Image credit : @mykinotrailer via pinterest
Anne Hathaway has revealed the odd prep work for her latest role in the A24 psychological drama ‘Mother Mary’. The Oscar winner stars as a Taylor Swift-like worldwide pop star, and she wanted first-hand perspective from somebody experiencing that life. So she sought out British pop star Charli XCX for good advice and creative direction. The conversations influenced her performance, and also offered her a much better appreciation of the modern pop star grind. Here’s all the info that Hathaway has released about the collaborative so far.
She Went Straight to Charli XCX for the Real Answers
Hathaway told People that Charli XCX was the one person she leaned on to understand the role. She wanted to know what life as a working pop star is genuinely like behind the polished public image.
Charli XCX Wrote Music That Hathaway Performs in the Film
The Brat singer is one of the main musical voices on the soundtrack alongside Jack Antonoff and FKA Twigs. Hathaway said the music Charli wrote for the film is incredible, and performing it pushed her into new territory.
Hathaway Calls Pop Stars Endurance Athletes
via instagram
After her conversations with Charli, Hathaway came away with a new framework for understanding the job entirely. She described pop stars as endurance athletes who somehow pull it all off in platform heels every single night.
She Co Wrote One of the Songs Herself
Hathaway is credited as a co writer on the track Burial alongside Charli XCX, Jack Antonoff, and Charli’s husband George Daniel. The song opens the film and gave her a real songwriter perspective on the character.
Choreographer Dani Vitale Was the Other Key Voice
Beyond Charli, Hathaway worked closely with choreographer Dani Vitale for months of intense preparation. Vitale has toured with artists like Nicki Minaj, and she helped Hathaway move and perform like a real arena headliner.
Hathaway Trained Eight Hours a Day for the Role
Reports from the production say Hathaway practiced choreography roughly eight hours daily during prep. She also did extensive vocal training so she could deliver the songs live on screen instead of lip syncing.
She Also Drew Inspiration From Beyoncé
At an April press event, Hathaway revealed she studied Beyoncé’s American Requiem and the Homecoming concert film. She praised the phrasing and stillness in the vocal performance as a key to building her character.
The Director Modeled Mother Mary on Taylor Swift
Director David Lowery has said the title character is his vision of a future Taylor Swift type figure. He pointed to Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour film as a major reference for the movie’s big concert sequences.
She Has No Plans to Become a Pop Star Herself
Despite the deep dive into music for the role, Hathaway has been clear that this is a one time experiment. She joked that she could never see herself going down the actual pop star path in real life.
The Cast Around Her Is Stacked
Mother Mary also stars Michaela Coel, Hunter Schafer, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay, Alba Baptista, and FKA Twigs. The ensemble has fueled buzz around the project from the moment the cast list was first announced.
The Film Is Already in Theaters
A24 gave Mother Mary a limited release on April 17, 2026, before expanding wide on April 24. Reviews have been mixed to positive, with critics consistently singling out Hathaway’s transformation as the film’s standout achievement.
About the Author
