Oscar-winner Anne Hathaway opens up about vocal training, dancing, and transformation for her most musically demanding role yet.
Anne Hathaway is stepping into uncharted territory as she takes on the role of a pop star in her upcoming film, Mother Mary—a part that pushed the Academy Award-winning actress far beyond her comfort zone.
In a candid interview with Vogue, the 42-year-old actress revealed that preparing for this character required her to take on skills she had never tackled before in her career, including singing and dancing, making it one of her most challenging roles to date.
Anne Hathaway: “I Had to Submit to Being a Beginner”
Best known for her performances in The Devil Wears Prada and Les Misérables, Hathaway admitted that she had to confront her musical insecurities head-on.
“I had to submit to being a beginner,” she told Vogue. “The humility of that—showing up every day knowing you’re going to suck. And it has to be okay. You’re not ‘bad,’ you’re just a beginner.”
She added that the experience was emotionally and mentally intense, requiring her to learn and unlearn habits to reach the mindset necessary for the performance.
“It was welcome, but it was hard—the way transformational experiences can be hard,” she said.
Music Wasn’t Finalized Before Filming Began
Adding to the challenge, Hathaway shared that the film’s music wasn’t ready before shooting started, forcing her to adapt quickly on set.
“It was so confusing. If I’d had the music a year before we ever turned a camera on, I would have tattooed every note of it on my soul,” the Princess Diaries star confessed.
Working with Charli XCX and Jack Antonoff
For Mother Mary, Hathaway collaborated with Grammy-winning producer Jack Antonoff and pop icon Charli XCX, a pairing that added to the authenticity and intensity of her pop star portrayal.
“I finally learned how to breathe,” Hathaway explained. “My body was so locked up—I literally couldn’t take a deep breath.”
“I’d been trying to open that space for years, and I thought it was physically impossible. All my breath, it was stuck.”
Dance Training and Complete Transformation
Beyond vocal work, Hathaway also underwent two years of dance training for the role, further demonstrating her dedication to authenticity and emotional depth in Mother Mary.
The film promises to show a new side of Anne Hathaway, one that blends raw vulnerability with the glittering intensity of pop superstardom.
