After portraying an evil character with limb differences in her movie, The Witches, Anne Hathaway has issued an apology to the disabled community.

She wrote on Instagram that she recently learned that “many people with limb differences, especially children, are in pain because of the portrayal of the Grand High Witch in The Witches.”

“Let me begin by saying I do my best to be sensitive to the feelings and experiences of others not out of some scrambling PC fear, but because not hurting others seems like a basic level of decency we should all be striving for,” Hathaway wrote.

Adding, “As someone who really believes in inclusivity and really, really detests cruelty, I owe you all an apology for the pain caused. I am sorry. I did not connect limb difference with the GHW when the look of the character was brought to me; if I had, I assure you this never would have happened.”

Hathaway said, “I particularly want to say I’m sorry to kids with limb differences: now that I know better I promise I’ll do better. And I owe a special apology to everyone who loves you as fiercely as I love my own kids: I’m sorry I let your family down.”

“If you aren’t already familiar, please check out the @Lucky_Fin_Project (video above) and the #NotAWitch hashtag to get a more inclusive and necessary perspective on limb difference.”

In the movie, Hathaway’s evil character is sometimes shown with three webbed fingers on each hand, a condition known as “split hands” that can occur naturally and is medically known as ectrodactyly or symbrachydactyly.

She plays an evil witch with three fingers on each hand Credit: BackGrid

The creative team collaborated with designers and painters to find “a new interpretation” of the “cat-like claws” that are mentioned in the original narrative while adapting Roald Dahl’s book.

Amy Marren, a paralympic swimmer, criticized Robert Zemeckis’ movie earlier this week when she said that “limb difference is not terrifying” and that people with disabilities should be respected and accepted for who they are.

“Yes, I am fully aware that this is a film, and these are Witches. But Witches are essentially monsters. My fear is that children will watch this film, unaware that it massively exaggerates the Roald Dahl original and that limbs differences begin to be feared,” she wrote. “This opens up all new difficult conversations for those with limb differences and sets back what we are trying to achieve which is to celebrate who you are!”

“To me it sends out a message that we should be scared of people with missing fingers,” British comedian Alex Brooker remarked.

An apology from Hathaway was followed with a Lucky Fin Project video.

The Lucky Fin Project launched a petition to ban screening of the film after criticizing it.

One of the campaigners who spoke out against The Witches’ insulting representations was paralympic athlete Claire Cashmore. Hathaway’s portrayal, according to the 32-year-old swimmer, “made me quite confused/upset.” Cashmore wants to see more people with disabilities represented on television and film, but she wants them to be shown “in a positive light rather than being associated with being a scary, evil, witch.”

“Yet again Hollywood (#RobertZemeckis) are using disability to act as a shorthand / signifier for evil and villainy. Disabled people rarely get to see themselves represented in movies (#CrippingUp) and when they are it’s as baddies portrayed by non disabled actors,” Adam Pearson posted a tweet.

Warner Bros. wrote a statement expressing its “regrets any offense caused.”

The statement said, “We the filmmakers and Warner Bros. Pictures are deeply saddened to learn that our depiction of the fictional characters in THE WITCHES could upset people with disabilities, and regret any offense caused. In adapting the original story, we worked with designers and artists to come up with a new interpretation of the cat-like claws that are described in the book. It was never the intention for viewers to feel that the fantastical, non-human creatures were meant to represent them. This film is about the power of kindness and friendship. It is our hope that families and children can enjoy the film and embrace this empowering, love-filled theme.”