Was Anne Hathaway Rejected? Despite all her talent, her long career and the awards that have backed her up, The Devil Wears Fashion actress revealed she has been discriminated against because of her age and hasn’t been offered roles.
One of the most common stories in the film industry in recent years is the boycott that some actresses have faced during their careers. From actresses suffering from fatphobia like Kate Winslet to age discrimination. Anne Hathaway is one of those stars who has faced rejection for being “too old”, despite all her talent and starring in big movies like Les Misérables and Brokeback Mountain.
In an interview for Glamor UK during the promotion of the film The Fashion Intern in 2015, The Devil Wears Fashion actress revealed that she began to feel that many of the castings she went through revolved around her age. “When I was in my early twenties, roles were written for women over fifty and I got them. And now I’m in my early thirties and I think, ‘Why should that 24-year-old Got the part?” the actress said about her experience of finding work and missing out on some of the roles that ended up being open for young actresses.
Although she never revealed which roles she was rejected for, it is clear that “no”s have become more common for Hathaway than “yes” ones. As if actresses were not as hard to find in good roles, age has become a hindrance in Hollywood’s tendency to cast actresses in their twenties to play older characters. In these cases, Hathaway has not been the only victim of age discrimination.
Emma Thompson hasn’t hesitated to call out the bad habits of the industry, which insists on ignoring older actresses. In an interview with Vulture, the actress said: “I remember someone on ‘Sense and Sensibility’ told me I was too old for Hugh Grant, who is about a year younger than me.” Ultimately, Thompson continued in the role, and as expected, the actress earned praise for her performance and eventually won an Oscar.
One incredible story involves Spider-Man. For the Sam Raimi film, Elizabeth Banks auditioned for the role of Mary Jane Watson, however, she was turned down because she was “too old”. In real life, Banks was only 16 months older than Tobey Maguire. The role went to 18-year-old Kirsten Dunst at the time, who surprisingly was 10 years younger than the lead.
Another actress who has felt the pressure of age even after a successful career and two Academy Awards is Jane Fonda. As a result, Fonda recalls being forced to get plastic surgery in order to get a job. “For us, it’s about trying to stay young,” said the star of the critically acclaimed series Grace & Frankie. These and more cases abound in Hollywood, a place obsessed with youth and beauty.
