Anna Kendrick (born August 9, 1985) is an American film and stage actress. She is a Tony Award and Golden Globe nominee and is known for her prominent roles in the 2003 film Camp and the 2007 film Rocket Science, as well as her supporting role as Jessica Stanley in the film series The Twilight Saga. She stars in the 2009 film Up in the Air.
Career
Kendrick "caught the [acting] bug" at the age of 10, when her parents would let her and her brother catch a bus from Portland, Maine, to New York City so that she could attend auditions.[1] Her first appearance was the role of Dinah in the Broadway musical High Society in August 1998, at age 12, which earned her Theatre World Award, Drama Desk Award, and Tony Award nominations,[2] the latter of which made her the third-youngest nominee ever after 10-year-old Frankie Michaels and 11-year-old Daisy Eagan,[3] who both went on to win.
Afterward, she was featured in a number of other theater productions, including the musical A Little Night Music, before making her film debut in the 2003 musical comedy Camp,[2] for which she was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Chlotrudis Award and Best Debut Performance Independent Spirit Award for her portrayal of the character 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 she says she found the role intimidating and challenging after watching an actual national collegiate championship debate, her performance was praised by critics[2] and she was nominated for a 2007 Independent Spirit Award in the category of Best Supporting Actress.[4]
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.[5] 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.[1] Screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg said that the characters Jessica Stanley and Lauren Mallory from the book were combined to create the role.[6] Kendrick reprises her role as Jessica in the Twilight sequel, New Moon.[7]
Kendrick's theater 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.[2][8]
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),[2] 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.[9] For her role in Up in the Air, the National Board of Review named her Best Supporting Actress[10] and she has also picked up nominations from both The Golden Globes[11] and The Screen Actors Guild.[12] She is set to appear in Edgar Wright's adaptation of the graphic novel Scott Pilgrim, titled Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.[13]
Personal life
Kendrick was born in Portland, Maine. Kendrick and her older brother, actor Michael Cooke Kendrick, who appeared in the 2000 film Looking for an Echo, attended Deering High School in Portland.[14] She lists Parker Posey, Molly Shannon and Amy Poehler as her inspirations.[2]
Career
Kendrick "caught the [acting] bug" at the age of 10, when her parents would let her and her brother catch a bus from Portland, Maine, to New York City so that she could attend auditions.[1] Her first appearance was the role of Dinah in the Broadway musical High Society in August 1998, at age 12, which earned her Theatre World Award, Drama Desk Award, and Tony Award nominations,[2] the latter of which made her the third-youngest nominee ever after 10-year-old Frankie Michaels and 11-year-old Daisy Eagan,[3] who both went on to win.
Afterward, she was featured in a number of other theater productions, including the musical A Little Night Music, before making her film debut in the 2003 musical comedy Camp,[2] for which she was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Chlotrudis Award and Best Debut Performance Independent Spirit Award for her portrayal of the character 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 she says she found the role intimidating and challenging after watching an actual national collegiate championship debate, her performance was praised by critics[2] and she was nominated for a 2007 Independent Spirit Award in the category of Best Supporting Actress.[4]
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.[5] 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.[1] Screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg said that the characters Jessica Stanley and Lauren Mallory from the book were combined to create the role.[6] Kendrick reprises her role as Jessica in the Twilight sequel, New Moon.[7]
Kendrick's theater 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.[2][8]
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),[2] 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.[9] For her role in Up in the Air, the National Board of Review named her Best Supporting Actress[10] and she has also picked up nominations from both The Golden Globes[11] and The Screen Actors Guild.[12] She is set to appear in Edgar Wright's adaptation of the graphic novel Scott Pilgrim, titled Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.[13]
Personal life
Kendrick was born in Portland, Maine. Kendrick and her older brother, actor Michael Cooke Kendrick, who appeared in the 2000 film Looking for an Echo, attended Deering High School in Portland.[14] She lists Parker Posey, Molly Shannon and Amy Poehler as her inspirations.[2]