Millburn, New Jersey celebrates Anne Hathaway's Oscar win

New Jersey was a proud state last night.

Anne Hathaway won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role of Fantine in the blockbuster hit Les Miserables. The movie was based on Victor Hugo’s book on revolution and romance set in France in the 1800s. Sally Field was one of Hathaway’s biggest competitors, CBS New York reports.

The win was special for her alma mater, Millburn High School in Millburn, New Jersey. A sign near the entrance says, “Congratulations Oscar Winner Anne Hathaway.” Friends and family of Hathaway knew she had what it took to be a star.

“She had this presence and this confidence,” said Mickey McNany, Hathaway’s old drama coach at the Paper Mill Playhouse. “We are so proud of her. As she looked at that Oscar and said, ‘It’s really true’ it was kind of like a moment where I said, ‘Yea, Annie, you did it.’”

Hathaway may be a movie star, but she hasn’t forgotten where she came from.

“She has a presence about her and that’s the type of thing you can hold up as a role model to the students,” said principal William Miron, who was Hathaway’s homeroom teacher.

On the red carpet, Hathaway said she would love to win the award because her mother once played Fantine on stage, according to Contact Music.

image: ABC