‘Dark Knight Rises’ star Anne Hathaway talks Catwoman, getting physical and dream role
“The Dark Knight Rises” closes out the Christopher Nolan directed Batman trilogy this summer and this installment added two new villains with Tom Hardy as Bane and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman. Hathaway stars as the anti-heroine Selina Kyle, who moonlights as a thief and a foil for the Cape Crusader.
During an interview with Hitfix published on Monday, Hathaway confesses she didn’t dream of being a Princess, but rather, Catwoman.
“I kind of got my big break in The Princess Diaries, and during the press rounds for that everyone asked me, ‘Did you always want to be a princess growing up?’ And the truth was, no, I wanted to be Catwoman. And I think a lot of women feel that way, and the fact that I am actually her is such a dream come true.”
The “Devil Wears Prada” star explained why she is so attracted to the villainess.
“I loved Catwoman’s sense of humor. I love how sly she is. I love how she walks the fence and you don’t know which side she’s going to come down on. She’s totally independent. Let’s face it, she’s badass.”
The Catwoman role required the “Alice in Wonderland” star to undergo some serious physical challenges and fight sequences.
“I’d always thought I was pretty healthy and I always thought I had worked hard in the gym and it turns out that what I thought was hard is actually light to moderate in Catwoman’s world. I’ve had to ratch it up a notch. I have the most incredible stuntwoman in the world and she’s [taken] me and the character to another level.”
Martial arts and dance seemed key to bring the feline character to the screen and the “Get Smart” actress addresses that she has that in her background.
“Yes, I do. I don’t actually know the name of it – sorry this makes me sound like an airhead. The stunt department are all phenomenal fighters and so I’ve just been mimicking them and doing whatever they tell me to do. I do all sorts of kicks. I do a roundhouse kick, I think its all mixed martial arts. I don’t know what the martial arts technique is called but I’ve been doing it in heels!”
One of the most interesting aspects of Hathaway’s Catwoman is that she is the female action hero in the Nolan universe, which the HitFix interviewer described as ‘cool.’
“I didn’t realize I was the first and I feel a little nauseous. I couldn’t feel more privileged to walk on the set every day. I’m the most annoying chipper person, because every day I walk on set I just want to do back flips at how happy I am to be here. I would have played street cop number three if it meant getting to work with Chris Nolan but I get to play Catwoman! I hope I don’t let him down.”
Check out the entire interview with Hit Fix here.
Christian Bale returns as Batman with Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman all reprising their roles from the first two films. Hardy, Hathaway are also joined by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Juno Temple, Matthew Modine, Josh Pence and Marion Cotillard.
“The Dark Knight Rises” arrives in theaters on July 20, 2012.
Anne Hathaway Warner Bros photo
