Anne Hathaway says her 'toxic' identity almost ruined her career ...

26 Mar 2024

National Post

Hathaway says she googled herself after winning an Oscar in 2013, to see one of the top search results was an article titled: 'Why does everyone hate Anne Hathaway?'

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Published Mar 26, 2024 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 2 minute read

U.S. actress Anne Hathaway attends the premiere of "The Hustle" at the Arclight Cinerama Dome in Hollywood, California on May 8, 2019. Photo by ROBYN BECK /AFP/Getty Images

Anne Hathaway has praised Christopher Nolan for saving her career after she became “toxic”.

The actress, 41, faced fierce criticism and trolling over her acting and wholesome “all American girl” persona in the lead up to and the aftermath of her winning the best supporting actress Oscar for her role in ‘Les Misérables’.

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She has now told Vanity Fair she remembered googling herself after winning her Academy Award win in 2013, to see one of the top search results was an article titled: ‘Why does everyone hate Anne Hathaway?’

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Hathaway added how she feels director Nolan, 53, saved her by giving her a role soon after in his 2014 ‘Interstellar’ film: “A lot of people wouldn’t give me roles because they were so concerned about how toxic my identity had become online.

“I had an angel in Christopher Nolan, who did not care about that and gave me one of the most beautiful roles I’ve had in one of the best films that I’ve been a part of.”

Christopher Nolan, winner of the Best Directing award and the Best Picture award for ‘Oppenheimer,’ poses in the press room during the 96th Annual Academy Awards at Ovation Hollywood on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California. Photo by Rodin Eckenroth /Getty Images

Hathaway was given the part of NASA scientist Dr Amelia Brand in Nolan’s space travel epic. She previously worked with him in ‘The Dark Knight Rises.’

Anne Hathaway - Figure 4 — Photo National Post

She added to Vanity Fair about how she suspected he supported her behind the scenes: “I don’t know if he knew that he was backing me at the time, but it had that effect.

“And my career did not lose momentum the way it could have if he hadn’t backed me.”

She added about the trolling and criticism she has faced: “Humiliation is such a rough thing to go through.

“The key is to not let it close you down. You have to stay bold, and it can be hard because you’re like, ‘If I stay safe, if I hug the middle, if I don’t draw too much attention to myself, it won’t hurt.’

“But if you want to do that, don’t be an actor. You’re a tightrope walker. You’re a daredevil.

“You’re asking people to invest their time and their money and their attention and their care into you.