Anne Hathaway after drastic weight loss for Les Miserables

Anne Hathaway has been on a strict diet in a bit to lose weight to play the role of dying prostitute Fantine in the movie adaptation of Les Miserables.

Anne Hathaway, 29, displayed the results of the regime, which saw her consuming just 500 calories a day – significantly less than the recommended daily allowance of 2,000 calories a day – as she shot scenes for the movie alongside Hugh Jackman in London.

The actress was seen wearing a pale lilac short-sleeved dress as she shot the scenes on the balcony location, standing next to Hugh Jackman – who sported unruly grey hair for his part.

Anne Hathaway’ once-lustrous long brown hair had also been replaced by a blunt crop, necessary for the role of the hungry, dying prostitute.

It is believed that Anne Hathaway has lost around 16 lbs in just three weeks in preparation for the beginning of shooting.

A source told the Daily Mirror earlier this month: “Anne is playing a destitute factory worker-come-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.

“It’s not ideal but, as with any high-budget movie, there are strict time constraints.

“Producers have assigned her a personal trainer and she is literally eating nothing more than a couple of apples a day, and some protein – mainly in the form of a shake.”

However, producers are said to be making sure doctors keep a close eye on the actress during the short-term diet.

Meanwhile, in the movie Hugh Jackman is playing Jean Valjean, a poor man on the run from the police after he was released from prison after a 19 year stretch for stealing bread for his family.

The character is being pursued by Russell Crowe’s Inspector Javert, who released Valjean on parole, but then later decided to dedicate his life to imprisoning him again.

The film also stars Irish tenor Colm Wilkinson, who appears as the Bishop of Digne and was the original Jean Valjean in the West End and Broadway musical productions.

And it has quite the stellar cast as well as Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe, with Eddie Redmayne as Marius Pontmercy, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette, Sacha Baron Cohen as Thénardier, and Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thénardier.