Movies
'Dark Knight Rises' Anne Hathaway: 'Hedy Lamarr inspired my Catwoman'
Published Thursday, Dec 29 2011, 16:26 GMT | By Justin Harp | 11 comments
The Dark Knight Rises star Anne Hathaway has revealed that she partially based her version of Catwoman on legendary actress Hedy Lamarr.
Hathaway explained that she studied Lamarr's distinctive acting style by watching many of her films while she prepared to play The Dark Knight Rises' enigmatic rogue.
"I know this sounds odd, but her breathing is extraordinary," the star told The Los Angeles Times. "She takes these long, deep, languid breaths and exhales slowly."
Hathaway added: "There's a shot of her in [the 1933 film] Ecstasy exhaling a cigarette and I took probably five breaths during her one exhale. So I started working on my breathing a lot."
Hathaway once again defended Catwoman's Dark Knight Rises costume and newly-designed goggles, which were criticised by some fans when pictures of the outfit were first released.
"I love the costume because everything has a purpose, nothing is in place for fantasy's sake, and that's the case with everything in [director] Christopher Nolan's Gotham City," the actress said.
Hathaway follows in the footsteps of Michelle Pfeiffer and Halle Berry, who both played Catwoman on the big screen, and the three actresses who starred as the villain on the 1960s Batman series and film, Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether and Eartha Kitt.
The Dark Knight Rises, which also stars Christian Bale and Tom Hardy, will be released in theatres on July 20, 2012.
> Pittsburgh Steelers player 'blown away by cameo in Dark Knight Rises'
> The Dark Knight Rises trailer breaks iTunes download record
View pictures of Catwoman stars through the years below:
Hathaway explained that she studied Lamarr's distinctive acting style by watching many of her films while she prepared to play The Dark Knight Rises' enigmatic rogue.
© Warner Bros.
© Rex Features / Everett Collection
"I know this sounds odd, but her breathing is extraordinary," the star told The Los Angeles Times. "She takes these long, deep, languid breaths and exhales slowly."
Hathaway added: "There's a shot of her in [the 1933 film] Ecstasy exhaling a cigarette and I took probably five breaths during her one exhale. So I started working on my breathing a lot."
Hathaway once again defended Catwoman's Dark Knight Rises costume and newly-designed goggles, which were criticised by some fans when pictures of the outfit were first released.
"I love the costume because everything has a purpose, nothing is in place for fantasy's sake, and that's the case with everything in [director] Christopher Nolan's Gotham City," the actress said.
Hathaway follows in the footsteps of Michelle Pfeiffer and Halle Berry, who both played Catwoman on the big screen, and the three actresses who starred as the villain on the 1960s Batman series and film, Julie Newmar, Lee Meriwether and Eartha Kitt.
The Dark Knight Rises, which also stars Christian Bale and Tom Hardy, will be released in theatres on July 20, 2012.
> Pittsburgh Steelers player 'blown away by cameo in Dark Knight Rises'
> The Dark Knight Rises trailer breaks iTunes download record
View pictures of Catwoman stars through the years below:
Julie Newmar was the first actress to portray Catwoman on screen. Here she is suited up for the Adam West '60s TV series.
Image 1 of 7
Copyright: 20th Century Fox Rex Features
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