Anne Hathaway is shedding light on some of the troubling norms she faced as a young actress in the early 2000s Hollywood casting process.
In a recent interview with V Magazine, the Oscar winner recalled being asked to kiss “ten guys” during a chemistry read audition – a practice she says was sadly “considered normal” at the time despite making her uncomfortable.
“I was told, ‘We have ten guys coming today and you’re cast. Aren’t you excited to make out with all of them?'” Hathaway revealed. “I thought it sounded gross. And I was so young and terribly aware how easy it was to lose everything by being labeled ‘difficult,’ so I just pretended I was excited and got on with it.”
The actress, who rose to stardom in films like The Princess Diaries in that era, made it clear she doesn’t believe there was any malicious intent behind the audition tactics, but rather a lack of awareness about consent and power dynamics.
“It wasn’t a power play, no one was trying to be awful or hurt me,” she explained. “It was just a very different time and now we know better.”
Anne Hathaway also contrasted that experience to her approach as a producer on her upcoming film The Idea of You. Rather than have actors make out, she had them pick a song their character would use to make hers dance, then the pair would improvise a sweet dance routine.
“We just started dancing together. Nobody was showing off. Nobody was trying to get the gig. We were just in a space dancing,” Hathaway described of the chemistry read with co-star Nicholas Galitzine.
This process provides a softer and more thoughtful audition method that can create an authentic connection without the awkwardness that came with the Kiss Test of years past.
