Anne Hathaway has revealed that her performance in Mother Mary drew unexpected inspiration from fellow actor Jessica Chastain.
In the upcoming film, the 43-year-old plays a pop star struggling with life under constant public scrutiny.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Hathaway shared that a particular dance sequence in the movie was influenced by Chastain’s stage performance in A Doll’s House. She recalled being deeply impressed after watching it shortly before beginning work on the project.
Anne Hathaway Credits Jessica Chastain for Inspiring Key ‘Mother Mary’ Dance Scene
“I have to give a shout out to Jessica Chastain, who, when she did A Doll’s House, did a danse macabre on stage that I saw right before I left to start this, and it just blew my mind and made me want to go even deeper than I already had gone,” she said.
Hathaway also explained that achieving the right tone for her character required more than just acting—it was about fully embodying the role. She described the performance as needing to feel almost “possessed.”
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“It’s not just about the performance, it’s about looking like something else is coming through, that you are actually possessed by something,” she added.
The Interstellar actress had previously mentioned that singer Charli XCX also played a role in helping her prepare for the part, especially in understanding the mindset of a modern pop star.