Anne Hathaway in Cologne: Background to her secret shoot!

Anne Hathaway in Cologne: Background to her secret shoot!

Anne Hathaway, the well-known Hollywood actress, lived in Cologne for some time while filming her new film “Mother Mary”. The team around the high-profile actress spent several weeks in the city filming the scenes, some of which took place in the MMC studios in Ossendorf and in the historic Adendorf Castle near Bonn. During her stay, Hathaway reportedly lived in a charming house in the Junkersdorf district, a quiet area known for its small, quaint houses. Ulrich Heidenreich, a local resident, describes Junkersdorf as an ideal place to go into hiding, which was probably also an advantage for the actress's privacy considerations.

Filming “Mother Mary” was not without its challenges. Hathaway underwent nearly two years of intensive dance training to prepare for the role of the pop icon who faces an existential crisis. Director David Lowery, who compared the work to this “Apocalypse Now”-like atmosphere, pushed his actors to the limit. Hathaway even reportedly collapsed during the intense filming. Her colleague Michaela Coel supported her during this time, which shows how close the relationships were between the actors.

Scary moments and intense work

A particularly powerful element of the film was a scene in which Hathaway dances in a barn. This sequence, described as “scary,” required immense strength and left some team members in tears. The filming took place over more than 50 days in 2023 and 2024 and was characterized by secret details that were not made public. Even though Anne Hathaway didn't run into anyone in Junkersdorf on Saturday morning, her stay left a lasting impression on the residents.

Among those who encountered Hathaway was Maryam Hosseono, an employee at a local post office. She recognized the actress immediately and was surprised that she had lived in her neighborhood. Rohit Djawa, a colleague of Hosseono, said it is not unusual for celebrities to live in the area, but people here treat the stars down to earth.

Filming locations and artistic design

Another important filming location was the turbine hall in Oberhausen. Hathaway impressed not only with her acting talent, but also with her singing voice, which gave the role and the film additional depth. The film project, in which the Cologne production “augenschein”, Sailor Bear, A24 and Homebird Productions are involved, was also funded by the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, but the release date is not yet known.

Hathaway, who has been celebrated as an Oscar winner in recent years, once again shows her acting skills and her ability to immerse herself in complex roles with “Mother Mary”. Cologne will certainly be remembered with a touch of Hollywood left by their stay and the filming. With the dream mix of intensity and artistic expression, the film promises to be a captivating experience and could be the talk of the town in the coming months.

For more information about Anne Hathaway's stay in Cologne and further details about "Mother Mary", check out the reports from WDR and Express to.