Anne Hathaway reveals turning 40 ended her 'awkward life'

Anne Hathaway expresses that turning 40 allowed her to unwind and enjoy life more.

"Starting out, I believed I'd be a better artist by being very critical of myself," Hathaway, now 43, told People in an interview released on Monday.

"Turning 40 shifted my mindset, and I wasn't interested in living awkwardly anymore. I wanted to get to the fun part of life."

This milestone has also made her deliberate more on her decisions.

"At this age, you must seriously consider how you nurture yourself. When you're in your 40s, you've observed how certain decisions impact over time. This learning helps you decide whether to maintain the same decisions or choose new paths," she noted.

Hathaway said one of her favourite aspects of being 40 is not getting "so caught up in things anymore."

"I used to not understand the phrase, 'Take it with a grain of salt.' To me, there was no salt; every high was extreme, and every low was devastating. Now, I appreciate being more relaxed," she shared.

Currently, Hathaway is accepting the uncertainty that aging brings.

"I've never been at this stage before. Let's just, you know, figure it out together. You never know what lies around the corner," she mentioned.

But, she has plenty to look ahead to. The actress has five movies lined up for release this year, including "The Devil Wears Prada 2."

Hathaway isn't alone in this revelation. Numerous celebrities assert that turning 40 shifted their perspective on life and careers.

In December, "Big Bang Theory" star Kaley Cuoco shared how reaching 40 made her more empathetic and less judgmental.

"It's quite cliché, but truthful — you understand differently, and empathize with others in a way you can't when you're in your 20s or 30s," Cuoco expressed.

In March, Chelsea Handler mentioned she veered away from typical dating norms in her 40s, choosing to date younger individuals after years with older partners.

"I decided to switch things up because I'm too attractive for an older partner. Honestly," Handler stated.

Turning 40 is a significant milestone prompting introspection and concern. It marks the beginning of midlife — a period is shown by research to see a dip in life satisfaction.

Hannes Schwandt, an associate professor at Northwestern University, noted that this midlife dip is often associated with unmet expectations that feel particularly weighty at the time, although they typically matter less as life progresses.

However, not everyone sees this stage as a downturn.

Several women who switched careers in their 40s told Business Insider they viewed it as a chance to rebrand.

Executive coach Monique Shields explained it's because many individuals reach a point where "achievement is no longer the primary aim."

"You've done all the striving," she added, "and now, the focus shifts more towards well-being and legacy."