Charting the versatile career of the Oscar-nominated star of Pitch Perfect and Trolls, who recently stepped behind the camera for her directorial debut, Woman of the Hour.
Anna Kendrick stands as a prominent and exceptionally versatile figure in contemporary entertainment, captivating audiences across film, stage, television, and even the music charts. Her journey is marked by significant milestones, including the rare distinction of earning nominations for the “Triple Crown” of American acting awards: the Tony, the Oscar, and the Emmy. While widely recognized for her Academy Award-nominated performance in Up in the Air and her leading roles in the blockbuster Pitch Perfect and Trolls franchises, Kendrick continues to evolve. Her recent expansion into directing with the critically noted thriller Woman of the Hour signals a compelling new chapter, showcasing her ambition and talent behind the camera. This trajectory charts a course from a remarkably young stage performer to a multifaceted Hollywood presence, consistently demonstrating range and enduring appeal.
Early Stages: Maine Roots and Broadway Lights
Anna Cooke Kendrick was born on August 9, 1985, in Portland, Maine. Raised by her parents, Janice, an accountant, and William, a history teacher who also worked in finance, Kendrick grew up with an older brother, Michael Cooke Kendrick, who also pursued acting. Her path into the performing arts began early in her hometown. She made her stage debut at just six years old in a local production of Annie at South Portland’s Lyric Music Theater and appeared in other Maine productions.
This early interest quickly blossomed into serious ambition. By the age of 10, Kendrick was already convincing her parents to drive her from Portland to New York City for professional theatre auditions. This early immersion, marked by dedicated parental support including travel and homeschooling during her subsequent Broadway run, established a foundation of professionalism and drive from a young age, suggesting a focus that belied her years.
Her big break arrived swiftly. In 1998, at the age of 12, Kendrick made her Broadway debut, securing the role of Dinah Lord in the musical revival of Cole Porter’s High Society. Her performance garnered immediate and significant critical recognition. She earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical, becoming one of the youngest nominees in Tony history. Alongside the Tony nod, she received a Drama Desk Award nomination and won the prestigious Theatre World Award for her debut. Even seasoned co-stars reportedly recognized her standout potential during the show’s run. This early triumph on Broadway not only launched her career but also laid the crucial groundwork for future accolades across different mediums, establishing her musical theatre credentials at a remarkably young age.
Transition to Screen: Camp and Twilight
Following her Broadway success and time performing in other stage productions like A Little Night Music for the New York City Opera, Kendrick transitioned towards the screen. After graduating from Deering High School in Portland in 2003, she made her feature film debut in the independent musical comedy Camp. In the film, directed by Todd Graff and based on his experiences at a performing arts summer camp, Kendrick played the nerdy, initially overlooked Fritzi Wagner. Camp became a cult favorite following its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Despite the film’s low-budget nature – Kendrick reportedly earned just $75 per day of acting – her performance earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Debut Performance.
She continued building her film resume with roles like the ultra-competitive debater Ginny Ryerson in the 2007 coming-of-age comedy Rocket Science, which garnered her a second Independent Spirit Award nomination, this time for Best Supporting Female. However, her introduction to a global audience came via a supporting role in a major franchise. In 2008, Kendrick was cast as Jessica Stanley, the high school friend of protagonist Bella Swan, in the teen phenomenon Twilight. She reprised the role in the sequels The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009), The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010), and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (2011), gaining widespread visibility among the franchise’s massive fanbase.
Hollywood Breakthrough: Up in the Air (2009)
While Twilight brought mainstream recognition, Kendrick’s critical breakthrough arrived in 2009 with her role in Jason Reitman’s acclaimed comedy-drama Up in the Air. Starring opposite George Clooney and Vera Farmiga, Kendrick played Natalie Keener, a young, ambitious, and initially idealistic efficiency expert aiming to revolutionize the corporate downsizing process. Her character served as a crucial counterpoint to Clooney’s detached veteran, representing a more optimistic, albeit naive, perspective on the modern workforce.
