On the set of Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises last August, I got to participate in a group interview with Anne Hathaway.  While all of the actors were extremely guarded with their answers, you could see how happy they were to be on set and part of Nolan's final Batman film.  Here's a few of the highlights from our interview:

  • When she got the part, she didn’t go back to look at any of the older Catwomans for inspiration because this Catwoman is specific to Nolan’s Gotham City.
  • Hathaway did most of the fight sequences wearing heels.
  • When she first read the script, she couldn’t take it home with her.  She had to read it in a locked room.
  • She took the sides home with her when she screen tested, and the producer had to hunt her down so the sides could be destroyed.
  • Instead of a princess, Hathaway says she always wanted to be Catwoman when she was growing up.  She loved Catwoman’s sense of humor, how sly she was, and her independence.
  • They filmed dialogue scenes with IMAX cameras, which sound like a cappuccino machine.  She likes the noise when filming fight sequences because it “keeps you out of your head.”

Hit the jump for more.

dark-knight-rises-movie-image-christian-bale-anne-hathaway

As usual, I'm offering you two ways to get the interview: you can either click here for the audio, or the full transcript is below.  The Dark Knight Rises opens July 20.

Question: Are you happy to be able to finally talk about the movie?

Anne Hathaway:  I’m happy to be able to talk about the movie as much as I can.  Obviously a few secrets are out now so I can discuss certain things, but quite a few things are still under wraps.

dark-knight-rises-movie-image-anne-hathaway

What is your reaction to the set photos getting out on line?

Hathaway:  I asked people to check it out for me…it’s a little over whelming.

Can you talk about stepping into the shoes of such an iconic character?  A lot of people grew up with Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman and Eartha Kitt.  How does it feel to be Catwoman?

Hathaway:  Well the first thing you have to say is what an honor.  It was funny for me because when I got my start, I kind of got my big break with The Princess Diaries and during the press rounds for that everyone asked me: “Did you always want to be a princess growing up?”  And the truth was, no I wanted to be Catwoman.  And I think a lot of women feel that way.  And the fact that I am actually her is such a dream come true.  It’s such a pinch me moment.  And the fact that I am Catwoman in Chris Nolan’s Gotham to Christian Bale’s Batman is unbelievably cool.

How does this version of Catwoman differ from previous versions?

Hathaway:  Specifics?  As much as I can say?  She fits into the Gotham that Chris has established.

the-dark-knight-rises-imax-tickets

When you got this role, what did Chris tell you about not letting any secrets out?

Hathaway:  It’s sort of implied that everything is meant to be kept under wraps as possible.  The production isn’t called Batman, it has another name.  When I first read the script I couldn’t take it home with me, I had to read it in a locked room.  Maybe the room wasn’t locked, I could be adding that for dramatic effect…but you know…

How do you learn your lines if you can’t even take the script home with you?

Hathaway:  I read it through once really fast and I went back and read over all of my scenes and tried to memorize them as much as I could instantly.  It’s cool, you can call Chris and ask “what is this scene about again?” and eventually you get a copy of the script.  But everything is done with the upmost secrecy.  When I screen tested, I took the sides home with me.  And it was really awkward because the producer had to hunt me down to get the sides back so that they could be destroyed.  So it’s implied that this should be treated with a certain amount of secrecy, which is great because I think it is so much more fun to discover it in the movie theatre when there is so much anticipation about the movie.  I’m excited for people to discover it when it’s all pieced together the way Chris wants it.

What has been the physical challenge of this role for you so far?

christian-bale-jungle-book-origins

Hathaway:  I’d always thought I was pretty healthy and I always thought I had worked hard in the gym and it turns out that what I thought was hard, in Catwoman’s world, is actually light to moderate.  I’ve had to ratchet everything up.  I have the most incredible stuntwoman in the world and she’s got me and the character to another level.

Why did you want to be Catwoman when you were a kid?

Hathaway:  I loved Catwoman’s sense of humor.  I love how sly she is.  I love how she, to use a cat metaphor, walks the fence and you don’t know which side she’s going to come down on.  She’s totally independent.  And let’s face it, she’s badass.

Who is your favorite Catwoman?

Hathaway:  They’re all great.  Each Catwoman is specific to the Gotham City she lives in and the director that helps shape her.  So it’s kind of hard to have a favorite and I’m not just being political, it’s hard to have a favorite because each one is so specific as themselves.  And you look back at the history of the comic and Catwoman gets reinvented every ten to fifteen years anyway.  You can have preferences but the core of the character remains.

tom-hardy-christian-bale-the-dark-knight-rises

Did you look at any of them as inspiration?

Hathaway:  I grew up with all of them so I was well acquainted with the character’s dimension; she’s one of my favorite characters in the comic book world and in the movie world.  But I didn’t go back to any of the other ones because I’m in Chris’s Gotham City.  For me it didn’t make a lot of sense to look at them for inspiration, even as extraordinary a performance that Michelle Pfeiffer gave, that was Tim Burton’s Gotham. So for me that didn’t make a lot of sense.

Have you had any influence over the look of the character?

Hathaway:  I don’t know if I had any influence.

Influence in the mannerisms or style?

Hathaway:  I can’t really talk about that.

Considering the loss of Rachel in the last film, does Selena’s arrival in Batman’s life affect him strongly?

Hathaway:  Perhaps.

Have you been filming with IMAX cameras doing dialogue scenes?

the-dark-knight-rises-catwoman-poster

Hathaway:  We have been yes.

What is that like because those cameras make a lot of noise or have you not noticed that?

Hathaway:  I have noticed the noise because it sounds like a cappuccino being made constantly! (Laughs) For the fight sequences I actually love it because it keeps you out of your head and it adds to the adrenalin somehow.  But I haven’t shot that many of the dialogue scenes yet. I assume we’re just going to ADR it later on, or that our sound guy who just won an Oscar knows what he’s doing and maybe we won’t have to.

Being a fan of Catwoman, what is your reaction to Chris Nolan’s version versus the Catwoman in your mind?

Hathaway:  When Chris Nolan is your director you are like, “I trust that, I’m wrong.”  I have no problems bowing down to Chris’ vision. I’ve loved every movie he’s made; it’s an honor to be in one of them.  And I think that if something doesn’t make sense, forcing yourself to understand it from his perspective makes you better.  And he’s right, not “he’s usually right.”  He’s right.

After Christian Bale you are the most high profile person in the cast at this point in time– is this movie going to be important for your career?

Hathaway:  Obviously Christian is Batman and it’s the Batman series and he’s the star of it.  One of the things that I love about working with Christian and this franchise is that it does feel like an ensemble each time.  Christian is the leader of the actors and he is so lovely so I haven’t really thought about it to be honest.

What are the styles of Martial arts you do in the film?  Don’t you have a dance background?

Hathaway:  Yes, I do.  I don’t actually know the name of it – sorry this makes me sound like an airhead.  The stunt department are all phenomenal fighters and so I’ve just been mimicking them and doing whatever they tell me to do.  I do all sorts of kicks.  I do a roundhouse kick, I think its all mixed martial arts.  I don’t know what the martial arts technique is called but I’ve been doing it in heels!

How does it feel to be Chris Nolan’s first cool action hero female?

Hathaway:  I didn’t realize I was the first and I feel a little nauseous, that’s a lot of pressure.  I couldn’t feel more privileged to walk on the set every day.  I’m the most annoying chipper person, because every day I walk on set I just want to do back flips at how happy I am to be here.  I would have played street cop number three if it meant getting to work with Chris Nolan, and I get to play Catwoman!  I hope I don’t let him down.

For more from our The Dark Knight Rises set visit: