How Anne Hathaway Found Her Breakthrough in 'The Idea of You' After a Drought of Romantic Scripts

Anne Hathaway Says She Stopped Getting Romantic Scripts in Her 40

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Anne Hathaway became known for starring in romantic comedies in the early 2000s. However, as she approached her 40s, she stopped receiving romantic scripts until The Idea of You came along.

During a recent press conference for The Idea of You, Hathaway, 41, shared that she had not realized that she had stopped receiving romantic scripts as she focused on her family life and motherhood in her 30s. She was pleasantly surprised when The Idea of You script came her way, feeling connected to the character and the story.

In the Prime Video film based on Robinne Lee’s 2017 book, Hathaway portrays Soléne, a 40-year-old woman who recently went through a divorce. She finds herself falling for Hayes Campbell, a 24-year-old musician, after attending a concert with her daughter Izzy to see their favorite band, August Moon, perform at Coachella.

Hathaway expressed her gratitude for being offered the role, stating that she felt honored. However, she also questioned the lack of representation of such stories in the entertainment industry, pondering, "Where have all these stories gone?"

"I don't know why they stop," she continued. "And then those questions, I saw all of the paths to the answers in the script and in the story, and I just thought, 'Whoa, what an unbelievable sort of meta exploration all of this can be.'"

Hathaway was 39 when production on The Idea of You began and turned 40 during filming. The milestone caused the experience to become far more self-reflective than Hathaway expected.

"It felt personal to me without any intentional design from me or anyone else," she said. "Working with [director] Michael Showalter and the amazing cast just made it all come together perfectly. I could talk about it forever."

Anne Hathaway Says She Stopped Getting Romantic Scripts in Her 40

Nicholas Galitzine plays ‘Hayes Campbell’ and Anne Hathaway stars as ‘Solène’ in the movie “The Idea Of You” on Prime Video.

Producer Cathy Schulman was instrumental in ensuring that Hathaway was chosen to portray the character of Solène. The development team actually designed the entire project with Hathaway in mind, even before she officially agreed to take on the role.

I always advise my young executives not to put all their eggs in one basket when developing a project. It usually doesn't work out. However, in this case, the actress we wanted was the only one who showed interest. During the press conference, I mentioned, "She was our top choice, and when she agreed to be part of the project, it was like a dream come true."

After Anne Hathaway agreed to join the project, the women involved were able to bring the character from the book to life in a way that felt relatable to all of us.

“I believed that Annie would be able to bring that aspect to Len’s character,” Schulman added, “and she really did.”

Anne Hathaway Says She Stopped Getting Romantic Scripts in Her 40

Anne Hathaway plays the role of 'Solène' and Nicholas Galitzine portrays 'Hayes Campbell' in the movie "The Idea Of You" directed by Alisha Wetherill/Prime.

One of the key elements that makes The Idea of You stand out is the story of a woman in her forties discovering her happiness. Another significant aspect is the on-screen chemistry between Solène and Hayes. Galitzine mentioned that the spark between them was natural and they had an almost instant connection.

"We felt an instant chemistry and connection," he said. He added that he looked forward to coming to set every day with excitement, which is not always the case.

Hathaway, on the other hand, attributes the magic between her and Galitzine to both of them being playful individuals.

"Once we figured that out, everything else was just about establishing a friendship," she explained. "It's been like any other friendship, where it doesn't feel like work at all. I'm really happy to have made friends with such a talented and wonderful person who is so far ahead."

She continued, "I felt genuinely cared for and supported during this movie. I knew that Nick was right there with me every step of the way. It was a beautiful and vulnerable experience."

The Idea of You debuts on Prime Video May 2.

Editor's P/S:

Anne Hathaway's journey to star in "The Idea of You" highlights the ageism and lack of representation for women over 40 in the entertainment industry. Despite her successful career in romantic comedies, Hathaway stopped receiving such scripts as she focused on family life. The film's premise of a 40-year-old woman finding love with a younger man challenges societal norms and showcases the diverse experiences of women in their 40s. Hathaway's personal connection to the character and her collaboration with director Michael Showalter and co-star Nicholas Galitzine resulted in a powerful and relatable portrayal of a woman navigating love, self-discovery, and the complexities of aging.

The behind-the-scenes story of "The Idea of You" is equally compelling. Producer Cathy Schulman's unwavering belief in Hathaway's suitability for the role demonstrates the importance of casting women of all ages in meaningful and complex roles. The film's development team's commitment to Hathaway from the outset is a testament to her enduring talent and the need for more diverse representation in the entertainment industry. The resulting on-screen chemistry between Hathaway and Galitzine is a testament to the power of authentic connections and the transformative nature of collaboration.