Anne Hathaway was born on November 12, 1982, in Brooklyn, NY to Kate McCauley Hathaway and Gerald Hathaway. Named after William Shakespeare’s wife, this was just the beginning of Hathaway’s connection to the world of theater and acting.          

Hathaway attended Brooklyn Heights Montessori School for preschool and later, went to Millburn High School, where she was a participant in the school drama department and acted in many of the school’s plays. She graduated from Millburn High School with a Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award – a nomination for her performance in one of her many plays. After her drama-based high school, she headed to Vassar College to study English as well as women’s studies (the history and evolution of women’s rights). However, after a few semesters, she transferred to NYU’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study.

After her first major role in “The Princess Diaries,” Hathaway’s fame began to rise. The actress has starred in numerous films, but her role in Tom Hooper’s “Les Misérables,” brought a lot of awards and recognition. For her role as Fantine, she received the Academy Award, Golden Globe award, Screen Actors Guild award, and British Academy of Film and Television Arts award for best supporting actress. 

However, despite her immense fame, Hathaway has spoken publicly about her many struggles. One major obstacles she’s had to deal with is her anxiety and depression she had to deal with since childhood. As an actress, she needed to make sure she could play her role as perfectly as she could, until one role, where she went way too far. In the movie, “Les Misérables,” she was too fixated on losing weight which caused her to be in a state of deprivation both physically and emotionally. When she got older, her infertility journey was so challenging and tormenting that she felt troubled at the sight of a pregnant woman. However, with all these struggles, Hathaway never wavered in any part of her life. 

Not only is Hathway a well-recognized celebrity, but she is also a philanthropist as well. Recognizing how fortunate she has become, she makes sure others get to have a part of what she has. She has worked with numerous charitable organizations such as The Girl Effect, World of Children, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and is also a board member of The Lollipop Theatre Network. Due to her immense talent and kindness, Hathaway will undoubtedly make an impact in the acting world and society for many years to come.