• Motto

Why Anne Hathaway Wasn’t Happy About Winning an Oscar

2 minute read

People weren’t pleased with Anne Hathaway’s 2013 Oscar acceptance speech for her role in Les Miserables, and it turns out, Hathaway wasn’t happy either. Many said her “it came true” line was over rehearsed, and it rubbed people the wrong way. Turns out, they were right. Hathaway revealed this week that she was uncomfortable and unhappy that night, leading to the awkwardly delivered speech.

“I kind of lost my mind doing that movie and it hadn’t come back yet,” Hathaway told The Guardian. “Then I had to stand up in front of people and feel something I don’t feel which is uncomplicated happiness. It’s an obvious thing, you win an Oscar and you’re supposed to be happy. I didn’t feel that way.”

She admitted that part of her emotions stemmed from the real issues that Les Miserables highlighted, which seemed so distant from the star-studded Academy Awards. “I felt wrong that I was standing there in a gown that cost more than some people are going to see in their lifetime and winning an award for portraying pain that still felt very much a part of our collective experience as human beings.”

But the audience interpreted Hathaway’s discomfort as a disinterest in her stardom, and it only played into the discourse of the ‘Hathahaters’ who criticized her “annoying” demeanor. Now, as an outspoken, body-positive new mom and U.N. Global Goodwill Ambassador, Hathaway has better things to do than worry about people misunderstanding her tone.

Read the full interview at TheGuardian.com

More Must-Reads From TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com