Anne Hathaway, a renowned actress known for her iconic roles in films such as The Princess Diaries, Ella Enchanted, and The Devil Wears Prada, recently shared her experience of undergoing a ‘gross’ chemistry test back in the early 2000s. During an interview published on Monday, April 22, Hathaway revealed that she was asked to ‘make out’ with multiple actors as part of the audition process.
Hathaway expressed her discomfort with the practice, stating that she found it ‘gross’ and questioning why it was considered ‘normal’ at the time. She explained that she was concerned about being labeled as ‘difficult’ and losing opportunities due to her reluctance to participate. Despite her reservations, she complied with the request, fearing the potential consequences of being perceived as uncooperative.
Hathaway emphasized that the audition was not intended to be malicious or harmful, but rather a reflection of the different norms of the time. She highlighted that the industry has since evolved and recognizes the inappropriateness of such practices.
Currently, Hathaway is promoting her upcoming Prime Video film, The Idea of You, in which she plays the role of a single mother who falls in love with a young boy band singer. Hathaway is also a producer on the film, which is based on the novel by Robinne Lee.
In the film’s casting process, Hathaway noted that the actors auditioning for the role of her love interest were required to perform a different type of chemistry test. The actors were asked to choose a song that they believed their character would love and use it to inspire an impromptu dance performance with Hathaway. This method allowed the actors to demonstrate their chemistry more authentically and avoided the discomfort associated with the ‘make out’ chemistry test that Hathaway had experienced in the past.
