Making her own magic

When the offending periodical is properly banished, Hathaway flashes her trademark smile and rolls her eyes. At last, she regains her train of thought and continues to explain why she was eager to win the role of Emma in “One Day,’’ which is directed by Lone Scherfig (“An Education’’) and opens Friday.

The film, which also stars Jim Sturgess, follows the story of Emma and Dexter, who spend the day after their college graduation - July 15th - together. Over the next two decades, they meet on many July 15ths, sharing intimacy, friendship, and heartbreak as they struggle to learn the meaning of love.

“I loved the idea of getting to explore a relationship that blossoms over real time,’’ says Hathaway, whose career got a jumpstart at age 19 when she starred in “The Princess Diaries’’ (2001) and its sequel (2004). “Because movies - particularly some of the movies I’ve made - make it seem like you can find your soul mate and get everything worked out in 6.4 days. I like the idea that these people had to work a few things out for themselves before they could find love.

“It’s not surprising I’m drawn to stories about later bloomers,’’ she adds. “I think women get more confident as they get older and become happier.’’

That’s what drew her to the character of Emma, an English girl from a working-class background, whose initial vulnerability gives way to her underlying strength. It’s also why the actress says her performance in “Rachel Getting Married’’ (2008) is her favorite. In that film, directed by Jonathan Demme, she plays Kym, a drug addicted young woman who returns home for a family wedding and embarks on a rocky journey toward healing and forgiveness.