Casting What-Ifs: Actresses Who Almost Played Catwoman
Image: Warner Bros.
The Batman is finally here, and critics are already praising both director Matt Reeve’s take on the iconic DC character as well as the gritty perfomances of the film’s stars, Robert Pattinson (Bruce/Batman) , Paul Dano (The Riddler), and Zoë Kravitz (Selina/Catwoman). IGN’s Amy Stedman writes:
"Kravitz's layered portrayal of the cat-burglar clawed past even my high expectations. She's got all the slinkiness and slyness you could hope for, but, like Pattinson's Bruce, she's also incredibly vulnerable, while selling an insatiable need for revenge. Pattinson may be the one screaming 'I am vengeance!' but it's Kravitz who simmers with a need for payback. Plus, the two actors' chemistry is undeniable. Whether they're trading fists or information, it's all very hot."
Kravitz is the latest actress to slip into the Catwoman suit. Known for committing the purrfect crimes, Selina Kyle is a truly iconic member of the DC canon. The character was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, making her first noticable appearance in the comic book Batman #1, back in 1946. She’s been portrayed as a deliquent teen, an environmental secretary, a prostitute murdered by her pimp, and a burgler. Over the years, we’ve seen 8 different actresses take on this complex character on both the small and big screens, and if you’re a fan of the Batman franchise you probably have your favorite take on the role.
It may be hard to imagine anyone but your favorite inhabiting the slinky black Catwoman suit, but with each project involving the character (whether it’s television or movies) there are always stories about other actors being considered — and sometimes even cast for the role. Here’s a look at some of the actresses who almost played Catwoman over the years.
Kate Mara
Image: Getty Images
Before Kate Mara played Sue Storm in Fant4stic, she was one of the actresses on the final short-list for the role of Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises. Mara screentested for the role along with Eva Green, Jessica Biel, and Anne Hathaway. The role eventually went to Hathaway, but Mara must have left an impression on director, Christopher Nolan, who later cast the actress in Interstellar.
Annette Benning
Getty Images
Many fans consider Michelle Pfeiffer in Tim Burton's Batman Returns to be the definitive screen version of Catwoman, but she wasn’t the director’s first choice for the role. Annette Bening was originally cast for the film, impressing Burton after her work in The Grifters. She beat quite a field too, with everyone from Cher and Madonna to Susan Sarandon and Bridget Fonda apparently competing for the role. When Bening learned she was pregnant she had to withdraw from the film and Pfeiffer, a self-proclaimed Catwoman fan, landed the part, and the rest is cinematic history.
Blake Lively
Image: Getty Images
Back during her Gossip Girl days, Blake Lively was another actress reportedly considered for the role of Selina Kyle in The Dark Knight Rises. Fun little piece of trivia for all you Catwoman fans — in the movie the character is never actually referred to as Catwoman on-screen. Instead, she’s a cat burglar who goes by the alias “the Cat” and dresses like a cat, so the audience is required to put two and two and two together to figure it out.
Ana de Armas
Image: MGM
There were several actresses who read with Pattinson for the Catwoman role during the casting process of The Batman. According to THR, that included Ana de Armas, who was one of the final four in contention for the part before Kravitz was cast.
Natalie Portman
Image: Getty Images
Natalie Portman is no stranger to big franchise films. The Academy-Award winner has played Padmé in the Star Wars prequels and Jane Foster in the MCU. Portman is another actress who tested for the Catwoman role in The Dark Knight Rises before Anne Hathaway was cast.
Lady Gaga
Image: Variety
Lady Gaga lobbied hard for the role of Selina Kyle in The Dark Knight Rises. She was one of many actresses considered for the part that eventually went to Anne Hathaway. Lady Gaga wouldn’t be taken seriously as an actor until she starred in Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut A Star is Born six years later.
Olivia Wilde
Image: Film Magic
Olivia Wilde is another actress who screen-tested for the role of Catwoman before Anne Hathaway was cast. Gemma Arterton, Abbie Cornish, Vera Farmiga, Keira Knightley, and Charlize Theron all did screen tests, too. Since The Dark Knight Rises hit theaters, Wilde has moved into directing with the high school comedy Booksmart. She’s also going to direct a Marvel movie for Sony.
Zazie Beetz
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Deadpool 2 and Joker star, Zazie Beetz is another actress who auditions for Matt Reeves during The Batman casting process. Kravitz landed the role, but with the possibility she's still going to play Domino in a future Deadpool film, the actress still has another big franchise film in her future.
Marena Bronson is the Editor-in-Chief of Fashion and Fandom and an award-winning journalist. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.