Anne Hathaway takes moral stance on wardrobe malfunction [video]

Anne Hathaway discusses her car-exiting wardrobe malfunction with "Today" show anchor Matt Lauer. Here she's seen at the London premiere of "Les Miserables" on Dec. 5.

By Matt Donnelly

Dec. 12, 2012 12 AM PT

Anne Hathaway is taking the moral high ground over her lack of underwear.

Understandably, the “Les Misérables” actress would not have chosen the film’s New York premiere to be snapped exiting her car without any unmentionables on -- but such is the life of an actor.

Appearing on the “Today” show to promote the movie musical, anchor Matt Lauer grazed the incident with creepy-uncle-overtures.

PHOTOS: ‘Les Miserables’ New York premiere

“We’ve seen a lot of you lately,” Lauer said, prompting the actress to immediately divert her gaze in embarrassment.

“Sorry about that,” she said (video below) in reference to Monday’s incident. “I’d be happy to stay home, but, the film.”

Lauer complimented her ability to keep smiling (seriously with the creepy uncle bit, Matt?) and pressed on for any lesson she might have learned.

“It kind of made me sad on two accounts. One was that I was very sad that we live in an age when someone takes a picture of another person in a vulnerable moment and rather than delete it ... sells it,” Hathaway said.

AWARDS: Hathaway among those vying for Screen Actors Guild Awards

“And I’m sorry that we live in a culture that commodifies sexuality of unwilling participants.”

Extremely fair, Annie, but she couldn’t resist concluding her speech by comparing her red carpet faux pas to the struggle of her “Les Miz” character Fantine, an impoverished dying French woman forced into prostitution to care for her young child.

We can totally see the similarity.

“That’s what my character is,” Hathaway said, “she is someone who is forced to sell sex to benefit her child because she has nothing and there’s no social safety net.”

Lucky for both Anne and fictional Fantine, the actress was awarded a Screen Actors Guild nomination for her portrayal. We’ll hope the ends justify the underwear (or lack thereof).

ALSO:

Anne Hathaway: Meet my inner Lindsay Lohan

Anne Hathaway on ‘Les Mis’ hair: ‘I looked like my gay brother’

Anne Hathaway gets revealing at NYC premiere of ‘Les Miserables’

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