After receiving a not so pleasing feedback from netizens, Philippine Star decided to remove the video interview of entertainment editor / showbiz commentator Ricky Lo with ‘Les Miserables‘ star Anne Hathaway.
The video, posted January 16, at philstar.com’s YouTube account only got 1,666 views, 12 likes and 332 dislikes from its viewers as of this writing. According to some comments, one YouTube user flaircandy mentioned, “name dropping was quite unnecessary for this interview. I was hoping for a more FUN interview sana, not awkward.”
Since the video was already removed, here’s a transcript of said interview (transcribed with commentary from technograph):
0:10 – Exchange of pleasantries.
0:17 – Ricky Lo: “You lose the 25 pounds for Fantine? And how did you do it and how did you get it back?” (Oh snap!)
0:22 – Anne Hathaway laughs sarcastically before answering “I’d rather not talk about weight loss please”.
0:38 – RickyLo glances at his phone. He seriously glances at his phone in front of his interview subject.
0:50 – After being asked about her preparations for the movie, Anne Hathaway talks about internalizing the “emotional toll” of “being a sex slave”, as part of what she did to “craft the character” of Fantine.
1:15 – RickyLo: “I have a friend from the Philippines, her name is Lea Salonga.” Anne Hathaway emotes her admiration for the world-renowned Filipina singer.
1:24 – RickyLo hands his phone over to show Lea Salonga’s message for Anne Hathaway. Ok maybe he was checking if he had Salonga’s message ready at 0:38.
1:31 – After briefly glancing at the phone, Anne Hathaway hands it back to Ricky Lo. “Oh I have to meet her too!” Ricky Lo: “…and she said she could hardly wait to see the movie.”
1:34 – RickyLo interupts Anne Hathaway while she continue expresses adoration for Lea Salonga with another casual “anyway”
1:37 – More from RickyLo: “Yes, you really [I think he meant recently, but the syllables just slid through] said in a Vogue interview that you could never have compared with Lea and your mom was who played Fantine, Kate McCauley. Why’d you say that?” (I don’t know, maybe because Anne Hathaway adores her?)
1:48 – Before we get an answer, RickyLo interrupts with more praise: “But true, you were terrific in the movie”
1:51 – After another gracious “thank you”, Anne Hathaway lets some annoyance show, clears her throat and answers: “I think if you think of me as an actor who sings, rather than a singer, I would be probably be more impressive. But Lea has one of the great voices of our time. Now I don’t think there’s vocally anything that she can’t do. And she’s made a career as a singer so I have complete deference to her. And of course, my mother has a very very beautiful voice as well.”
2:20 – Ricky Lo: “You were there in the Emmy’s and saw your mom playing Fantine. What were your memories about having seen your mom on stage?”
2:26 – Anne Hathaway: “I was very moved. I cried. It was very meaningful for me.”
2:34 – Ricky Lo: “Did you get any pointers from your mom?”
2:35 – Anne Hathaway replies with a simple “No”.
2:38 – Ricky Lo: “And for somebody who perceived to have lived a life of luxury and privilege, how were you able to identify Fantine?”
2:48 – Anne Hathaway struggles to say something. (She’s probably thinking “weren’t you listening to what I said at 0:50?”)
2:50 – Ricky Lo: “Have you ever experienced to be hungry? To poor, and you know, just like the character.”
2:54 – Anne Hathaway: “That’s a very personal question.” (Shut down!)
2:55 – Ricky Lo laughs sheepishly (nervously? I can’t tell) and moves on to his next question: “What’s your favorite scene in the movie and the hardest to do?”
3:00 – “I think my favorite scene in the movie was when I got to come back as angel. That was with Hugh [Jackman]. Because I got to feel nice!”
3:11 – In the middle of her answer, Ricky Lo drops his phone. This prompts a kind “Oh, be careful” from Anne Hathaway. Ricky Lo mutters “phone” while picking up his gadget.
3:13 – “The hardest scene was I dreamed a dream.” Ricky Lo: “Oh I dreamed a dream, yes yes yes yes…”
3:19 – Ricky Lo: “They’re saying that you’re a shoo-in for the Oscars next year. How do you feel about it? At this early?”
3:27 – Anne Hathaway: “It is early, I feel like it’s early. I feel like it would be extraordinary if that were to happen but I’m not counting on anything.”
3:34 – “What about any other musical you like to do, maybe on stage or in a movie?”
3:37 – In what’s probably the sweetest smile she could muster at that point, Anne Hathaway simply answers “Many…many.” (Shut down II)!
3:40 – Ricky Lo: “Would you like to say any message for Lea, who’s looking forward to watching the movie and to meeting you in person?”
3:47 – Anne Hathaway is left puzzled. “Well, we’ve already talked about Lea.” (I’m not sure about this, but someone off-camera asks Ricky Lo to move on.) Ricky Lo laughs again, probably thinking about his failed attempt to make the interview about the Philippines, then proceeds…
3:50 – Ricky Lo: “And what about inviting fans from the Philippines to watch the movie, showing January?”
3:55 – Anne Hathaway seizes the opportunity! “Well why don’t you invite them? I think they’d much rather hear it from you.” (Oh snap!)
3:58 – A sheepish “Ah ok then!” from Ricky Lo.
4:00 – They exchange thank yous.
In a different note, here’s another interview of Ricky Lo, this time, with Anne Hathaway’s co-star Amanda Seyfried:
