Most fans know Anne Hathaway as the girl who went from awkward teenager to royal in ‘The Princess Diaries.’ But before Mia Thermopolis made her a star, Hathaway was finding her footing in Hollywood through small roles. She had a brief stint in a TV show that has almost vanished over the years.
The 1999 drama ‘Get Real‘ gave viewers an early look at her talent and even featured another future Oscar nominee: Jesse Eisenberg. The surprising part is that, despite being part of Hathaway’s early career, the show is now hard to find and watch.
Anne Hathaway Made Her Acting Debut With ‘Get Real’
In 1999, Anne Hathaway made her TV debut in the comedy-drama Fox show ‘Get Real.’ Created by Clyde Phillips, the show revolved around the lives of Green family members as they overcome everyday problems, generational conflicts, and troubles of growing up.
Meghan Green, portrayed by Hathaway, is the ambitious daughter who seems to have everything calculated. However, she surprises her family by declaring she has chosen a different path in her life.
Meanwhile, Jesse Eisenberg portrays Meghan’s brother, Kenny Green, who suffers from bullying at school and feels like an outsider. The show featured a great cast and received positive critical reception. But it still could not find many fans among viewers.
‘Get Real’ aired from 1999 and consisted of 22 episodes of one season. The creator intended it to be longer, but declining ratings forced the network to stop airing this series before the production of the last episodes wrapped.
Moreover, it faced serious competition from ‘The West Wing,’ which increased its troubles even more. While ‘Get Real’ didn’t return for a second season, it marked Hathaway’s first appearance on the big screen.
Through her role, she showed a great sense of humor and often broke the fourth wall, making sarcastic remarks to viewers. Although the series did not immediately make Hathaway popular, it gave viewers the opportunity to see the potential she would reveal later.
‘Get Real’ Launched Hathaway Into Hollywood
‘Get Real’ ended only after a season, but Hathaway’s career had only just started. Not long after the Fox show, she got her breakthrough role in ‘The Princess Diaries.’ She won the leading role in Disney’s movie despite competing with other popular actresses during her audition in Los Angeles.
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The film became a huge success, turning Hathaway into a big Hollywood star. After that role, she went on to perform in acclaimed films such as ‘Brokeback Mountain,’ ‘The Devil Wears Prada,’ ‘The Dark Knight Rises,’ and ‘Les Misérables.’
The last movie in the group brought her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role of Fantine. At the same time, ‘Get Real’ remains a unique series in Hollywood history. It also marked the first screen appearance of Jesse Eisenberg, the Oscar nominee.
The most frustrating part? At the time of writing, the one-season show remains unavailable on major streaming sites. For loyal Hathaway fans and others, it’s a bummer you won’t easily find and watch Hathaway’s first screen appearance ever.
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