Summary:
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Director and Hathaway open up about emotional challenges in A24 film, with Coel offering support and praise.
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Hathaway embraces vulnerability in demanding role as pop icon in Mother Mary, stepping outside her comfort zone for emotional depth.
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Despite no official release date, buzz grows for Mother Mary with high expectations for bold creative vision and powerhouse performances.
Director recalls emotional breakdown on set as Hathaway embraces vulnerability in intense new A24 film
Anne Hathaway is no stranger to high-stakes roles, but her upcoming part in A24’s Mother Mary may be her most demanding performance yet.
In a new Vogue interview published July 9, Hathaway and director David Lowery opened up about the emotional and physical challenges behind the pop star drama, which also stars I May Destroy You creator Michaela Coel.
“At one point Annie broke down and said, ‘I have to apologize, because I think what’s going to come out of me will hurt you,’” Lowery recalled. “And Michaela took her hands and said, ‘I love you, I trust you.’”
A Role That Demanded More Than Acting
In Mother Mary, Hathaway plays a fictional pop icon navigating personal and creative struggles. With original music written by Jack Antonoff and Charli XCX, the film blends performance with emotional depth, pushing Hathaway far outside her comfort zone.
“What struck me right away, reading the script, is that you can’t ‘perform’ Mother Mary,” Hathaway explained. “If I got the part, I would have to become material David could craft with.”
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Despite her long and acclaimed career, Hathaway approached the role with what she described as beginner’s humility.
“I had to submit to being a beginner,” she said. “The humility of that, showing up every day knowing you’re going to suck. And it has to be okay. You’re not ‘bad.’ You’re just a beginner. Getting to that mindset, I had to shed some things that were hard to shed.”
Breaking Down Barriers
The emotionally taxing scenes weren’t limited to dialogue. Coel highlighted one particularly intense moment in the film, a barn dance sequence, where Hathaway had to embody vulnerability in front of the entire crew.
“It’s very brave work that she’s done,” Coel shared. “Look at that dance in the barn, it’s scary. The physicality she had to learn in preparation for this job… That requires a lot of strength.”
To unwind between takes, the two stars would often decompress at Berlin’s techno clubs, something Hathaway admitted took “a lot of wearing down” before she gave in to the experience.
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No Release Date Yet, But Buzz is Building
While Mother Mary does not yet have an official release date, anticipation is building as details of the film’s bold creative vision emerge. The combination of Lowery’s writing, Antonoff and Charli XCX’s music, and powerhouse performances from Hathaway and Coel have already set high expectations for the film.
The movie marks a significant departure for Hathaway, known for her work in films like The Devil Wears Prada and Les Misérables, further showcasing her range and willingness to challenge herself.
Fan Reactions
Though the film remains unreleased, early buzz around Hathaway’s emotional comments and Coel’s praise has fans eager for its debut.
“Anne Hathaway breaking down on set just shows how committed she is,” one user wrote on X. “She better gets her 2nd Oscar soon.”
I’m obsessed with this already
— RuralJurorVEVO (@drecc_2) July 7, 2025
IM SEATED
— cHRISTOPHER 🦠 (@KINGKRIZZZ) July 7, 2025
