Remember Mia Thermopolis, the quirky princess from “The Princess Diaries”? Well, Anne Hathaway, the actress who brought her to life, is opening up about the not-so-fairytale side of her Hollywood beginnings.
In a new interview with V Magazine, Hathaway, now 41, is reflecting on some seriously “gross” experiences she had during early auditions. Can you believe they used to make actors literally make out with each other to test their on-screen chemistry?
Ew, David!
“Back in the 2000s, and this did happen to me,” Hathaway explains, “they would ask you to make out with other actors for chemistry reads. It sounds awful, right? Because it was!”
Hathaway goes on to describe the awkward situation: “They’d be like, ‘Hey Anne, we have ten guys coming in today to test chemistry for this role. Aren’t you excited?'” Here’s the thing – Anne wasn’t exactly thrilled about the prospect of a mass make-out session.
“Honestly,” she admits, “I thought there was something wrong with me because I wasn’t excited. It just felt gross!”
A Young Actress in a Tough Industry
Hathaway, fresh-faced and new to Hollywood, also felt immense pressure to conform. “I was so young back then,” she says, “and I knew how easy it was to get labeled ‘difficult’ and lose out on opportunities.”
So, what did she do? “I just pretended to be excited and went along with it,” she reveals. “It wasn’t about power or anyone trying to be mean, it was just a different time. Thankfully, things have changed for the better.”
From Princess to Oscar Winner
Despite the awkward auditions, Hathaway’s career blossomed. The Princess Diaries launched her into stardom, followed by hit movies like “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Les Misérables,” which even scored her an Oscar!
Looking back, Hathaway acknowledges the challenges women in Hollywood face, especially regarding age. “There were people who told me my career would be over by 35,” she shares. Thankfully, that hasn’t been the case. Actresses are proving their staying power, and Hathaway is a shining example!
We love that Hathaway is using her platform to speak out about these outdated practices. Here’s to more positive and professional casting experiences for all actors – minus the forced smooching!
