Anne Hathaway endured nightmares during the making of Becoming Jane, dreaming revered English author Jane Austen was trying to kill her.

Hathaway was nervous taking up the role of the legendary writer and feared critics would mock her attempts at an English accent.

She says, "I had really bad dreams about being chased around and stabbed to death with a quill by Austen.

"I was having panic attacks and would wake in the middle of the night sweating and breathing very heavily because it would have really broke my heart to have messed this one up.

"The pressure only stopped when people watched the film and they liked it. I guess I still need other people's approval."