Unusually, the actress snapped up the role in one single audition – with her and director Garry Marshall hitting it off immediately.
Hathaway recalled (per Vogue): “At some point during the audition, I got really nervous and fell out of my chair, and I think that’s what he was most impressed with.”
This is still very much a ‘fairy tale’ moment for the star, with her stating on the movie’s anniversary: “I remember [the day] and I give thanks to the universe, a big open-hearted thank you because that was the day that dreams came true for me.
“There are a lot of aspects to my life that are very real, but also a lot that are very fairy tale. That was the day that my fairy tale started.”
Following her role in the coming-of-age comedy, Hathaway was determined to keep her stardom rising and began taking on more adult roles to avoid typecasting.