Femme Fatale Friday : ANNE HATHAWAY

A very Happy Birthday to the amazing 💖 Anne Hathaway 💖 who is also this weeks, Femme Fatale.

Born in Brooklyn New York (you can see that side come out a time or two in, Dark Knight Rises) in 1982 and named after the bride of, William Shakespeare's wife, to parents originally from Philadelphia, her mother an actress, whose father was a prominent Philly radio personality and her father a lawyer.

In high school she was nominated for the Paper Mill's Rising Star Award for best high school performance in the state of New Jersey.  She was also the first and only teen admitted to the award-winning acting program at The Barrow Group of New York, performing 2 concerts at Carnegie Hall as a member of the All-Eastern US High School Honors Choir.

Hathaway's first major role was on the short lives show, Get Real, but it was her lead in the films, The Princess Diaries (2001), that got the worlds attention and captured a lot of hearts, including mine. 😉  It couldn't have been easy that early on playing opposite screen legend, Julie Andrews, but it spawned a very successful sequel (2004), it was the filming schedule for that sequel that would cost her the female lead role in, Phantom of the Opera, as Hathaway was one of New York's leading sopranos and has an amazing voice.

Hathaway was also well known early for her sensuality and confidence as a model.  She would follow in Andrews footsteps of stepping away from family friendly roles as she appeared topless in the film, Havoc (2005).  She has been quoted as saying that she doesn't mind being naked for a role if it serves a purpose for the film.

Gary Marshall, director of, The Princess Diaries said, "The multi-talented Hathaway is a combination of Julia Roberts, Audrey Hepburn and Judy Garland."  Quite the honor to be put into a category with such legends so early on in her career.

Known by Annie, to her friends, she's shown herself to be bold and proud of her NYC life at public appearances.

In 2012 was cast in, Les Miserables, suggested for the role by Hugh Jackman and went on to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, for the role she also won BAFTA Award, Critic's Choice Award, Golden Globe Award and SAG Award.

Also in 2012 was cast as, Selina Kyle aka Catwoman in, The Dark Knight Rises.  I hope that someday she also finds her way into the, MCU.

Hathaway also co-starred in Alice in Wonderland (2010) & Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016), with Johnny Depp.

Hathaway was given a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2019.  She is married with two sons.

Not only one of the hottest (in many ways) actresses of the last decade but also one of the most powerful in the acting world, turning down numerous parts over "creative differences", being very choosey about how she is portrayed on screen.

Anne Hathaway is one of my absolute favorites and I wish her a very wonderful Birthday weekend! 💘


 

Femme Fatale Friday : Julie Newmar, Cat Scratch Fever Forever

 

To say that Julie Newmar is one of the most beautiful and naturally sexiest women to ever walk this earth would be a bold statement but also an understatement.  Newmar has been wowing the world for decades. 💖

Born, Julia Charlene Newmeyer on August 16th 1933, in Los Angeles California, she began dance at an early age.  Her father, Don Newmeyer was a Phys Ed teacher for Los Angeles City College and played professional football for the Los Angeles Buccaneers.  Her mother, Helen was a fashion designer and Swedish-French born, who later invested in real estate, which Julie would also get into, later in life.

In 1956 Julie was in a stage production of, Lil Abner, for 3-

minutes she portrayed, Stupefyin' Jones, but it wasn't until she reprised the role for the film in 1959 that she would catch the attention of the world for her statuesque beauty, but this wasn't her first taste of fame.

At age 15 Julie was the Prima Ballerina for the Los Angeles Orchestra and this fueled her fire for stage production.

She performed in regional productions of Zeigfield Follies (1956), Damn Yankees (1961) and Irma la Douce (1965) and would win a Tony Award in 1958 on Broadway for her performance in, The Marriage-Go Round and would reprise that role in the 1961 film.

Then in 1966 she found the role that would immortalize her forever, the sleek, sultry and every so sexy, Catwoman in the television series, Batman, starring Adam West & Burt Ward.

Julie's costume for the role is also immortalized in the Smithsonian Institute as she altered the costume that her belt would fit around her hips rather than her waist to show off her hour-glass figure.

Former Miss America, Lee Meriweather would play the Catwoman role in the 1966 Batman film, Newmar had a scheduling conflict, and Eartha Kitt would take the role in the final season of the show.  But today, Newmar is the one that most fans associate with the role.

Newmar would go on to make appearances in numerous television series; Twilight Zone, F Troop, Bewitched, Beverly Hillbillies, Hart To Hart, Love Boat, Get Smart, Columbo, The Bionic Woman, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (still looking good in a skin tight outfit), CHiPs, Fantasy Island and many more...

In 1995 Newmar found a whole new generation when she was paid tribute in the film, To Wong Foo Thanks For Everything Julie Newmar.  Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze and John Leguizamo all went drag for their roles and it was a hit, and still has a very strong cult following to this day.  Newmar only did a brief cameo at the end of the film but was very flattered for all the attention and dedication.

Newmar stays active to this day and has always been an avid gardener, she also followed in her mothers footsteps and became a real estate investor, even having a short feud with actor James Belushi, to the point that it almost ended up in court, after it was settled, Newmar did an appearance on Belushi's television show as the two made fun of the feud.

Newmar has remained one of Hollywoods class acts, rarely if ever being the target of the tabloids and always fighting for causes in her community, a true champion of the celebrity set.  But to some of us, she'll always be, Catwoman 😍😻