Anne Hathaway recently shared her unsettling experiences during the early 2000s when she was asked to kiss “ten guys” as part of a chemistry read for a casting process. In a revealing interview with V Magazine, Hathaway recalled the pressure and discomfort of the situation.
Reflecting on Past Casting Experiences
“I was told, ‘We have ten guys coming today and you’re cast. Aren’t you excited to make out with all of them?’ And I thought, ‘Is there something wrong with me?’ because I wasn’t excited,” Hathaway disclosed. She described the experience as “gross” and expressed how at the time, she felt compelled to hide her discomfort to avoid being labeled “difficult.”
Hathaway noted that such practices were “considered normal” back then but emphasized, “It wasn’t a power play, no one was trying to be awful or hurt me. It was just a very different time and now we know better.”
A New Approach to Chemistry Reads
In her recent role as a producer for the film “The Idea of You,” Hathaway has taken a different approach to chemistry reads, fostering a more creative and comfortable environment for actors. She explained how they incorporated music and dance into the process: “We asked each of the actors coming in to choose a song that they felt their character would love, that they would put on to get my character to dance, and then we’d do a short little improv.”
This method was clearly effective during Nicholas Galitzine’s audition, who chose a song by The Alabama Shakes. Hathaway shared, “It was just easy. I heard [lead singer] Brittany’s voice and I just started smiling. And he saw me smile, so he relaxed, and we just started dancing. Nobody was showing off. Nobody was trying to get the gig. We were just in a space dancing.”
Looking Forward
“The Idea of You,” directed by Michael Showalter and starring Hathaway, is a romantic drama about a 40-year-old single mom who falls in love with a younger international pop star. The film is set to premiere on Prime Video on May 2.
Hathaway’s reflections offer a glimpse into the evolving standards and practices within the entertainment industry, highlighting a shift towards more respectful and engaging methods of actor collaboration.