In defense of Anne Hathaway

We all may be suffering from a little bit of Anne Hathaway-related fatigue.

The newly minted Academy Award winner for “Les Misérables” has been a hot commodity this awards season, racking up dozens upon dozens of trophies for her stunning turn as Fantine in the bold, if overdone, musical.

In less delicate terms, we’ve had to watch Hathaway feign surprise every time she won an award in the last few months.

But she couldn’t act like she knew she was going to win, lest the Academy and America turn their backs on the young actress. The Academy stood strong, but it seems like the jury may be out on America’s opinion.

What came as a surprise was the formidable backlash that has surfaced in light of Hathaway’s victory.

Many people feel as if she is faking modesty and she’s known since day one she would be winning awards for her role.

To be fair, we all probably seem like we’re faking modesty in comparison to Best Actress winner Jennifer Lawrence, a girl so genuine we probably would have been more surprised if she had not fallen on her way to the stage.

But comparisons aside, people just believe Hathaway is constantly playing the delicate ingénue.

Whispering to her Oscar before she began her speech, “It came true...” Hathaway does appear to evoke the dramatic regality and poise of classic Hollywood leading ladies.

But are we really so jaded a society we have to believe the worst of Hathaway?

Just because she memorized her acceptance speech and wrapped it up with a plea to end poverty, she’s being fake?

If so, you better also hate the majority of people who attended that Oscars. You know, a big room full of actors and their not-so-miniature egos.

And let me tell you, Daniel Day-Lewis knew he was winning and had his speech memorized before “Lincoln” was even shot. You don’t hear nameless Internet trolls debasing him.

It’s also a cheap and easy jab to claim Hathaway is devoid of talent. If you think that, you have not seen “Les Misérables.”

Hathaway was nominated for Best Actress back in 2009 for her raw turn as a recovering drug addict in the criminally under-viewed “Rachel Getting Married.” 

This isn’t a girl who rolled into Hollywood last week and scored a role on a whim. Hathaway is a woman who has turned in charming performance after charming performance for over a decade.

From “The Princess Diaries” to “The Dark Knight Rises,” Hathaway has rarely missed a beat.

In addition to being a talented actress, Hathaway is also heavily involved in philanthropy and charity.

In 2007, she gave a speech at a gala for the Human Rights Campaign in support of her brother. In 2012, she sold her wedding photographs and donated the proceeds to the American Cancer Society, Freedom to Marry and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, among others.

Now, I realize everyone can’t agree on which actress or actor we should all like. People will hate who they hate and have not the faintest reason or rhyme to back it up.

Really, I’m being a complete hypocrite seeing as I attend the Church of Loathing Kirsten Stewart.

But, last I checked, Anne Hathaway has flawless teeth, a heart of gold and an Oscar, and I’m pretty sure no one reading this has all three of those.

So maybe the haters should all project their insecurities on a more deserving target.