Anne Hathaway’s Viral ‘Dark Knight Rises’ Audition Story Resurfaces Amid ‘The Odyssey’ Press

As Anne Hathaway promotes her latest film ‘The Odyssey,’ the internet is buzzing once again about one of the most entertaining audition stories in Hollywood history. Entertainment journalist Joshua Horowitz shared that Hathaway once walked into her audition for ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ fully believing she was auditioning for Harley Quinn rather than Catwoman, spending the first hour of her meeting with Christopher Nolan acting accordingly.

“I spent a week developing demonic Harley Quinn energy, I was wearing weird jester flats and a striped top… then Chris is like ‘so the part is Catwoman.’”

Hathaway recounted arriving in a Vivienne Westwood top with stripes everywhere and flat shoes that resembled the Joker’s, trying to give Nolan “crazy little smiles” to embody Harley Quinn’s chaotic spirit. About an hour into the audition, Nolan gently corrected her, revealing that the role was actually Catwoman. Her immediate internal shift was palpable. As she described it, “Now ok, we’re slinky. We’re slinky. And I hate my shirt. I love my shirt, but I hate it right now. We’re slinky.”

This amusing story remains just as delightful upon rewatch, especially in light of Hathaway’s current collaboration with Nolan in ‘The Odyssey.’ Their working relationship, which began with that chaotic audition, has blossomed into a notable partnership in high-profile cinema, including her role in ‘Interstellar’ back in 2014.

The anecdote has resurfaced at an opportune moment, coinciding with the buzz surrounding ‘The Odyssey,’ which opens on July 17. Anything related to Hathaway and Nolan is currently receiving heightened attention due to the excitement surrounding the film.

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ is celebrated as the highest-grossing Batman film, amassing over $1 billion globally and earning an 87% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Hathaway’s portrayal of Catwoman was widely acclaimed, with Vanity Fair declaring her the best Catwoman on screen. The fact that this standout performance followed an hour of unintentional Harley Quinn cosplay adds to its impressiveness.

In ‘The Odyssey,’ Hathaway portrays Penelope, queen of Ithaca, whose narrative runs parallel to her husband Odysseus’s journey home. Director Nolan highlighted Hathaway’s dedication and presence as vital to the film’s ensemble. According to Collider, she and Tom Holland also assisted Nolan in navigating new IMAX camera challenges designed to capture intimate dialogue scenes on a grand scale.

The Harley Quinn anecdote is one of those timeless Hollywood stories that never loses its charm. It highlights the unpredictable nature of the industry, where preparation, instinct, and adaptability often outweigh the need for perfect alignment with a role. Hathaway may have arrived ready for the wrong character, but she ultimately became the definitive Catwoman of her generation.

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