Anne Hathaway opens up about early career insecurities and anxiety.

She’s been a true success since stepping into the spotlight nearly two decades ago.

And despite her talent and fame, Anne Hathaway admitted her early career was plagued with ‘feelings of inadequacy, insecurity and nervousness and anxiety.’

The Serenity actress, 36, opened up about her confidence struggles during a sit down with People Editor-In-Chief Jess Cagle for the star’s cover story out Wednesday, telling Cagle: ‘I did everything so wrong for so long.’

Heart-to-heart: Anne Hathaway (above January 23) opened up about how insecurity used to affect her during an interview with People’s Jess Cagle out Wednesday

While Anne, who rocketed to fame in 2001 upon the release of The Princess Diaries, said she’s ‘not big on looking back’ she clearly remembers the ways being in the spotlight made her self-conscious.

She said her anxiety even caused her to change her diet and encourage other bad habits like ‘smoking her nerves away.’

‘…I remember 10 years ago being so scared going into the whole awards season and doing what I thought I was supposed to do, so I barely ate anything at Christmas… I thought movie stars had to have a certain body. I was just smoking, just smoking my nerves away and wasn’t nourishing myself.’

But the Brokeback Mountain actress says over time she’s learned how to take care of herself.

Coping mechanisms: In People interview Anne said her anxiety even caused her to change her diet and encourage other bad habits like ‘smoking her nerves away’

Her big break: Anne rocketed to fame in 2001 upon the release of The Princess Diaries. Seen above at the 2001 Teen Choice Awards

‘I just figured out how to say thank you to life by taking care of myself,’ she says. ‘By not apologizing for taking up space, which is not something I knew how to do 10 years ago.’

‘It’s been a journey. I don’t look that different, but I just feel like the inside has transformed so much.’

And Anne says maturity has taught her several ways to ignore her detractors.

‘Everybody’s entitled to their opinion. What I appreciate is when the negativity has some intelligence behind it. What I don’t like is lazy negativity. If you’re going to take someone down, have a point of view! Be witty, maybe pun a little!’

Growing up: The Brokeback Mountain actress (above January 23) says over time she’s learned how to take care of herself

Hathaway has been busy promoting her new thriller Serenity around town with co-star Matthew McConaughey, seen above together on Watch What Happens Live last week

Hathaway has been busy promoting her new thriller Serenity around town with co-star Matthew McConaughey.

In Serenity McConaughey plays a fisherman named Baker, whose ex-wife Karen, played by Hathaway, comes back to town begging her ex to save her from her abusive now-husband and instead invites him into a dark world of crime he thought he had already left in the past.

Serenity comes out in theaters January 25 2019.