Anne Hathaway As Catwoman In 'The Dark Knight Rises': Christian Bale Approves

A few eyebrows were raised by Batman fans when the first photos of Anne Hathaway as Catwoman in "The Dark Knight Rises" were revealed, but there's no need to fear -- the Caped Crusader himself says so.

In a rare interview about the upcoming third film in his own Batman canon, Christian Bale praised Hathaway for the job she did to make an iconic character her own, right from the first time she read for the part.

“When [director] Chris [Nolan] watched the screen test, he agreed that Anne did a wonderful job," Bale told the Philippine Daily Inquirer. "In many ways, she has the hardest job. There are a number of people who feel that the Catwoman role has been defined previously. So, I always saw Anne’s role as being the toughest job of any of us."

Catwoman, of course, was played on the big screen by Michelle Pfeiffer in the 1992 Tim Burton film, "Batman Returns," and by Halle Berry in the 2004 spinoff film, "Catwoman." The role was also played by Lee Meriwether in the 1966 comedy film, "Batman," starring Adam West, while Julie Newmar played the part in 13 episodes of the iconic 60s TV series that also starred West. Eartha Kitt then took over the role for the third and final season.

Hathaway herself responded to criticism of her costume this summer, telling MTV, "What I am happy to say is, if you didn't like the photo, you only see about a 10th of what that suit can do. And if you did like the photo, you have excellent taste."

For more, click over to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

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Comments

[sczioangelxr]

08:00 PM on 12/09/2011

movie looks freakin' sweet. can't wait for it to come out.

[sensimilla]

11:26 AM on 11/29/2011

Bale as batman is a complete disaster. Hathaway as catwoman? Sheer idiocy..

This series jumped the shark years ago.

[dmsdzinr]

09:31 AM on 11/29/2011

So far, NOT impressed.

[TheFlowerChild]

11:48 PM on 11/28/2011

zUmm No matter how much makeup you put on Anne Hathaway she could never accomplish what sexy is or sexy does to a man or what CATWOMANS persona is and DOES. Hathaway is an above average actress but fierce? NOT. So she showed a little skin in "Love and Other Drugs" to get attention but honestly that woman needs a nose job and I think her eyes are too close together but whatever she's a "working" actress she's one of the lucky ones in that sense. I guess looks aren't everything.

[onionboy]

03:04 AM on 11/29/2011

I think she's a way under-rated actress. I've seen her pull off a variety of stuff. She just needs the right vehicle. I didn't see LAOD, but she went nude once or twice in the past, so I doubt she felt anymore need to "get attention" than anyone doing any other flick.

[Druidblue]

08:06 PM on 11/28/2011

Hathaway is one of the hottest women on the planet, she's an outstanding actor and just like everyone was whining about Heath Ledger before being proven wrong, Anne will own the role.

[keshea01]

12:27 PM on 11/28/2011

OMG...I love her outfit!!! I want one!!!!

[redsongia]

06:21 PM on 11/27/2011

BTW, who's the villian in this one? It looks like he has a panty on his face. I don't recall a panty-face in the comics.

[Red 5]

07:05 PM on 11/27/2011

Its Bane, and please... please respect The Bat!

[onionboy]

03:05 AM on 11/29/2011

It's from "Batman:Year 5...Panty-Face Cometh"

[Daws]

05:38 PM on 11/27/2011

Going to be interesting to see what Nolan and Hathaway's take on Selina will be. Pfeiffer's Catwoman is my favorite.

[Red 5]

07:06 PM on 11/27/2011

I was hoping she would just be playing Selina Kile but I stil have faith.

[Aitch5]

05:12 PM on 11/27/2011

I haven't heard any criticism of Hathaway in the media about this role. I don't get what they would be criticizing anyway.

[momschlep]

07:06 PM on 11/27/2011

Really, I thought the costume/look was great. Can't wait to see it.

[LeftLeanWing]

04:01 AM on 11/28/2011

she's not known for being vampy.....

[SteveDenver]

04:59 AM on 11/28/2011

yet

[trekbette]

04:26 PM on 11/27/2011

What's up with a story that displays 28 pictures that only shows two of the actual subject of the story?

[LMPE]

03:32 PM on 11/27/2011

Anne Hathaway is gonna make one sexy Catwoman!

[wrwjr57]

12:55 PM on 11/28/2011

LOL

[Blythe A]

02:54 PM on 11/27/2011

I saw her with J. Gyllenhaal in "Love & Other Drugs" and I was impressed. I didn't know she had someone like that in her. I'll be optimistic about her Catwoman portrayal.

[amanandamouse]

02:38 PM on 11/27/2011

Help me. I have yet to see a Batman movie (excepting the 1966 version) but I did see Halle Berry in Catwoman. The latter has a powerful hold on me.

[kmac23va]

02:55 PM on 11/27/2011

Wow...honestly, of all the Batman movies, the Catwoman standalone probably has the worst reception and is only considered loosely associated with the Batman mythos really. You should at least see the 1989 Batman (Michael Keaton and Jack Nicholson) and the last two movies, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Batman Returns would be the next to see (that's the one with Catwoman), but I'd say skip the other two...the Val Kilmer Batman was okay, but the George Clooney Batman was horrid.

[amanandamouse]

11:25 AM on 11/28/2011

Thanks the kind of help I was hoping for. Thank you.

[Nurse Michelle]

01:01 PM on 11/27/2011

Christian... "You're catnip to a girl like me. Handsome, dazed, and to die for." "Meow"...

[mebemommee06]

12:54 PM on 11/27/2011

I think Hathaway is going to be the" cats meow" in this one.. though all the women who played the cat woman prior to her, made the part their own, in their own way..