Anne Hathaway News | 03/24/2009 10:35 am
Anne Hathaway to Play Judy Garland on Stage and Screen
© AP
When Anne Hathaway was pulled to the Oscar stage for an "impromptu" duet with Hugh Jackman, we were surprised to learn the talented young actress could really sing. Apparently we weren’t the only ones.
The Oscar-nominated star of "Rachel Getting Married" will play the legendary Judy Garland on both the big screen and Broadway in "Get Happy," based on Gerald Clarke’s biography of the same name. No other casting has yet been announced by producer Harvey Weinstein, who called Hathaway “brilliantly talented … She will be a true class act.”
Playing the outsized personality of the five-foot-tall Garland, whose dramatic and traumatic life ended with a tragic overdose at the age of 47, would be a challenge for any actress. And it should be a stretch for the five-foot-eight Hathaway, who has never been on Broadway before (though she will appear in Shakespeare in the Park’s Central Park production of "Twelfth Night" this summer). There’s no word yet on what Garland’s daughter, Liza Minnelli, thinks of the casting.
The Oscar-nominated star of "Rachel Getting Married" will play the legendary Judy Garland on both the big screen and Broadway in "Get Happy," based on Gerald Clarke’s biography of the same name. No other casting has yet been announced by producer Harvey Weinstein, who called Hathaway “brilliantly talented … She will be a true class act.”
Playing the outsized personality of the five-foot-tall Garland, whose dramatic and traumatic life ended with a tragic overdose at the age of 47, would be a challenge for any actress. And it should be a stretch for the five-foot-eight Hathaway, who has never been on Broadway before (though she will appear in Shakespeare in the Park’s Central Park production of "Twelfth Night" this summer). There’s no word yet on what Garland’s daughter, Liza Minnelli, thinks of the casting.
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Anita she might be taller but Judy had long legs. I think she is a great choice and being privledge to see Judy Garland in person when I was young I can’t wait to see the play.
Shirley MacLaine took a special moment during the Oscar ceremonies to compliment Anne Hathaway about her singing performance with Hugh Jackman. And even though I agree with Ms. MacLaine’s comment, I wouldn’t put Anne’s voice in the same category as that of Judy Garland. But that might not be necessary for the "Get Happy" production. Few could match Judy’s voice, same for Ms. Streisand.
I would think Anne’s performance will be judged on her ability to bring the drama of Judy’s life to the stage. Her performance, fairly or unfairly, will also be judged on the quality and character of the play.
The TV movie "Me and My Shadow", written and produced by Judy’s daughter Lorna Luft starred the incredible Judy Davis who was spectacular. I thought the production was marvelous and the screenplay not only brought all the pathos of Judy’s life to the screen but also her wonderful humor. I sincerely hope this new production will do as well. Anne will really have to dig deep to become Judy not when she was happy, funny and working but when she was older or suffering from postpartum depression or whacked out on either alcohol or pills. Very difficult challenge ahead for Anne Hathaway. Break a leg, Anne.
Judy Garland was a major talent! She was a woman of great depth! There were so many nuances to her life; so many hills and valleys. It’s going to take everything A.H. has to fill Ms. Garland’s pumps!