Hathaway Nervous But Ready To Play Garland In 'GET HAPPY'

Screen - and soon to be 'Broadway' star - Anne Hathaway revealed to The New York Daily News that while she is ready to portray the iconic Judy Garland, she is "either naive or insane to play her - maybe a little bit of both!"

Hathaway also told the Daily News newspaper that she plans on getting a little help with her role in the upcoming Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland from Garland's daughter, 2009 Tony winner Liza Minnelli.

"I haven't had a chance to talk to her about it yet, but I understand that as long as I treat Judy with respect - which of course I will - Liza is very happy about it." To read the full Daily News update on Hathaway and more click here.

Variety reported a few months ago that Anne Hathaway will star on both stage and screen as Judy Garland in the Weinstein Co.'s stage and film adaptations of Gerald Clarke's bio "Get Happy." The Weinstein Company recently optioned the legit and film rights to the book, first published by Delta in 2001.

Harvey Weinstein commented that Anne Hathaway "will be a true class act in this challenging role." While Garland's life and legacy have been explored before in popular culture, Weinstein explained Clarke's take on the iconic Garland "is particularly outstanding because of its exlusive details from her own writings."

The 26-year-old actress was very keen to appear in the movie - which charts Judy's rise to fame and her struggle with drink and drugs - that she may have to sacrifice other projects, which include a lead role in a comedy called The Fiance reports industry papers.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced in February that the 2009 Shakespeare in the Park summer season will begin in June with a new production of William Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT directed by Daniel Sullivan and featuring Academy Award nominee Anne Hathaway as Viola. TWELFTH NIGHT will run June 9-July 12 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. 

Anne Hathaway has been nominated for an Oscar, a Golden Globe, an Independent Spirit Award, and a SAG Award for her performance in Jonathan Demme's film Rachel Getting Married. Her stage credits include the lead role in the critically acclaimed 2002 City Center Encores production of Carnival! and Paper Mill Playhouse productions of Jane Eyre and Gigi. She is best-known for playing leading roles in the films Bride Wars, Brokeback Mountain (SAG Outstanding Ensemble nomination), The Devil Wears Prada, Get Smart, Ella Enchanted, Passengers, The Princess Diaries, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement and Becoming Jane.

To read the original Variety article click here.

Photo Credit: Sarah DeBoer/Retna Ltd.