Meryl is quick to compliment Anne as well, saying her incredible beauty will be one of her biggest obstacles in the acting world. But it is obvious after spending just a few minutes with The Princess Diaries star that Anne has the brains to match her looks.

She recognizes the importance of a college education, and after spending several semesters at Vassar, transferred to New York University to pursue English and women's studies. Whether she's recommending her favorite book, The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, or discussing her thoughts on the mediocrity of society, Anne has clearly been gripped by higher education.

"College is such a unique time because you're learning a little bit how to be an adult," she says. "You're learning how to take care of yourself without parental influence, and you're exposed to so many great minds. I feel like I didn't even know how to think until I got to college."

But how does a college coed — who also happens to be a Hollywood star — stay out of the tabloid spotlight? In part, she's driven by her career. She has been guided by some incredible costars and mentors, she says, such as Meryl, Julie Andrews (The Princess Diaries) and Maggie Smith (Becoming Jane), who have shown her just how little fame matters.

"Acting is hard enough," Anne explains. "It's hard enough to have longevity. When you stamp yourself into people's minds, [then] they see you leaving a club looking disheveled, it's hard for them to then buy you as the President of the United States."