Anne Hathaway began her career as a role model for girls everywhere when she took on the role as Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries. So often young girls deal with low self-esteem, which can lead to even bigger problems when they grow up. Mia helped these ladies in making them believe in themselves and realize that anything they set their minds to they could achieve. Of course as the girls grew they found themselves still devoted to Hathaway, their royal hero.
As Anne Hathaway grew older so did her characters but often times she continued in her roles of strong women role models. She plays Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada, an assistant who finally realizes she won't be pushed around. Many young women find themselves in similar situations and this type of movie probably had them raising a drink high in the air chanting "I won't be my boss's slave anymore!"
Soon after Ms. Hathaway took on the role of Jane Austen in Being Jane. Jane Austen is famous for creating female role models all the way back in the early 1800's. Austen is greatly loved by many a romantic woman and the role was one Anne must have taken on quite seriously knowing it had to be delivered perfectly. Of course she did exactly that way.
More recently Anne Hathaway took on a role played out by children and even adults all over the world, that of Catwoman a.k.a. Selina Kyle in The Dark Knight Rises. Selina Kyle doesn't want to be bad, society has just made her out that way. Anne pulled it off with perfection and though the little girls probably didn't get to see it, the grown women who remember her as Mia Thermopolis were once again proud to call her our favorite.
Last night at the Golden Globes Anne Hathaway won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Fantine in Les Miserables. This character, the struggling mother who will do anything to save her child, is another role to be proud of and to win the Golden Globe is a huge honor. However the best part of all, the best part of the night is when Hathaway gave her speech and said these words:
"Thank you for this lovely blunt object which I will forever more use as a weapon against self-doubt."
Did I hear that right? Does Anne Hathaway, queen of role model movie characters, actually have self-doubt? Of course she does, and this is what makes her real. This moment brought tears to my eyes and really showed me how amazing a person she is in real life.
My message to Anne Hathaway is this: Thank you Anne. Thank you for teaching me that if I work hard enough I can attain my goals. That I can be really awesome if I put my mind to it. That I'm beautiful inside and out even if others may not think so. For 10 years you have been helping shape young girls and growing up along side of those of us who wished to be invited to Mia's princess birthday party. You continue to shape us everyday just by picking great roles. Please keep doing what you do. I for one am very proud of you.
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