Anne Hathaway'S Script-Questioning Habit That Spooks Directors

Anne Hathaway may send directors into a tizzy with her relentless script inquiries before filming kicks off, but she assures there's a clever strategy behind all that scrutiny. The Oscar-winning actress recently confessed that her habit of dissecting every line and scene often leaves filmmakers questioning what they've signed up for.

On The A24 Podcast with "Mother Mary" director David Lowery, Hathaway shed light on her rigorous preparation process, which kicks in well before the cameras start rolling.

Directors and Hathaway's Unconventional Prep

When it comes to preparation, Hathaway leaves no stone unturned. "One of the things I try to explain to directors who don’t know me is that I interrogate everything in prep," she revealed on the podcast. "Like everything, even lines that I absolutely love, I just ask every single question."

The actress probes scripts thoroughly, hunting for potential inconsistencies, even when she appreciates the words on paper. “I hold everything up to the light. I poke holes in everything,” Hathaway shared. “And I know for a fact it’s freaked some of them out.”

Fortunately for directors, Hathaway says this meticulous questioning has a shelf life.

On-Set Execution and Future Projects

Once on set, Hathaway puts aside the endless questioning. "When we’re on set, I want to be your first lieutenant," she explained. "I want to execute your vision. I just want to hit the ground running and know exactly what we’re doing and why. We don’t have time for my questions then."

Lowery confirmed this approach during their work on "Mother Mary," noting they dissected every line of the script during pre-production, revisiting some scenes multiple times. Hathaway laughed, admitting some lines got more attention than others.

“I hold everything up to the light. I poke holes in everything.”

Currently, Hathaway is in the midst of a bustling career phase. She recently starred in "Mother Mary," an A24 psychological drama featuring music from Jack Antonoff, Charli xcx, and FKA twigs. Up next, she'll take on the role of Penelope in Christopher Nolan’s "The Odyssey," opposite Matt Damon’s Odysseus, set to hit IMAX theatres on July 17.