The talented and versatile actress, Anne Hathaway, who is often known for her critically acclaimed movies like Les Miserables and One Day, recently appeared in a raunchy romcom The Idea of You, starring 29-year-old Nicholas Galitzine. Considering the highly acclaimed projects she has done so far, Hathaway faced waves of criticism for her current choice.
But that’s not all. Apart from her shift in film choice, Anne Hathaway was also slammed by netizens for her significant age gap with her co-star Nicholas Galitzine. Considering that Hathaway is 41 years old, people voiced their disapproval over her onscreen romance with her 29-year-old co-star. However, the actress’ response to the criticism has been nothing short of brilliant.
Anne Hathaway’s Brilliant Response to Ageism
Exploring her potential in every genre of films, Anne Hathaway eventually navigated her career toward the Amazon Prime romcom The Idea of You, alongside Nicholas Galitzine. Playing the role of a mother in her 40s, who encounters a global pop superstar, only to turn it into an unconventional romance, Hathaway turned eyes with her film, which catered to the uncomfortable topic of age-gap romance and ageism in Hollywood.
Although the age difference between 41-year-old Anne Hathaway and 29-year-old Nicholas Galitzine presented in the film isn’t entirely uncommon, people still consider it a taboo. Therefore, working on a project debunking such stereotypes led Hathaway to be a victim of criticism and vocal outrage. But Hathaway addressed the issue with grace and offered a brilliant response to ageism.
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“It’s kind of fun to be in a film where we talk about it, where we don’t dance around it, but we actually embrace her point of view on it. It’s funny, it’s OK if 40 is old, it’s OK if 40 isn’t old, it’s OK whatever it is because it’s personal.” Hathaway told Today.
While a particular age can be interpreted in many ways, Anne Hathaway noted that it’s a completely personal journey and experience of an individual, how they want to embrace their age. Implying that she personally refuses to be pigeonholed and limited by her age, Hathaway mentioned how her movie sparks a necessary conversation about age biases.
Anne Hathaway Addresses Her Onscreen Romance with Grace
Considering that the majority of the criticism stems from the significant age-gap romance featured in The Idea of You, Anne Hathaway urged people to embrace the storyline and then comment. Arguing that her onscreen character highlights every other woman who wishes to enjoy their life and career irrespective of their age, Hathaway asserted that her film explores the story of those who are still trying to identify themself.
“For Solène, her point of view is, you know, she became a mom really young and she really wanted to have a career and so she doesn’t totally identify with her age. She feels like maybe she’s done things a little bit out of order and for her, 40 means it’s a time… of self-discovery for her.”
Addressing her onscreen romance with Nicholas Galitzine, Anne Hathaway noted that it’s important to find a partner who supports, embraces, and adds value to each other’s lives without judgment. In a world where people are often judged based on their age and lifestyle, Hathaway’s response came as a powerful rebuke of ageism.
“That’s what the movie says… how wonderful that she finds someone that she feels so supported by, seen by, embraced by, valued by.”
While the criticism aimed at Anne Hathaway’s on-screen romance proved how people are often judged and discarded based on their age, the actress’ response broke down barriers and challenged the norms.
The Idea of You is available on Prime Video.
