Anne Hathaway has been an appealing presence in American movies since The Princess Diaries in 2001, but with Rachel Getting Married she takes her career to a new level.

The movie has drawn raves since it debuted last month at the Venice and Toronto film festivals, with most critics offering unqualified praise for her performance. And she doesn't shy away from acknowledging the obvious: She knocked it out of the ballpark.

"I actually did something that I'm proud of, where all of the intentions I had for the character made it to the screen," says Hathaway after the movie's North America premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. "For me, it's a recognition of my dreams, this role."

In the movie, Hathaway plays Kym, a drug addict from an affluent home who gets out of rehab in time to attend the wedding of her sister Rachel (played by Rosemarie DeWitt).

It's an amazing gathering. Both Kym's father and her future brother-in-law are in the music business, so the party is attended by artists and musicians. For this multiethnic tribe, the wedding is a celebration not only of the marriage but also of multiculturalism, in the guest list and also in the style of dress and entertainment choices.