Surprise symbol Anne Hathaway

Cast member Anne Hathaway poses for photographers during the Spanish premiere of "Get Smart" in Madrid July 8, 2008. [Agencies]

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Anne Hathaway says being considered a sex symbol is an "unexpected" pleasure.

The 'Get Smart' actress - who first shot to fame with Disney movie 'The Princess Diaries' in 2001 - has been changing her clean-cut image with controversial films including 'Brokeback Mountain' but admits her sex symbol status has surprised her.

She said: "I'm so happy that I'm a 25-year-old working actress and that now people are starting to say I have brains. I always thought people believed I could only do one thing. It's always frightening when you are trying something new and you just feel sort of shaky. "I wanted to be an actor more than anything else and that's what it means to be an actor. It's unexpected that anyone could think I'm a sex symbol. I think that anybody who went to high school with me would be very surprised!"

Anne also revealed how she first got into acting after being encouraged to pursue her dream by her parents.

She added to Britain's OK! magazine: "I have always had this huge desire for acting and I was just lucky that I am able to do it. I've a passion for the craft and for the film-making. "When I was 13 I joined a local theatre group and then I started doing commercials.

Also, my parents wanted to make sure I had a love of theatre and that was invaluable."