Hathaway desperate to lose weight

Los Angeles, March 31 (IANS) Actress Anne Hathaway is on a 500-calorie-a-day diet to drop two dress sizes to portray a hungry, dying prostitute in the movie adaptation of "Les Miserables".

Hathaway, 29, who plays single mother and prostitute Fantine in the film, is said to be surviving on just two apples and a protein shake a day.

"Anne is playing a destitute factory worker-cum-lady of the night. Unfortunately, she only has 15 to 20 days to lose as much weight as possible -- up to a stone-and-a-half because she's been filming the scenes showing her fit and healthy, almost slightly chubby," showbizspy.com quoted a source as saying.

"It's not ideal but, as with any high-budget movie, there are strict time constraints. Anne knows the risk of such an extreme diet and will undergo weekly medical check ups to make sure everything is still functioning as it should do," the source added.