazzo as Mia's pal, Hathaway proved a supple comic and displayed a commanding screen presence that could easily lead to a long and distinguished career.

Anne who attended Millburn High School is the daughter of stage actress Kate McCauley and Gerard Hathaway an Attorney and has 2 brothers. She has the same name as William Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway.

Hathaway accidentally fell off of her chair during her audition for the role of the klutzy princess in The Princess Diaries. She was hired on the spot.

She was named one of People Magazine's 'Breakthrough Stars of 2001' and one of Teen People Magazine's 25 Hottest Stars Under 25 in its June 2002 issue.

Anne won the Clarence Derwent Award for her performance as Lili in the City Center Encores! production of Carnival (2002)

Prior to majoring in English and minoring in Women's Studies at Vassar, Hathaway was nominated for the Paper Mill's "Rising Star Award" for the best high school performance by an actress in New Jersey. Later on Hathaway received a nomination for the 2002 Teens Choice Award in the Best Actress/Comedy (Princess Diaries) series category.