Her performance was lauded by critics and audiences alike, showcasing a depth and comedic timing that resonated powerfully. The role catapulted Kendrick into the major awards conversation. She received nominations for Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, BAFTA Awards, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. She also won Best Supporting Actress from influential groups like the National Board of Review and the Austin Film Critics Association. The critical acclaim for Up in the Air decisively showcased her dramatic capabilities, proving her range extended far beyond the comedic or supporting roles she had undertaken previously and earning her significant industry recognition. This Oscar nomination marked the second major pillar, following her Tony nod, on her path towards the “Triple Crown” of acting nominations, solidifying her status as a performer capable of reaching the highest levels in both theatre and film.
Pop Culture Phenomenon: Pitch Perfect and “Cups”
In 2012, Anna Kendrick stepped into a leading role that would define a significant part of her career: Beca Mitchell in the musical comedy Pitch Perfect. The film, centered on the competitive world of collegiate a cappella groups, became a surprise hit, spawning two successful sequels, Pitch Perfect 2 (2015) and Pitch Perfect 3 (2017), with Kendrick leading the Barden Bellas throughout the franchise.
Beyond the films’ box office success, Pitch Perfect launched an unexpected musical sensation tied directly to Kendrick: her performance of the song “Cups (When I’m Gone).” The story behind its inclusion is itself a product of internet culture; Kendrick had learned the song and its distinctive cup-percussion routine from a viral video online (originally stemming from a 1931 Carter Family song and later adapted by Lulu and the Lampshades and popularized by Anna Burden on Reddit). She performed it during her audition for Pitch Perfect, impressing the filmmakers enough to write it into the movie as Beca’s audition piece.
Following the film’s release, a remixed version titled “Cups (Pitch Perfect’s When I’m Gone)” was released as a single in 2013. Its success was explosive and largely unforeseen, even by Kendrick herself. The song climbed the charts, peaking at number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and spending an impressive 44 weeks on the chart. It reached number 1 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and achieved multi-platinum certification in the US and other countries, signifying millions of sales and streams. “Cups” became a global cultural phenomenon, inextricably linked with Kendrick and the film, inspiring countless online covers and school talent show performances. This journey exemplifies the unpredictable power of viral culture, cementing Kendrick’s mainstream fame through an avenue she hadn’t actively pursued. Despite this massive musical success, Kendrick later expressed surprise and a degree of ambivalence, stating she didn’t pursue a music career because she doesn’t write songs and felt the hit was somewhat unearned compared to dedicated musicians. This highlights a fascinating divergence between her primary focus as an actress and the sudden, immense pop stardom thrust upon her by “Cups.”
Expanding Horizons: Diverse Roles and Voice Acting
Throughout her career, Anna Kendrick has consistently demonstrated a remarkable versatility, refusing to be confined to a single genre. Following her Up in the Air nomination and Pitch Perfect stardom, she continued to tackle a wide array of roles. She returned to her musical roots playing Cinderella in Disney’s adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods (2014) and starred in the film adaptation of the two-person musical The Last Five Years (2014).
She balanced these with numerous comedic performances in films like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), the cancer dramedy 50/50 (2011), the buddy comedy Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016), and the Disney+ holiday film Noelle (2019). Simultaneously, she explored darker or more dramatic territory in the crime drama End of Watch (2012), the thriller The Accountant (2016) alongside Ben Affleck, the stylish mystery A Simple Favor (2018) with Blake Lively, the sci-fi thriller Stowaway (2021), and the psychological drama Alice, Darling (2022).
Adding another dimension to her career, Kendrick became the central voice of the highly successful animated Trolls franchise, originating the role of the perpetually optimistic Queen Poppy in Trolls (2016). She has reprised the role in sequels Trolls World Tour (2020) and Trolls Band Together (2023), as well as various television specials.
