In a recent interview with V Magazine, Academy Award-winning actress Anne Hathaway opened up about an uncomfortable industry practice she faced during the early stages of her career: chemistry tests involving intimate contact with fellow actors. Hathaway, known for her roles in “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Les Misérables,” recalled that she was regularly asked to participate in such tests while auditioning for roles in the 2000s.
Hathaway described these chemistry tests as “the worst way to do it,” expressing her discomfort with being asked to kiss multiple actors in order to gauge their on-screen chemistry. She emphasized that such practices were commonplace at the time but are no longer considered acceptable.
“It was considered normal to ask an actor to make out with other actors to test for chemistry, which is actually the worst way to do it,” Hathaway said. “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. I thought it sounded gross.”
Despite Hathaway’s allegations, at least one casting director who worked with her during that time has denied conducting such tests on their set. Donna Morong, casting director for “The Princess Diaries,” released a statement asserting that she was not aware of any auditions that required Hathaway or any other actor to engage in kissing.
“I certainly was not a part of any audition that required her to make out, or anyone else to, and it was not something done at Disney and Touchstone for the 15 years I was a casting executive in feature films, as far as I am aware of,” Morong said.
Avy Kaufman, casting director for the critically acclaimed film “Brokeback Mountain,” also denied having any recollection of practices similar to those described by Hathaway. When contacted by TMZ, she stated that she had “no good stories” to share on the matter.
Hathaway did not name any specific casting directors in her interview, and it’s important to note that her experiences may not reflect the practices of the entire industry. However, her account sheds light on a practice that was once prevalent and highlights the progress that has been made in creating a more respectful and equitable environment for actors during the audition process.
