The 43-year-old actress opened up about her experiences living in New York while taking part in a New York Magazine challenge.
Anne Hathaway has spent years calling New York City home—but even an Oscar-winning actress isn't immune to some of the less-glamorous realities that come with living in the Big Apple.
The 43-year-old actress opened up about her experiences living in New York while taking part in a New York Magazine segment, revealing some of the highs and lows she has encountered in the city over the years.
Among them? Roaches.
Hathaway candidly revealed that she has dealt with the unwanted pests in her home—and indicated that the problem isn't necessarily confined to her distant past.
Asked about cockroaches, the "Devil Wears Prada" star—who is expecting her third child with her husband, Adam Shulman—confirmed that she has them, before revealing that she had spotted one relatively recently.
Anne Hathaway has spent years calling New York City home—but even an Oscar-winning actress isn't immune to some of the less glamorous realities that come with living in the Big Apple. (Instagram) "I saw one not too long ago," she admitted.
Unfortunately, pests aren't the only less-than-glamorous part of New York living that Hathaway has experienced.
The actress also recalled the decidedly cramped conditions of her first apartment in the city, revealing that the entire home measured just 350 square feet.
While that may sound particularly tiny for an A-list actress today, Hathaway's first New York home came long before the lavish lifestyle that fans might now associate with the Academy Award winner.
The diminutive apartment did, however, come with one particularly quintessential New York feature: a fire escape.
Hathaway admitted that she made use of the outdoor space, recalling how she and her friends would sit out there and smoke cigarettes.
The actress' history with the city goes well beyond that first tiny home.
Hathaway, who grew up in New Jersey, has spent a significant portion of her life in and around New York and revealed during the challenge that she has moved an astonishing number of times.
When asked how many different New York homes she has lived in, Hathaway couldn't come up with a definitive total on the spot. Instead, she estimated that she has moved around 15 times.
That extensive history has seemingly left Hathaway well-versed in the many quirks of New York life, from navigating public transportation to dealing with cabdrivers who choose less-than-ideal routes.
When presented with the scenario of a cab taking a route she didn't agree with, Hathaway made clear that she wouldn't simply sit quietly and stew over it.
"Why are we going this way?" she offered as a possible response.
The 43-year-old actress opened up about her experiences living in New York while taking part in a New York Magazine segment, revealing some of the highs and lows she has encountered in the city over the years. (BG048/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) 
Hathaway candidly revealed that she has dealt with the unwanted pests in her home—and indicated that the problem isn't necessarily confined to her distant past. (Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) However, the actress suggested that the interaction didn't need to become confrontational, instead advocating for driver and passenger to figure out the situation together.
"And hopefully you're friends by the end," she quipped.
Hathaway also displayed her familiarity with the city's subway system, making clear that transferring between trains isn't something that fazes her.
Her years in New York have also failed to diminish her appreciation for one of the city's most recognizable features: its skyline.
While discussing the kinds of quintessential New York experiences that can still excite even longtime residents, Hathaway pointed to the sight of the skyline, suggesting that the familiar view remains meaningful even after years spent in the area.
It's a relationship with New York that stretches back decades.
Although Hathaway is closely associated with the city today—and famously starred in the New York-set "The Devil Wears Prada"—she was raised primarily in New Jersey after her family relocated there when she was young.
She later returned to New York, beginning a housing journey that would apparently involve more than a dozen moves, at least one exceptionally small apartment and some unwanted insect roommates along the way.
Of course, Hathaway's career has changed dramatically since the days when she was squeezing into a 350-square-foot apartment.
After breaking through as Mia Thermopolis in 2001's "The Princess Diaries," Hathaway went on to become one of Hollywood's most recognizable stars, appearing in films including "The Devil Wears Prada," "The Dark Knight Rises," "The Intern," and "Les Misérables," for which she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Asked about cockroaches, the "Devil Wears Prada" star—who is expecting her third child with her husband, Adam Shulman—confirmed that she has them, before revealing that she had spotted one relatively recently. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images) 
Unfortunately, pests aren't the only less-than-glamorous part of New York living that Hathaway has experienced. (Aeon/GC Images) But her recollections make clear that fame doesn't erase the universally New York experiences of cramped apartments, frequent moves, and the occasional roach making an unwelcome appearance.
And despite those decidedly unpleasant realities, Hathaway's affection for New York appears to have endured.
It's unclear as to where Hathaway resides in the Big Apple now, however, she previously held the keys to a Fifth Avenue penthouse and a Brooklyn loft.
Now, Hathaway escapes from the bright lights of Hollywood at the family's stunning Ojai, CA, home, which she and Shulman purchased for $3.6 million in 2014, two years after their wedding.
According to Architectural Digest, the property has a rich Hollywood history, having previously been owned by designer Yves Saint Laurent and, later, director Wes Anderson.
The couple, who spent several years renovating the property after purchasing it, told the outlet that it was love at first sight when they first viewed the home—despite realizing that the dwelling needed several updates.
"It was the ideal combination of romance and great design," Hathaway said. "Our initial instinct was that this was going to be a very important place in our lives. I could really see raising a family here."
According to a previous listing, the home featured four bedrooms and four bathrooms, and offered just over 3,400 square feet of living space when the couple bought it. However, records show that they also purchased a second plot of land next to the dwelling, which would have allowed for plenty of expansion.
In the years since they bought the home, Hathaway's career has continued to go from strength to strength, and she now has a widely varied portfolio of onscreen projects under her belt.
Despite being busy running on and off set, Hathaway revealed to People she still takes time to do the things she loves.
"I still get the paper delivered every day, and I love sitting down with it. And I’d cuddle with our puppy—we just got a puppy. And I’d probably take time to call the people I love because I’m always zipping from one thing to another," she revealed.
"I’d love to have breakfast with a friend. I’d love to go for a walk, maybe do a little window-shopping, maybe go to a museum. I’m very meandering on my days off."
And, one of her favorite parts of her days off is getting to spend it with her sons, revealing that being a boy mom has heavily influenced her fashion.
"I’m a tomboy! I love that being a boy mom has really informed my fashion. I have to always be able to go from a serious business meeting to, like, a basketball court. You have to be able to play pickup basketball at any point, in any outfit. So [I tell myself]: When you get dressed in the morning, dress wisely because you 100% are going to have a projectile thrown at you probably by the end of breakfast," she said.