At the beginning of her career, Anne Hathaway felt pressured to go along with some of the outdated practices of the Hollywood audition process, fearing that she would be labeled “difficult” if she didn’t. One such practice was chemistry tests that required her to kiss multiple actors. Hathaway recently spoke out against these tests, calling them “gross” and “antiquated.” She said that she was “so young and terribly aware how easy it was to lose everything by being labeled ‘difficult,'” so she pretended she was excited about the tests and “got on with it.”
Hathaway said that she has since learned that there are better ways to test for chemistry between actors. On her recent film, “The Idea of You,” she and her co-stars chose songs that they felt their characters would love and danced together to get a sense of their chemistry. Hathaway said that this method was much more relaxed and natural.
Hathaway also credited director Garry Marshall for helping her to develop her voice on set. Marshall, who directed Hathaway in “The Princess Diaries,” valued her input and encouraged her to collaborate on the filmmaking process. Hathaway said that this experience taught her the importance of having strong opinions and being able to articulate them.
Hathaway also gave some hope to fans of “The Princess Diaries” franchise. She said that she and the filmmakers are “in a good place” regarding the possibility of a third film. “There’s nothing to announce yet,” she said, “but we’re in a good place.”
Hathaway’s experience sheds light on the changing landscape of Hollywood and the growing awareness of the importance of respecting actors’ boundaries. It also highlights the importance of having strong mentors who can help young actors to navigate the industry and develop their voices.
