Gyllenhaal 'wanted to work with Hathaway'

Jake Gyllenhaal has joked that he was attracted to his role in Love and Other Drugs because it involved being in the nude with Anne Hathaway.

The 30-year-old actor previously worked with Hathaway during Brokeback Mountain and said that he couldn't turn down the opportunity to star with her again.

He jested to Cover Media: "It was out of pity and I was, like, the 45th actor to be offered the role. After everyone heard they had to be naked with Annie they just started turning it down... just kidding.

"It was just a lot of different things [that drew me to it]. I've always wanted to get naked in a movie with Annie again and I felt like this was an opportunity to help her."

Gyllenhaal also admitted that he was pleased to be directed by Edward Zwick, whose movies include The Last Samurai and Blood Diamond, as he had wanted to collaborate with him for a long time.

He explained: "Essentially knowing Ed was at the helm was the biggest thing. I have wanted to work with him over and over again and auditioned for his movies many, many times."