Anne Hathaway opens up on working with Jack Antonoff for ‘Mother Mary’
The actress performed original songs produced and guided by Antonoff
Anne Hathaway has opened up about her experience working with producer and musician Jack Antonoff on the upcoming film Mother Mary, describing the process as both “humbling” and creatively challenging.
The psychological thriller, released on April 24 in the UK, stars Hathaway as a global pop icon who abruptly halts her tour after an emotional breakdown, later reconnecting with an estranged friend and fashion designer, played by Michaela Coel, in preparation for a comeback performance.
For the project, Hathaway performed original songs written by Charli XCX and produced by Antonoff, who also worked closely with her throughout the recording process as a guiding creative force.
Speaking in an interview with Discussing Film, Hathaway reflected on the shift from her previous musical roles, explaining that working on Mother Mary required a completely different approach compared to traditional film musicals.
“It’s kind of like asking if a ten-speed bike and a Harley are the same thing,” she said. “Technically, yeah, it’s the same genus, but the specifics are completely different.”
She explained that adapting her voice for a studio recording environment took time and experimentation, particularly in learning how to adjust performance techniques for the microphone.
“It’s not something I’d ever really gotten to play around with,” Hathaway said, adding that Antonoff played a key role in shaping the sound.
“He just kept giving me notes. We would go in and record, and then I would go and meditate on what Jack was talking about,” she said. “Slowly inch by inch, year by year, we got closer.”
Hathaway credited the collaborative process for helping her fully step into the role, noting that the final music reflects that gradual creative evolution.
The actress, known for her performances in projects such as Les Misérables and Rio, said the experience allowed her to explore a different side of musical performance than she had in the past.
She also revealed in earlier remarks that she drew inspiration for her character from Antonoff’s longtime collaborator Taylor Swift.