Hathaway's 'Nuts' Les Mis Role: Oatmeal Paste Diet

Anne Hathaway underwent a dramatic physical transformation for her Oscar-winning role as Fantine in Les Misérables. Initially, she adopted a strict cleanse, dropping ten pounds to achieve a fragile appearance suitable for the character's early struggles. This was followed by a more extreme measure during a filming break.

For two weeks, Hathaway subsisted on a diet of two squares of dried oatmeal paste daily. This period of near-starvation resulted in a further fifteen-pound weight loss, achieving the gaunt look required for Fantine's later scenes. She described the experience as "a little nuts" and a "break with reality."

Hathaway has since stated that this extreme diet was not intended as advice for others, emphasizing its temporary and performance-specific nature. The intense deprivation affected her physically and emotionally, requiring weeks to recover and impacting her enjoyment of her Oscar win. Her husband, Adam Shulman, provided crucial support during her recovery.