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In 2013, Anne Hathaway won an Academy Award for her role in 2012's Les Miserable.
During what should have been a joyous era for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar winner instead became a period of time Hathaway so eloquently described as an "opportunity" to learn.
Though Hathaway's performance earned her numerous accolades, the actor was met with harsh criticism, online hate and social media bullying.
On Monday night, she opened up at Elle's Women in Hollywood event:
"Ten years ago, I was given an opportunity to look at the language of hatred from a new perspective."
"For context - this was a language I had employed with myself since I was 7. And when your self-inflicted pain is suddenly somehow amplified back at you at, say, the full volume of the internet...It's a thing."
Hathaway continued:
"I had no desire to have anything to do with this line of energy. I would no longer create art from this place."
"There is a difference between existence and behavior. You can judge behavior. You can forgive behavior, or not."
"But you do not have the right to judge - and especially not hate - someone for existing. And if you do, you're not where it's at."
Her speech garnered the actor some online love, many noting hateful and bullying behavior is often a reflection of the person spewing it.
\u201c@etalkCTV People hate for no reason bc it makes them feel better about their sorry, miserable life.\u201d— Etalk (@Etalk) 1666189737
\u201c@etalkCTV I don't know why anyone would hate Anne Hathaway. I don't hate her. I think she's a really good actress. I've seen her in a lot of films. Hate is a strong word. If someone ever told me that they hated me. Well they better not look or talk to me ever again. Because I don't need it\u201d— Etalk (@Etalk) 1666189737
\u201c@etalkCTV I cannot imagine anyone criticizing Anne Hathaway for her stunning performance as Fantine in \u201cLes Mis\u00e9rables.\u201d She moved me to tears more than once. The hate directed her way is grossly dishonest and misplaced. I\u2019m sorry to hear that some folks are so cruel.\n@AHdoingthings\u201d— Etalk (@Etalk) 1666189737
\u201c@etalkCTV I loved her in Les Mis. Sad people can be so mean. You can have a different opinion, but to be hateful to a person for how you "felt" about their performance is strange to me.\u201d— Etalk (@Etalk) 1666189737
\u201c@etalkCTV I truly believe that all this hating and shaming others needs to stop. I am so sorry that performers need to feel this hate because of their gender or for any reason.\u201d— Etalk (@Etalk) 1666189737
\u201c@etalkCTV How could anyone hate Anne Hathaway?!?\nLoved her in The Devil Wears Prada \ud83d\udc60\ud83d\udc5c\nAnd she was responsible for making me cry in public watching Les Mis with her stunning performance \ud83d\udc94\ud83c\udfb6\u201d— Etalk (@Etalk) 1666189737
\u201c@etalkCTV Haters will always be haters.\n\nI for one, love you loads to outer galaxy and back.\ud83d\ude0d\ud83e\udef6\n@AnneHathabae\u201d— Etalk (@Etalk) 1666189737
\u201c@etalkCTV Screw the naysayers! She's wonderful in many, many ways.\u201d— Etalk (@Etalk) 1666189737
\u201c@etalkCTV Love and admire her, always have, always will. She's elegant, intelligent, refined.\nRefined is sooo overlooked as a desired quality.\u201d— Etalk (@Etalk) 1666189737
\u201c@etalkCTV Good for you! Why would anyone hate you. You\u2019re a very good actress!\nPay no attention to the remarks of those people! \n\ud83e\udd17\ud83e\udd17\ud83e\udd17\ud83d\ude18\ud83d\ude18\u2764\ufe0f\u201d— Etalk (@Etalk) 1666189737
\u201c@etalkCTV I stand by her. She deserved that Oscar. Her performance was wonderful. I don't know who is hating on her? How could they dare?\u201d— Etalk (@Etalk) 1666189737
\u201c@etalkCTV I've never understood the vitriol toward her. She seems like a perfectly decent, intelligent, talented human to me. What's to hate?\u201d— Etalk (@Etalk) 1666189737
\u201c@etalkCTV Never forget: Only the best and brightest individuals are targeted y haters.\nThank you Ms. Hathaway, for offering your words of wisdom, furthering world peace.\u201d— Etalk (@Etalk) 1666189737
\u201c@etalkCTV Hate comes from jealous people. She is incredible and deserves the best!\u201d— Etalk (@Etalk) 1666189737
Hathaway shared this could be an opportunity for those who hate, as well:
"The good news about hate being learned is that whoever learned it can learn."
"There is a brain there. I hope they give themselves a chance to relearn love."