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The 1982 movie that convinced Anne Hathaway to become an actor: “I want to do that”
Anne Hathaway has said that Meryl Streep’s performance in the 1982 film *Sophie’s Choice* inspired her to become an actor. Watching Streep, Hathaway imagined herself in the role and thought, “I want to do that”; the example helped shape her focus on acting and on taking challenging roles.
In Alan J. Pakula’s psychological drama, Streep plays Sophie, a Polish immigrant in New York whose traumatic past is gradually revealed. The film, adapted from William Styron’s 1979 novel, earned Streep the Academy Award for Best Actress; she also learned Polish and German for the part. Hathaway later built a varied career spanning comedy, musicals, superhero films and drama.
In short
- Meryl Streep’s *Sophie’s Choice* inspired Anne Hathaway to pursue acting.
- Streep won the Academy Award for Best Actress for the 1982 film.
- Hathaway says she was focused on acting, rather than celebrity culture.
Explained simply
Sophie's Choice is a 1982 psychological drama based on William Styron's 1979 novel. The film follows Sophie, a Polish immigrant in New York, as her traumatic past is gradually revealed.
Meryl Streep plays Sophie, a role for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. For the role, she learned Polish and German.
Anne Hathaway has said that watching Streep's performance inspired her to pursue acting, imagining herself in such roles. She has reflected that this early influence shaped her decision to become an actor and her focus on taking challenging roles.