Anne Hathaway's Former Casting Directors Deny Conducting 'Chemistry Reads' on Their Sets

Anne Hathaway recently shared her experience with uncomfortable 'chemistry reads' during early auditions in her career, where she was asked to make out with multiple actors to test for on-screen chemistry.

Several of her former casting directors have now denied conducting such tests on their sets in response to Hathaway's comments.

Hathaway described the audition process in the 2000s as 'gross' and said she felt pressured to go along with it to avoid being labeled as 'difficult.' "It was very different back then," Hathaway noted. "I was very uncomfortable, but I pretended I was excited because I thought that's how I was supposed to feel."

However, casting directors who worked with Hathaway early in her career have disputed her account. Donna Morong, who cast Hathaway in 'The Princess Diaries,' stated that she was not aware of any auditions that required actors to make out. "I don't know who Anne is referring to, but it was not on any of my sets," Morong said. "I think that would be an ineffective and gross way to see if actors have chemistry."

Other casting directors, including Avy Kaufman who worked on 'Brokeback Mountain' and Linda Lamontagne from 'Get Real,' similarly denied overseeing auditions involving actors making out. They emphasized that while chemistry reads were common, they did not involve physical intimacy to that degree.

Hathaway contrasted her past experiences with the audition process for her upcoming film 'The Idea of You,' where she serves as a producer. Instead of chemistry reads, Hathaway and her co-star Nicholas Galitzine were asked to choose a song their characters would love and do a short improv dance together. "He was so ridiculously perfect for the part," Hathaway said of Galitzine. "We had such an easy, natural chemistry together."

Why this matters: Hathaway's comments shed light on the evolving standards and practices in Hollywood casting over the past two decades. The denials from her former casting directors highlight the need for open conversations about appropriate boundaries and consent in the audition process.

While Hathaway acknowledged that the 'chemistry read' practice was considered normal in the 2000s, she emphasized that it was a different time and casting processes have since changed for the better. Her ability to create a more comfortable and effective chemistry test as a producer on 'The Idea of You' demonstrates the positive shift towards prioritizing actors' well-being and finding authentic connections through alternative methods.

Key Takeaways

• Anne Hathaway described 'chemistry reads' with multiple actors as 'gross' in 2000s auditions.
• Casting directors denied conducting such intimate auditions, saying they were ineffective and inappropriate.
• Hathaway contrasted past experiences with a more comfortable chemistry test for her upcoming film.
• The article highlights the evolving standards and practices in Hollywood casting over the past two decades.
• Hathaway's experience demonstrates a positive shift towards prioritizing actors' well-being in the audition process.