Hugh Jackman Starts Anne Hathaway Oscar Buzz For ‘Les Miserables’

Hugh Jackman is singing praises of his Les Miserables co-star Anne Hathaway, saying that the moment he paired up with her for the ambitious screen adaptation of the popular musical, he knew she was Academy Awards gold.

In the big screen adaptation of Les Miserables by The King’s Speech director Tom Hooper, Hathaway portrays the tragic character of Fantine, a struggling prostitute, factory worker, and mother to an illegitimate child. Her co-star, Hugh Jackman, plays main protagonist Jean Valjean. The Australian actor said that he is convinced that Hathaway has a real chance at taking home a Best Actress Academy Award at next year’s ceremony for her role.

Jackman tells Vogue: “After Annie’s first day of rehearsal, I said to Tom, ‘You can just turn the camera on, digitally remove the script from her hands, and she’s going to win the Academy Award.'”

Amanda Seyfried, who plays Fantine’s grown-up daughter Cosette in the film, agreed with Jackman’s assessment. “As soon as I heard her sing, I was like, ‘Oh s**t. I’ve got to up my game big time.'”

Here’s the official synopsis for Tom Hooper’s Les Miserables:

“Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption–a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Jackman plays ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever.”

Les Miserables will release on Christmas Day 2012 in the US, and on January 11, 2013 in the UK. The trailer is embedded below. What do you think? Does Anne Hathaway have a shot at Academy Award gold?

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