Anne Hathaway shares insights into her musical collaboration with Jack Antonoff for the upcoming film Mother Mary.
Plot Overview
The thriller, which hits UK theaters on April 24, features Hathaway as a pop star facing an emotional crisis that forces her to halt her tour. She later reconnects with an estranged friend and fashion designer, played by Michaela Coel, to stage a triumphant comeback performance.
Musical Contributions
Hathaway performs original songs penned by Charli XCX and produced by Antonoff, who served as her guide throughout the process. The track Burial, performed by Hathaway, debuted in March.
Describing the role as humbling, Hathaway highlights how it differs from her prior singing experiences. She has sung in previous projects, including the 2012 Les Misérables adaptation and the 2011 animated film Rio.
Insights from Hathaway
In a recent interview, Hathaway compares the shift from musical theater to recording: “It’s kind of like asking if a ten-speed bike and a Harley are the same thing. Technically, yeah, it’s the same genus, but the specifics are completely different, and I had to learn how to ride a Harley, you know, the intricacies of the voice to the microphone.”
She adds, “It’s not something I’d ever really gotten to play around with, and that took a while for me to wrap my head around, but I had an amazing guide in Jack Antonoff. He just kept giving me notes. We would go in and record, and then I would get to go meditate on what it was that Jack was talking about, slowly inch by inch, year by year, we got closer until finally the music’s what you listen to.”
Hathaway previously revealed that she drew inspiration for her character from Antonoff’s longtime collaborator, Taylor Swift.
Recent Projects
Beyond Mother Mary, Hathaway reunites with Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt in the Devil Wears Prada sequel. Meanwhile, Swift recently dismissed rumors of a feud with Antonoff.