Her work extended to television as well. She starred in and executive produced the HBO Max romantic comedy anthology series Love Life (2020-2021). In 2020, she also starred in and executive produced the Quibi short-form comedy series Dummy. Her performance as Cody Heller in Dummy earned her a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series. This Emmy nomination marked the completion of the “Triple Crown” trifecta of major American acting award nominations (Tony, Oscar, and Emmy), cementing her status as an exceptionally versatile performer recognized across stage, film, and television.
Author: Scrappy Little Nobody
In 2016, Kendrick added “published author” to her list of accomplishments with the release of her memoir, Scrappy Little Nobody. The book, a collection of humorous autobiographical essays, became a New York Times bestseller. In its pages, Kendrick shares stories from her life and career – from childhood oddities and early Broadway experiences to navigating Hollywood and dating – all delivered with the witty, candid, and often self-deprecating voice that had already made her a popular figure on social media. The memoir’s title and the consistently praised humorous, relatable tone reinforced the “scrappy,” “likable awkward” public persona often associated with her, offering fans a curated yet seemingly authentic glimpse into her world that aligned with their expectations.
Stepping Behind the Camera: Woman of the Hour
Marking a significant expansion of her career, Anna Kendrick made her directorial debut with the 2023 film Woman of the Hour. She not only directed the film but also took on the lead role of Sheryl Bradshaw and served as an executive producer.
The film is based on the chilling true story of Rodney Alcala, a serial killer who brazenly appeared as a contestant on the popular TV show The Dating Game in 1978, even winning a date, before his eventual capture. Kendrick’s film uses this bizarre incident as a framework to explore darker themes, particularly the pervasive, systemic misogyny of the era and its connection to violence against women. The choice of such a dark, complex, and socially relevant subject for her first directorial effort represented a notable departure from much of her lighter comedic work and signaled a desire to engage with challenging material from a position of creative control.
Woman of the Hour premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2023 and was later released globally by Netflix in October 2024. The film received generally positive reviews, with particular praise for Kendrick’s direction and her handling of the sensitive subject matter. Critics noted her ability to build tension and explore the unsettling reality of the period’s sexism without resorting to excessive gore. Her directorial debut earned her industry recognition, including the “Directors to Watch” award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and the Astra Award for Best First Feature. Adding another layer to the project’s impact, Kendrick donated her entire salary from the film to charities supporting survivors of sexual violence. This directorial achievement marks a significant evolution in her career, showcasing artistic ambition and a successful transition to a powerful new role behind the camera.
Personal Life & Recent/Upcoming Work
While generally private, some personal details about Kendrick are known. She resides in Los Angeles and stands at a height of 5 feet 2 inches. Over the years, she has been linked romantically with figures such as British filmmaker Edgar Wright (2009-2013), British cinematographer Ben Richardson (starting in 2014), and actor Bill Hader (reported relationship ending in 2022).
Professionally, Kendrick remains highly active. Her recent acting credits include the psychological thriller Alice, Darling (2022), where she also served as an executive producer, and the comedy Self Reliance (2023). She also continues to voice Queen Poppy in the ongoing Trolls franchise, including 2023’s Trolls Band Together.
Looking ahead, fans can anticipate her return as Stephanie Smothers in Another Simple Favor, the sequel to the 2018 hit comedic thriller, which is expected to be released in 2025. The development of this sequel suggests a potential new franchise focus for Kendrick, offering a different, perhaps more mature, comedic thriller outlet compared to the concluded Pitch Perfect series.
Anna Kendrick’s career trajectory is a testament to her talent, versatility, and enduring appeal. From her Tony-nominated debut as a child actress on Broadway to becoming an Oscar-nominated film star, the face of the billion-dollar Pitch Perfect franchise, the beloved voice of Queen Poppy in Trolls, a bestselling author, an Emmy nominee, and now an acclaimed director, she has navigated the entertainment industry with remarkable success and adaptability. Known for her sharp wit and relatable persona, she has built a diverse portfolio that spans genres and mediums. With her successful directorial debut in Woman of the Hour and anticipated projects like Another Simple Favor on the horizon, Anna Kendrick continues to evolve as an artist, cementing her position as a significant and dynamic force in Hollywood, both in front of and behind the camera.
