Oscar-winning actress Anne Hathaway called for more "understanding and support" for working mothers as her latest film premiered in the UK.

The star of Les Miserables and The Devil Wears Prada plays a working mother struggling to juggle her successful career with her personal life, in The Intern, which also stars Robert De Niro.

At the film's European premiere at the Vue West End cinema in London's Leicester Square last night, Hathaway spoke about the idea of women "having it all".

"I think we need to start thinking about what 'all' is, for ourselves as individuals, and I think we need to all collectively, men and women, transform society so that there is better understanding and support, particularly in this case for women in the workplace."

The film's director Nancy Meyers said: "We can juggle career with motherhood. I think what the movie says is it's not easy for anybody - both working mums and dads."

Hathaway, who wore a black lace dress by Jonathan Simkhai and Christian Louboutin heels, revealed the role was a dream come true because she had previously auditioned for Meyer.

"I have auditioned for Nancy three times - one was for The Holiday - so I have been waiting to work with her for 17 years," she said.

The 32-year-old actress, who won an Oscar for her performance as Fantine in Tom Hooper's adaptation of Les Miserables, said she has been inspired by her 72-year-old co-star De Niro.

"He learnt absolutely nothing from me. What I learnt from him is sometimes when you are young, you get a little anxious and worked up over things," she said.

"There is no rocking that man's pool. He's calm all the time and it's a beautiful thing. I tried doing that on set too."

She also joked how having a sleepover with De Niro on screen was an item "ticked off on her bucket list".

Hundreds of fans waited for hours to see the pair, with some travelling from as far as Italy and Brazil.

Hathaway and De Niro - who portrays a retired widower who goes to work in an e-commerce company founded by Hathaway's character - took time to sign autographs and take selfies with the crowds.

Meyers, whose box office successes include romantic comedies What Women Want, The Parent Trap, The Holiday and It's Complicated, described her leading stars as the "perfect combo".

"I thought they would be great together and I approached them both. I was glad because they were available and the timing was right," she explained.

The Intern opens in cinemas nationwide on October 2.