Anne Hathaway's Vogue Australia cover is hailed as the best one ever amid chatter about her youthful appearance

Anne Hathaway has set the internet alight after fronting the latest issue of Vogue Australia - with fans declaring the striking cover 'the best one ever' amid ongoing chatter about her youthful appearance. 

The 43-year-old actress stunned in a dramatic shoot, posing in a sculpted red mini dress and was, in the cover image, wrapped in an oversized red feathered shawl. 

Her glowing complexion and striking features quickly became a talking point online. 

Social media users flooded the comments section with praise, with one writing: 'Now THAT is a magazine cover.' 

Meanwhile, another gushed: 'The one and onlyyyy,' as someone else quipped 'our queen,' and another chimed in with, 'Wow... what a cover!' 

The buzz comes as Hathaway continues to face persistent speculation about her seemingly ageless look, with some fans questioning whether she has undergone cosmetic enhancements. 

However, the Oscar winner has never confirmed any procedures.

Instead, she recently revealed a surprisingly simple beauty trick that can create a subtle 'facelift' effect - without going under the knife.

Sharing behind-the-scenes footage from her Oscars prep, Hathaway explained that her hairstylist creates two small braids at the sides of her head, pulling them back to give a gently lifted appearance.

'You look a little bit more awake, that's the trick,' she said.

Experts say the technique, which dates back to Old Hollywood, works by adding tension around the temples to slightly lift the face.

The renewed spotlight on Hathaway coincides with her return to one of her most iconic roles as Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada 2, nearly two decades after the original film’s release.

In her interview with Vogue Australia, Hathaway also addressed long-standing rumours that she was difficult early in her career, admitting she once felt the need to put up emotional 'armour'.

'The truth is, I'm not a perfect person by any stretch of the imagination,' she said.

'But one thing, I'm a sweet person, and I think for many, many years it really frightened me to be a young, sweet woman... so I think I armoured and hardened to try to protect myself.' 

The actress, who rose to fame in her early 20s, said she no longer feels the need to shield her personality in the same way. 

'Various things have happened to me in my life, challenges I've met that I'm proud of,' she added. 

Hathaway's early years in Hollywood were dogged by 'diva' claims, including reports she sent back a breakfast order multiple times and made specific requests during press appearances -allegations that were often denied by her representatives. 

Now, with a career resurgence and a major blockbuster on the horizon, public sentiment appears to have firmly swung back in her favour. 

And if the reaction to her latest cover is anything to go by, Hathaway's return to the spotlight is being met with overwhelming public approval.