Anna Kendrick
Anna Kendrick | |
---|---|
Born | Portland, Maine, United States | August 9, 1985
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1998–present |
Partner | Edgar Wright (2009-present) |
Anna Kendrick (born August 9, 1985) is an American singer/actress. She rose to fame after her performance as Natalie Keener in Up in the Air, for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Her other work includes The Twilight Saga, Camp, Rocket Science, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, 50/50, Open Road Films's End of Watch, Pitch Perfect, and the Broadway musical High Society, for which she received a Tony Award nomination.
Early life
Kendrick was born in Portland, Maine, the daughter of Janice (Cooke), an accountant, and William K. Kendrick, a history teacher who also works in finance.[1][2] Kendrick and her older brother, actor Michael Cooke Kendrick, who appeared in the 2000 film Looking for an Echo, both attended Longfellow Elementary School, Lincoln Middle School, and Deering High School in Portland.[3] Kendrick is of English, Irish, and Scottish descent.[4]
Career
Kendrick "caught the [acting] bug" at the age of 10, when she caught a bus from Portland, Maine, to New York City so that she could attend auditions.[5] Kendrick's first acting role was as Dinah in the Broadway musical High Society in August 1998 when she was 12 years old, a performance for which she won the Theatre World Award and was nominated for a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award,[6] making her the third-youngest Tony Award nominee.[7]
Kendrick went on to appear in a number of other theater productions, including the musical A Little Night Music, playing Fredrika Armfeldt in the New York City Opera production,[8] before making her film debut in the 2003 musical comedy Camp,[6] for which she was nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category at the 2004 Chlotrudis Awards and Best Debut Performance Independent Spirit Award for her portrayal of Fritzi Wagner.
In 2007, she appeared in her next film, Rocket Science, in which she portrayed Ginny Ryerson, a fast-talking high school debater. Although Kendrick said she found the role intimidating and challenging after watching an actual national collegiate championship debate, her performance was praised by critics[6] and she was nominated for an Independent Spirit award for Best Supporting Actress.[9]
In late 2007, she auditioned for the role of Jessica Stanley in Twilight, a 2008 film adapted from the first book of the novel series by Stephenie Meyer.[10] She had intended to do a mix-and-match audition with various actors, but was too ill and had to leave; she was, however, brought in for a later session where she was given the role.[5] Kendrick reprised her role as Jessica in the first three Twilight sequels.
Kendrick's theatre singing experience gave her the opportunity to star in her next project, 2009's The Marc Pease Experience, where she appears opposite Jason Schwartzman and Ben Stiller as a high school senior involved in musical theater.[6][11]
She appeared in the 2009 films Elsewhere, in which she plays her first lead character, a girl whose best friend (played by Tania Raymonde) goes missing,[6] and in director Jason Reitman's Up in the Air, based on Walter Kirn's 2001 novel of the same name, alongside George Clooney and Vera Farmiga.[12]
For her role in Up in the Air, the National Board of Review named her Best Supporting Actress,[13] and she also picked up nominations from numerous critics awards, The Golden Globes[14] The Screen Actors Guild[15] and the Academy Awards.
She reprised her role as Jessica Stanley in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg devised a graduation speech for her character that was not part of the novel.[16] She appeared in Edgar Wright's adaptation of the graphic novel Scott Pilgrim, titled Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.[17] Kendrick played Stacey Pilgrim, the sister of the lead character.
In 2010, Kendrick appeared in LCD Soundsystem's music video "Pow Pow" as a "shape-shifter" who collects "the souls of wicked men".[18] In October 2010, she attended the 2010 Top Glamour Awards in Mexico where she won for "Best International Actress".[19]
In 2011, she starred in the dramatic comedy 50/50, alongside Joseph Gordon Levitt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Seth Rogen. She also again reprised her role as Jessica Stanley in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn.
In 2012, she played the part of Rosie in the screen adaptation of the baby guide, What to Expect When You're Expecting, and voiced the character Courtney in the stop-motion animated feature, ParaNorman.[20] She starred in Pitch Perfect as Beca, a rebellious college student who discovers her voice in her school’s female a cappella group, and she is featured on the film's soundtrack. Kendrick also appeared in the police drama End of Watch, playing Janet, the wife of police officer Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal). She is set to appear the political thriller The Company You Keep, starring Robert Redford and Shia LaBeouf (this premiered at film festivals but is awaiting distribution).
