Anne Hathaway opens up on accidental flash

Anne Hathaway at the New York premiere of Les Miserables. Photo/AP

Anne Hathaway says photographers who sold images of her stepping out of a car with no underwear on took advantage of her in a vulnerable moment.

The 30-year-old actress had just arrived for the Les Miserables premiere in New York City when her black Tom Ford dress rode up and showed that she was wearing no underwear in front of waiting photographers.

Some of the pictures have now been published and Hathaway feels humiliated knowing the world has seen her private parts, reports say.

She spoke to Matt Lauer on the Today Show this morning about the incident.

"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, and do the decent thing, sells it," she said.

"And I'm sorry that we live in a culture that commodifies sexuality of unwilling participants, which brings us back to Les Mis, that's what my character is, she is someone who is forced to sell sex to benefit her child because she has nothing and there's no social safety net."

The newlywed actress was previously overheard speaking to Vanity Fair writer Ingrid Sischy about the wardrobe malfunction.

The New York Daily News overheard her say: "I was getting out of the car and my dress was so tight that I didn't realise until I saw all the photographer's flashes. It was devastating. They saw everything. I may as well have lifted up my skirt for them."

Fashion experts have since come to the star's aid and offered some wise words on how to avoid a similar mishap occurring again in the future.

Alexis Bryan Morgan, executive fashion director at Lucky magazine, was "shocked" by the unfortunate incident as Hathaway - who is married to Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning star Adam Shulman - is usually so "pulled together" when it comes to her style and dignity.

She shared a style tip for the actress, advising: "It's so much better to be caught in Spanx [underwear]. If you're not looking for shaping I recommend the Commando brand. It's hands down the best. It's seamless and raw cut.

"The fabric is slinky and seamless, and if your dress flies up you're not naked. Her dress had ruching, I don't know why she felt she needed to go commando."

Hathaway is one of many female celebrities to be caught with no underwear one, with previous victims including troubled star Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.

- Bang! Showbiz