Anne Hathaway revealed she spent a week developing a Harley Quinn persona ahead of her meeting with Christopher Nolan for The Dark Knight Rises. She had assumed the role was for the Batman villain rather than Catwoman. The actress shared the story on the Happy Sad Confused podcast.
Hathaway said she believed Catwoman was too iconic due to Michelle Pfeiffer's performance. She therefore prepared by channeling what she described as demonic Harley Quinn energy and wore a striped top with jester flats to the meeting.
Two hours into the conversation Nolan informed her the part was Catwoman. Hathaway said she immediately shifted her approach and transformed her personality on the spot.
She ultimately won the role of Selina Kyle and later reunited with Nolan on Interstellar. The pair's next collaboration The Odyssey is scheduled to open in theaters July 17 from Universal Pictures.