Oscar-nominated actress Anne Hathaway is set to portray the legendary Judy Garland on both the screen and stage adaptations of Gerald Clarke's 2001 biography Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland. The announcement was made early this week by Weinstein Co. chairman Harvey Weinstein, who said that they've grabbed both film and stage rights. However, no other details concerning the project have been released.
According to the statement released by the Weinstein Co., Clarke's book "portrays the dramatic highs and lows of the cultural icon's life – from her tumultuous early years as a child performer to her tragic last days."
"We are thrilled to have the brilliantly talented Anne Hathaway portray stage and screen legend Judy Garland. I have worked with Anne on projects in the past and have known her for many years. She will be a true class act in this challenging role," Weinstein also said.
Garland is the legendary movie star of Hollywood's Golden Age who portrayed Dorothy in 1939's The Wizard of Oz, singing its Oscar-winning ballad Over the Rainbow. She also starred opposite Mickey Rooney in the Andy Hardy films and was twice Oscar-nominated for roles in A Star is Born and Judgment at Nuremberg.
Her success was not only limited to acting. She also enjoyed a long singing career and even scored a No. 1 Grammy-winning album with Judy at Carnegie Hall from her 1961 concert at the famous Manhattan venue. Her successful career came to a tragic end in 1969, at the age of 47, when she died of an accidental drug overdose after struggling with alcohol and drug addictions for years.
Hathaway, 26, is one of Hollywood's rising stars and, while she has little musical experience on the screen, she surprised everyone with a musical number she and host Hugh Jackman performed at the 2009 Academy Awards. However, the producers will have to resolve the question of height: Garland was barely 5', while Hathaway stands about 5' 8".
