Until now Anne Hathaway has been keeping mum about her pregnancy news, but she isn't hiding it any longer. The mum-to-be proudly showed off her blossoming baby bump in an Instagram post on Monday, telling fans she wanted them to see an image that "makes me happy" rather than an unsolicited paparazzi photo of her on holiday.
Posing on the beach in a red bikini, Anne can be seen smiling broadly as she cradles her baby bump. "Happy 2016 to my beautiful Instafriends! So, posting a bikini pic is a little out of character for me, but just now while I was at the beach I noticed I was being photographed," Anne wrote.
Anne Hathaway showed off her baby bump on Instagram
"I figure if this kind of photo is going to be out in the world it should at least be an image that makes me happy (and be one that was taken with my consent. And with a filter :).
"Wishing you love, light and blessings for the year ahead! Annie."
The photo was met with thousands of congratulatory messages from fans, and received over 100,000 likes in just three hours.
It was revealed in November that Anne is expecting her first child with husband Adam Shulman. The actress is believed to be in her second trimester, and is said to be enjoying her pregnancy.
Anne is expecting her first child with husband Adam Shulman
"Anne is feeling really healthy. She is working out and trying to stay in shape during this pregnancy," a source told E! Online. "Her energy levels are high. She has some new cravings. She is at a healthy pregnancy weight and not stressing out about the weight gain."
Anne tied the knot with producer and jewellery designer Adam in September 2012, and has made no secret of her desire to start a family ever since.
Speaking to The Telegraph in 2014, Anne said: "I'll start with one healthy kid but I'd like to have a few naturally and adopt. I gotta get on it, you know? I'd like to have as many as I can afford, not just financially but in terms of times, because you want to make sure each one feels special."