In a shocking revelation, Anne Hathaway disclosed that during the early years of her Hollywood career, she was required to make out with multiple men during a single audition to test on-screen chemistry. This confession has sparked widespread speculation about which film or project might have required such auditions. However, several casting directors associated with the Oscar-winning Les Miserables performer’s major projects have stepped forward to clarify that these practices did not occur under their watch.
Hathaway, known for her roles in several of the best romantic comedies from the 2000s, has been at the center of discussions about potentially unethical audition practices. Yet, representatives from these films, including Donna Morong, the casting director for a Disney movie we don’t talk about enough, the 2001 hit The Princess Diaries, have strongly refuted these claims. According to TMZ’s reporting, Morong denied such practices were a part of the auditions she oversaw, but also that said behaviors were contrary to the norms of the projects she worked on, especially considering the family-friendly nature of Diaries films.
Echoing Morong's sentiments, Linda Lamontagne, who was responsible for casting the Eileen actress in the late 1990s and early 2000s TV show Get Real, also refuted any involvement in the kind of auditions The Witches star described. Lamontagne emphasized her long-standing commitment to maintaining professional and comfortable audition environments. She told TMZ:
I've worked in casting since Capital News in 1988 and, in all honesty, never had to have actors make out with any other actor for any auditions nor chemistry tests.
While Lamontagne acknowledges that the A-Lister may have had such experiences, she stressed that such practices were never part of her casting sessions. She added:
If there was a scene ever, and there were only a few in my career, we never selected those scenes to use for auditions. It's hard enough to audition for something that is new, or even established and we don't want to make a talent uncomfortable. It's enough pressure as it is.
The discussion also touched on Brokeback Mountain, another significant film in Anne Hathaway's early career. Casting director Avy Kaufman stated that nothing similar to what the Colossal actress described occurred during the casting sessions for the 2005 film. Like her colleagues, Kaufman expressed surprise over the Dark Knight Rises star's allegations, underscoring a disconnect between the actress's experiences and the practices of some of the casting directors who worked with her during the period she made some of her best movies.
As the story unfolds, the industry and its onlookers are left to ponder the implications of Hathaway's experiences. Here’s hoping that her courage in speaking out will pave the way for positive changes in the entertainment world, especially if this practice is ongoing.
The identity of the project or projects that involved the controversial chemistry tests remains unconfirmed, as casting directors and former colleagues continue to distance themselves from the practices Anne described.
Catch Anne Hathaway in a captivating new role in The Idea of You, which will hit the 2024 movie schedule on May 2, 2024. Fans of the Interstellar star can stream it with an Amazon Prime Video subscription.
