Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson star in the new romantic comedy Bride Wars as two best friends and brides-to-be who accidently have their weddings booked on the same day. Thus begins a war trying to sabotage each other’s weddings. The two female leads gushed about the importance of girlfriends and how the movie was a liberating experience that does not depict the negative Bridezilla stereotype.

Q: What did you both do to get ready for the movie?

Hudson: I am always doing something. I’m either dancing or pilates or biking or running; I’m quite active. For this movie, we actually were doing a lot of drinking.

Hathaway: We developed beer biceps. But Kate’s amazing and inspiring in terms of all the physical activity she engages in.  We would have script meetings, and she would be stretching. And I would [say] I want to touch my toes next year and that will be fine. I work out with a trainer in New York. So I worked out with him leading up to it. I really wanted Emma (Hathaway’s character) to appear like an ex-ballerina. I wanted everything to be tight and proper. I really watched what I ate and hit the elliptical. Just the usual the stuff; whatever the character needs, that’s what we did.

Q: If the situation in the movie was the same in real life, would you have a double wedding?

Hudson: Yes, I would have been like 'the more funds we would have the bigger the party; the bigger the ballroom.' In real life, I would have [said] ‘I’m not sure I even want to get married, go ahead.’ Then again, there is that little part of you that says it’s my one day.

Hathaway: I think also you’d want your friend to have that day. You'd want it for yourself, but I don’t want to be diluted in my joy for you. I wouldn’t have a double wedding. Economically, it’s absolutely fantastic, and I totally agree with you. But psychologically I think you’d always be pissed.

Hudson: I think it would be weird if one of the groom’s vows were better.

Hathaway: I think you would read too much into it. I think a double wedding would cause you to analyze it too closely; you have an immediate comparison.

Q: You referred jokingly to Get Smart as Testosterone-ville and this film as Estrogen land, so how is it in Estrogen land? (Directed to Hathaway)

Hathaway: It was delightful. I am actually really not a girly girl in the slightest. I found my best girlfriends a little later on in life; my best friends growing up were my brothers. I always had a lot of guy friends, particularly gay men. So for me to actually be around women all the time and give in to that shoe love; there’s nothing wrong with it. I really do like clothes. It was great to realize that I’m still myself, but I can be girly as well.

Hudson: You didn’t learn that in Princess Diaries? It’s the girliest movie of all time. Every little girl wants to be a girl because of that movie.

Hathaway: No I fought it all the way. I never wanted to be a princess, so I was focused on my character’s psychological torture that she had to accept an identity that she wasn’t ready for. I kind of missed the point. It’s actually been really nice to be in this movie and be around such strong female energy and to find that so liberating. When I grew up I kind of had this idea that I would be defined by it in a way that I would be uncomfortable with. But I actually have been made much better because of it, much stronger, more open, more loving and more compassionate. This movie was really good for me in that way.

Q: What would you say to those people who perceive this film as exemplifying the negative Bridezilla stereotype?

Hathaway:  Actually when I got the script, that’s what I anticipated, and I was very sensitive to that. I thought there’s no point in making a movie that is reductive to women and the whole process. So I was so happy when I read the script that the movie takes the tact that the Bridezilla thing doesn’t have a lot to do with our movie; with getting what you want, being the center of attention. That is the myth that plays into my character’s consciousness. But it actually does bring you to a new place of freedom where she is admitting to herself that she wants more for herself, and that leads her to make an incredibly difficult but ultimately wonderful decision to take control of her life and to be more present in it; to be more demanding and set boundaries with people and be stronger and more confident. So to those people who believe that we perpetuated a stereotype, come see the film. If you disagree with us, I will answer the strongly-worded letter that I’m sure you will write. But we were super sensitive to that in the beginning. And Kate and I are both strong women who want to do everything we can to make sure everyone feels like they are strong. So we would never do anything that would set women back.

Hudson: As producer of the film, when it came as a pitch, I couldn’t believe this movie hadn’t been made. The more I thought about it; I realized why. It’s because it is so easy to pit women against each other and it’s so easy to get carried away with the cattiness and pettiness of the stereotypes of how women handle a lot of situations. For me, I looked at it as a challenge. It is such a great thing for women to be able to make fun of themselves because we are a little guilty of going a little crazy sometimes and getting stressed out. And I think at least for me, women are great at being self-deprecating and making fun of themselves. We don’t get the opportunity as actors, as female comedians to do that often, because there aren’t that many female-driven comedies. So, in developing it, I felt there was a way to try to make a movie that was appealing to all ages of women; that doesn’t leave anybody out. At the end of this wild, funny thing that we all can relate to, it’s about friendship and honoring your friends, and the importance of having those people in your life. And none of these things matter if you don’t have your girls, and that was the trick. We worked really hard on that. Especially Gary (Winick, director of the flm), who I have to say did such a great job with making this movie have a real emotional undertone that took me by surprise the first time I saw the first cut. That was the thing I was most concerned with, and it really did make me go ‘I can’t wait to call my girlfriends.’ That’s why we made the movie, and I think women will appreciate that.

Q: What was it like working with Candice Bergen?

Hathaway: I think I speak for both of us that we were totally in awe of her. I would look at her and kind of get emotional because I kept just wanting to thank her for so much. She is still so fabulous and she is so quick. When I get shy around people, especially around people I deeply respect, like Candice and some of the other actresses I have been privileged to work with, my instinct is to hang back and just observe them. Just watching the way she takes in the environment and the way she takes in the line; she could clearly relax and enjoy the ride. She really cares and would show up every day and be exploring. And to see that kind of passion in someone of any age is inspiring. Particularly to see someone like Candice Bergen who is such a powerful woman and means so much to so many women, like us. It was really cool.

Q: What is the perfect man for you?

Hudson: I don’t know yet, but I do know I like honest guys. That always gets me going. I like guys who are really up front and just are who they are. They are hard to find.

Hathaway: Yes, yes they are.