The lady with twinkling eyes and a charming broad smile, turns 29! As free spirited as she is, she's known for playing roles similar to her persona, of women who attempt to remain independent.

Hathaway was born to Gerald Thomas Hathawy, a lawyer, and Kathleen Ann McCauley, an actress herself, in Brooklyn, New York. She attended Brooklyn Heights Montessori School, Wyoming Elementary School in Mullburn and graduated from Millburn High School, where she participated in various school plays.

A soprano, Hathaway performed in 1998 and 1999 with the All-Eastern U.S. High School Honors Chorus at Carnegie Hall. Three days after her 1999 performance, she was cast in the short-lived Fox television series Get Real at the age of 16. Hathaway is a trained stage actress and till date prefer performing on stage to film roles.

Her very first role in a motion picture was in Walt Disney's drama film The Other Side of Heaven (2001), before the proudction of which she was cast in The Princess Diaries as Mia Thermopolis, based on Meg Cabot's hilarious novel of the same name. The latter became her first film, after which she appeared a various successful films like Nicholas Nickleby (2002), Brokeback Mountain (2005), The Devil wears Prada, (2006), Becoming Jane (2007), Rachel Getting Married (2008), Bride Wars (2009) and Love and Other Drugs (2010). She recently voiced the lead character "Jewel" in Carlos Saldanha's animated musical comedy Rio (2011).

The actress who wanted to be a nun as a child, is involved with charities, including The Creative Coalition, The Step Up Women's Network, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, The Human Rights Campaign, and The Lollipop Theatre Network. So let us say, that in future, Hathaway will be known for the same apart from her dedication towards her career.

FridayMoviez wishes Anne Hathaway a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!