anne-hathaway-recalls-gross-old-hollywood-audition-practice

Veteran actress Anne Hathaway has shed light on a bygone era of Hollywood casting practices, revealing a particularly unpleasant experience she endured during a chemistry test. 

 

In a recent interview with V magazine, Hathaway described a time when actors were routinely expected to engage in physical contact with potential co-stars to gauge on-screen chemistry.

 

"It was considered normal back in the 2000s," she stated, "and this did happen to me – to ask actors to make out with each other during auditions. It's actually the worst way to assess chemistry."

 

Hathaway recounted a specific instance where she was presented with a lineup of ten male actors and instructed to "make out" with all of them. Feeling a sense of unease rather than excitement, she questioned her own reaction and feared being labelled "difficult" if she refused to participate.

 

"I was young and very aware of how easily you could lose everything by being labelled 'difficult,'" she confessed. "So I just pretended to be enthusiastic and got on with it." 

 

Though she clarified that there was no malicious intent behind the practice, it served as a stark reminder of a different era in Hollywood.

 

Contrasting this experience, Hathaway elaborated on the casting process for her current project, the romantic comedy "The Idea of You." Here, a more nuanced approach was employed to assess potential chemistry with her co-star, Nicholas Galitzine.

 

"Actors were asked to choose a song their character would connect with," she explained.

 

“And then we'd improvise a short dance routine together. It felt much more natural and allowed genuine connections to develop," she added.

 

Hathaway expressed immediate admiration for Galitzine, finding him "ridiculously perfect" for the role. 

 

In "The Idea of You," she portrays Solene Marchand, a single mother who embarks on an unexpected romance with Hayes Campbell (Galitzine), a charismatic young member of a popular boy band.

 

This anecdote underscores the evolution of casting practices in Hollywood.

 

The move away from uncomfortable physical tests towards more creative and organic methods of gauging on-screen chemistry is a welcome change, reflecting a greater awareness of actor comfort and respect for professional boundaries.