New Look At Anne Hathaway & Hugh Jackman In ‘Les Misérables’ – Tom Hooper Says Hathaway’s Performance Is “Breathtaking”

Alongside this new look at Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman in the film, MTV News caught up with director Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) to speak on his much anticipated feature adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel and stage musical, ‘Les Misérables.’ Hot on the heels of an incredible performance in ‘The Dark Knight Rises,’ Hooper spoke on Hathaway being cast as Fantine and her auditioning process for the film, “The list of actresses who auditioned for Fantine for example, it was outrageous. It was like half a dozen of the biggest female movie stars on the planet all wanted to play the role. The competition was insane, and they were all willing to go through the auditioning process.”

The Oscar-winning director continues, “It was rather wonderful and some poetic justice that Anne Hathaway ends up getting the role given that her mother was the understudy for Fantine on the American tour when she was growing up. The first day of filming, she actually wore her mother’s “Les Mis” cast jacket from all those years ago. I am blessed by the most extraordinary cast, a cast I still can’t quite believe, even after having shot the film and worked with them all, I still can’t quite believe that we got this lineup. I’m incredibly proud of the performances in the film and each of them in their own way has done something astonishing with the opportunity. I can’t wait to share it with big fans of the musical.”

Still on the topic of Anne Hathaway, Tom Hooper shared his thoughts on her performance as Fantine and the commitment she brought to the role in ‘Les Misérables,’ saying, “When she sings “I Dreamed a Dream,” and you just see a tiny clip in the trailer, it is quite extraordinary. This performance, it is quite breathtaking. The day we shot it on set, the crew were kind of absolutely staggered by it. She went to this incredibly raw and intense place to play this role. She offered to cut her hair because that’s what happens to the character, and she was truly committed to going on this journey and did the most immaculate amount of research. I don’t think I’ve worked with a better-prepared actor in terms of the amount of the months and months of work that she put in to build up to this moment.”

Arriving in cinemas December 7th in the US and January 11th in the UK, ‘Les Misérables’ stars Anne Hathaway as Fantine alongside Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe as Javert, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette, Samantha Barks as Eponine, Aaron Tveit as Enjolras, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, Sacha Baron Cohen as Monsieur Thenardierto, and Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thénardier. The official synopsis for Tom Hooper’s ‘Les Misérables’ can be read below.

Les Misérables is the motion-picture adaptation of the beloved global stage sensation seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries and in 21 languages around the globe and still breaking box-office records everywhere in its 27th year. Helmed by The King’s Speech‘s Academy Award®-winning director, Tom Hooper, the Working Title/Cameron Mackintosh production stars Hugh Jackman, Oscar® winner Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, Amanda Seyfried, Anne Hathaway, Samantha Barks, Aaron Tveit, Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Helena Bonham Carter.

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption–a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Hugh Jackman plays ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Russell Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s (Anne Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever.

In December 2012, the world’s longest-running musical brings its power to the big screen in Tom Hooper’s sweeping and spectacular interpretation of Victor Hugo’s epic tale. With international superstars and beloved songs–including “I Dreamed a Dream,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More” and “On My Own”–Les Misérables, the show of shows, is now reborn as the cinematic musical experience of a lifetime.