Anne Hathaway Had to Kiss 10 Men For an Audition, Calls it “Gross”

Anne Hathaway has reminisced about an awkward moment from her past when she found herself in a rather uncomfortable situation during an audition. The incident in question occurred in the early 2000s when she was asked to “make out with 10 men” as part of a chemistry test.

Reflecting on the experience, Hathaway highlighted how, at the time, such practices were considered standard procedure in the industry. She expressed her disapproval, stating, “Back in the 2000s – and this did happen to me – it was considered normal to ask an actor to make out with other actors to test for chemistry, which is actually the worst way to do it.”

Also Read: Anne Hathaway Opens Up About Rom-Com Roles Drying Up in Her 30s

Recalling the specifics of the audition, she revealed, “I was told, ‘We have 10 guys coming today and you’re cast. Aren’t you excited to make out with all of them?’ And I thought, ‘Is there something wrong with me?’ because I wasn’t excited. I thought it sounded gross.”

Despite her discomfort, Hathaway felt pressured to comply, fearing the repercussions of being labelled as difficult in the industry. “I was so young and terribly aware how easy it was to lose everything by being labelled ‘difficult’, so I just pretended I was excited and got on with it.”

Acknowledging the shift in attitudes over time, she emphasised, “It was just a very different time and now we know better.”

In contrast to her experience, Hathaway highlighted a more positive approach to chemistry tests in auditions for her recent film, ‘The Idea Of You.’ She described a scenario where actors were asked to choose a song that reflected their character’s personality, leading to a more relaxed and authentic interaction between auditionees.