New Jersey Town Celebrates Anne Hathaway's Oscar Win

MILLBURN, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- One New Jersey town is beaming with pride for its hometown girl Anne Hathaway following her Oscar win Sunday night.

Hathaway was the front-runner for the best supporting actress Oscar, but that didn't take away from the sweetness of winning.

"It came true,'' a radiant Hathaway said after accepting the trophy for her performance as doomed prostitute Fantine in "Les Miserables.''

Hathaway was part of the star-filled cast in the big-screen adaptation of "Les Miserables,'' the Broadway hit based on Victor Hugo's sprawling novel of revolution and romance in 1800s France. One of her chief competitors was two-time Oscar winner Sally Field, nominated this year for "Lincoln.''

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Her win is especially significant for students at her Alma mater Millburn High School where a sign proudly proclaims, "Congratulations Oscar Winner Anne Hathaway."

"The best supporting actress was in the exact same shoes as I was," drama student Max Salverman said.

Those who knew Hathaway as a young girl growing up in Millburn said she was destined to be a star.

"I always knew that Anne had the passion and the work ethic to do it," guidance counselor Nancy Siegel said.

"She had this presence and this confidence," said Mickey McNany, who was Hathaway's 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.'"

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Hathaway's perfection, poise and grace may come across to some as phony, but those who knew her said she is down to Earth and genuine.

"She's famous, but she's still this girl and I'm just proud of her," teacher and family friend Bonnie Wofsy.

"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.

Hathaway, a best actress nominee for 2008's "Rachel Getting Married,'' has starred in wide-ranging films including "The Dark Knight Rises'' and "Bride Wars.''

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