Anne Hathaway was born in Brooklyn, NY on Nov. 12, 1982, and raised in suburban Millburn, NJ. Her father, Gerald, was a lawyer while mother, Kate McCauley, was an actress who inspired Hathaway to follow the same creative path. Hathaway’s natural talents proved to be far more evolved than the average high school theater star, resulting in the teenager being accepted into the prestigious Barrow Group Theater Company in New York City. A trained soprano, Hathaway also performed at Carnegie Hall as part of the All Eastern U.S. High School Honors Chorus. Three days after that momentous performance at Carnegie Hall, she was offered a role in the short-lived television drama “Get Real” (FOX 1999-2000). After a stint in Hollywood, Hathaway returned to graduate from Millburn High School and studied at the academically competitive Vassar College before transferring to New York University. In New York City, she was able to maintain a presence in the acting world while also maintaining a down-to-earth life with students her age.

In 2001, the unknown 19-year-old became an overnight sensation with her lead role in Disney’s “The Princess Diaries,” after having charmed director Garry Marshall by accidentally falling off her chair during her audition. The slip convinced Marshall that Hathaway was perfect for the role of the awkward American teenager who discovers she is a princess after the death of her absent father, and is groomed for the throne by her regal grandmother (Julie Andrews). Marshall – who had directed “Pretty Woman” (1990) – also saw more than a fleeting glimpse of a Julia Roberts-like look and feel to Hathaway’s performance. The family film was a box office success and Hathaway found herself in the position of reluctant role model to tweens everywhere. Her next release was the indie “The Other Side of Heaven” (2002) which had actually been filmed prior to “Princess Diaries,” but producers delayed its release when it became apparent that the film’s star was about to become an overnight success. Unfortunately, Hathaway’s newly bankable name was not enough to transform “The Other Side of Heaven” into a hit, though it did strike a chord with Christian audiences.

Hathaway followed up with a role as beguiling artist Madeline Bray in the Dickens adaptation “Nicholas Nickleby” (2002), which was one of the year’s critical picks and a Golden Globe nominee for Best Picture. That year, she also made her Broadway debut as the lead in a revival of “Carnival!” and impressed critics with her well-rounded song and dance talents. Her first misfire – another aspiring Princess tale “Ella Enchanted” (2004) – lacked the sparkle of “Princess Diaries,” but Hathaway rebounded with a sequel to her mega-hit, reprising her role in “Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement” (2004). But even though she was a newly minted star with a hefty paycheck rolling in, the actress found herself at a crossroads, dangerously close to being typecast in family fare if she did not make some choices that showcased darker, more complex angles. She made her first break with the past by playing a bored, wealthy Los Angeles teenager who entertains herself by cruising the ghettos for drugs and gang member boyfriends, but advance reviews resulted in straight-to-video status for “Havoc” (2005).

A supporting role in Ang Lee’s Academy Award-nominated and controversial “Brokeback Mountain” (2005) successfully showcased the actress’ evolving talent to a huge, worldwide audience. Fully decked out as a Texas rodeo queen-turned-businesswoman, Hathaway gave a commanding performance that spanned decades and followed her character’s transformation from rambunctious flirt to disillusioned, long-suffering wife of a distant husband with a secret double life (Jake Gyllenhaal). Back in the star seat, Hathaway proved yet again that she was a bankable talent with the hit comedy “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006). Based on the bestselling and critically reviled novel about an assistant at Vogue magazine, Hathaway’s character was a plain Jane–turned-glamorous fashionista, as a result of constant humiliation by her demanding boss (Meryl Streep). She eventually rebels against the unreasonable standards of beauty and in a triumphant ending, returns to her true love – flannel and serious journalism.

In 2007, Hathaway took on the daunting role of portraying beloved English novelist Jane Austen in the fictionalized portrait of the author’s early years, “Becoming Jane” (2007). While praised for her chemistry with romantic lead James McAvoy and her dedication to immersing herself in the character, the resulting film was a critical toss-up that brought in only moderate business. But another successful comedy was on the horizon, with Hathaway co-starring opposite Steve Carell in the summer release “Get Smart” (2008). As Agent 99, a character made famous by Barbara Feldon in the original 1960s TV series, Hathaway was a perfect casting choice to play the infinitely more competent of the pair of spies.