Anne Hathaway talks 'benefiting' from Hollywood ageism: 'it's the way things are'

LONDON, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Anne Hathaway says she is experiencing the threat of ageism in Hollywood, as potential parts are given to younger, fresher actresses.

The 32-year-old actress, who in her late teens starred in Princess Diaries, told Glamour UK for their September issue she "can't complain" about ageism "because I benefited from it."

"When I was in my early twenties, parts would be written for women in their fifties and I would get them," she said. "And now I'm in my early thirties and I'm like, 'Why did that 24-year-old get that part?' I was that 24 year old once, I can't be upset about it, it's the way things are."

"All I can do right now is think that thankfully you have built up perhaps a little bit of cachet and can tell stories that interest you and if people go to see them you'll be allowed to make more," Hathaway said.

The Devil Wears Prada actress may be joining the ranks of Maggie Gyllenhaal and Emma Thompson, who have recently mentioned how ageism in their industry has affected their work.

Gyllenhaal, for example, said in May she was turned down from a role because she was too old to play the lover of a 55-year-old man. "It was astonishing to me," she recounted. "It made me feel bad, and then it made me feel angry, and then it made me laugh."

Last year, John Cusack commented on the differences between Hollywood ageism among men and women.

The 49-year-old actor said at the time, "I got another 15, 20 years before they say I'm old. For women it's brutal."

"I have actress friends who are being put out to pasture at 29," he said. They just want to open up another can of hot 22. It's becoming almost like kiddie porn. It's [expletive]ing weird."