Anne Hathaway has issued a heartfelt apology to Norwegian journalist Kjersti Flaa for an awkward interview they did together over a decade ago, which recently resurfaced and went viral. The interview, which took place during the Les Misérables press junket in 2012, featured Hathaway dismissing a request from Flaa to sing one of her answers—a request that co-stars Hugh Jackman and Eddie Redmayne had gamely agreed to, but which Hathaway shut down.
The 2012 Interview Resurfaces
In the viral clip from 2012, Flaa asked Hathaway if she would be willing to sing one of the interview questions, in the spirit of the musical the actress was promoting. While her Les Misérables co-stars participated in the fun, Hathaway declined with a curt, “Well, I won’t be doing that, but you’re more than welcome to sing.”
The tone of the exchange felt awkward and dismissive, and the resurfaced video quickly made waves on social media, with many commenting on the uncomfortable nature of the interaction.
Hathaway Reaches Out
Surprisingly, Hathaway became aware of the resurfaced clip and took action. Flaa revealed in an updated video on her social media that she had received an unexpected message from Hathaway’s publicist, relaying a personal email from the Oscar-winning actress. According to Flaa, Hathaway’s email expressed regret for her behavior during the interview and offered a sincere apology.
“Yesterday I did receive an email. It was from Anne Hathaway’s publicist, and he forwarded a message to me from Anne Hathaway,” Flaa shared with her followers. “I have to say, I was pretty shocked. I thought she was never gonna even see that video, but she did. And she did something pretty amazing.”
Flaa went on to explain that Hathaway’s apology was deeply personal, with the actress explaining what she had been going through at the time of the interview, which likely contributed to her terse responses. While Flaa chose not to share the full contents of the email, she did emphasize how much Hathaway’s words meant to her.
A Touching Reconciliation
Flaa was clearly moved by Hathaway’s apology, admitting that just discussing it made her emotional. “She sent me a long email explaining to me what she was going through right then when she did this interview, and she apologized for being… giving me an awful interview, basically. It was so touching to me,” Flaa said.
Hathaway’s gesture of goodwill didn’t end there. The Les Misérables star also invited Flaa to interview her again for a future project, offering to make up for the awkward encounter by granting her another interview when her next major film is released in 2025. Flaa expressed her gratitude and excitement, saying, “I’m really looking forward to that, Anne.”
Flaa’s Other Uncomfortable Interviews
Flaa has made headlines before for discussing uncomfortable interviews she’s conducted with celebrities. Earlier this year, she resurfaced a 2016 interview with Blake Lively, calling it “the most uncomfortable interview situation I have ever experienced.” Flaa shared the video during the controversial press tour for It Ends With Us, which brought renewed attention to Lively.
Hathaway’s Growth and Self-Awareness
Hathaway’s willingness to revisit and apologize for a decade-old interview showcases her growth and self-awareness as a public figure. While the resurfaced interview may have been cringeworthy, Hathaway’s apology and sincere explanation demonstrate a commendable effort to make amends for a moment that clearly left a lasting impression on Flaa.
For Flaa, the experience has been one of reconciliation and understanding, with the journalist now looking forward to the opportunity to sit down with Hathaway again—this time with the weight of the past interaction resolved.
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