Personal life
As of 2009[update], she was in a relationship with director Edgar Wright, whom she met during the production of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.[21][22]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2003 | Camp | Fritzi Wagner |
2007 | Rocket Science | Ginny Ryerson |
2008 | Twilight | Jessica Stanley |
2009 | Elsewhere | Sarah |
2009 | The Marc Pease Experience | Meg Brickman |
2009 | The Twilight Saga: New Moon | Jessica Stanley |
2009 | Up in the Air | Natalie Keener |
2010 | The Twilight Saga: Eclipse | Jessica Stanley |
2010 | Scott Pilgrim vs. the World | Stacey Pilgrim |
2011 | 50/50 | Katherine McKay |
2011 | The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn — Part 1 | Jessica Stanley |
2012 | What to Expect When You're Expecting | Rosie |
2012 | ParaNorman | Courtney Babcock (voice) |
2012 | The Company You Keep | Diana |
2012 | End of Watch | Janet |
2012 | Pitch Perfect | Beca Mitchell |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2003 | The Mayor | Sadie Winterhalter | Television film |
2007 | Viva Laughlin | Holly | Episode: "What a Whale Wants" |
2009 | Fear Itself | Shelby | Episode: "The Spirit Box" |
2012 | Family Guy | Nora (voice) | Episode: "Internal Affairs" |
Other works
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | High Society | Dinah Lord | St. James Theatre (April 27, 1998 – August 30, 1998) |
2003 | A Little Night Music | Fredrika Armfeldt | New York City Opera |
Year | Title | Artist |
---|---|---|
2010 | Pow Pow | LCD Soundsystem |
2012 | Do it Anyway | Ben Folds Five |
Awards and nominations
References
- ^ "How Anna survived the Twilight zone". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
- ^ http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/golden-age-sage-20121020-27xk3.html
- ^ Routhier, Ray (2007-09-18). "Film 'Rocket Science' features Portlander". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
- ^ http://www.aoltv.com/2011/09/20/anna-kendrick-awkward-compliment-chelsea-lately-video/
- ^ a b Carroll, Larry (2008-10-21). "'Twilight' Tuesday: Anna Kendrick Says It Was 'Easy To Get Googly Eyed' At Robert Pattinson". MTV.com. MTV News. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- ^ a b c d e Chang, Justin (2007-10-19). "10 Actors to Watch: Anna Kendrick". Variety. Variety. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- ^ O'Neil, Tom (2009-06-04). "'Billy Elliot' boys share record-breaking lead actor Tony Award win". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ 2003 New York City Opera Production sondheimguide.com, accessed October 21, 2012
- ^ Independent Spirit Awards ."Blanchett nominated for Spirit Award for Dylan role". ABC News. 2007-11-28. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
- ^ Carroll, Larry (2008-03-11). "'Twilight' Co-Star Anna Kendrick Braces Herself For Buzz Bigger Than 'Harry Potter'". MTV.com. MTV News. Retrieved 2010-08-01.
- ^ Davis, Erik (2007-04-13). "Ben Stiller Taps Newcomer Anna Kendrick As 'Marc Pease Experience' Co-Star". Cinematical. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
- ^ Sperling, Nicole (2008-11-19). "'Twilight' scene-stealer Anna Kendrick to costar opposite George Clooney". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
- ^ "National Board of Review of Motion Pictures :: Awards". Nbrmp.org. Archived from the original on 6 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
{{cite web}}
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{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "The 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Sagawards.org. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
- ^ Debruge, Peter (2010-06-27). "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Movie Review". Variety.
- ^ Borys Kit (20 January 2009). "Chris Evans, Brandon Routh join 'Pilgrim' pic". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2009-01-04.
- ^ Warner, Kara (2010-10-19). "Anna Kendrick Grooves In LCD Soundsystem's 'Pow Pow' Video". mtv.com. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
- ^ "Anna Kendrick Attends The Top Glamour Awards In Mexico!". www.eclipsemovie.org. October 30, 2010. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
- ^ Kilday, Gregg (4 May 2011). "'Coraline' Team Back for Animated Film 'ParaNorman'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Synnot, Siobhan (2010-08-31). "Interview: Edgar Wright, film director". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
- ^ John, Emma (2010-08-15). "Edgar Wright: the ultimate fanboy film director". The Guardian. Retrieved 2011-10-02.