Anna Kendrick didn’t hold back as she opened up about a humiliating experience with a director who, she says, undermined her in front of an entire crowd of extras on set. During a recent interview on the “Happy, Sad, Confused” podcast, Kendrick revealed the “worst note” she ever received from a director. The 39-year-old actress, known for her role in “Pitch Perfect,” detailed an encounter that felt not only discouraging but, in her words, like a “power move” to embarrass her.
“Make Something Up,” Then Publicly Ridiculed
Recalling the moment, Kendrick shared that the director encouraged her to improvise during a scene. “I remember a director once in a room full of 100 extras or something — it really felt like a move — being like ‘Hey, on this next one just try something. Just make something up. Just improv something,’” she said.
Kendrick followed through, improvising as instructed. However, she was left shocked when the director cut the scene, walked over to her, and commented, “Oof, let’s go back to the script!” All of this unfolded in front of the 100 extras. “It really felt like a very specific power move thing to embarrass, to gain dominance or something,” Kendrick admitted, adding, “It was very icky.”
From Ridicule to Trailer
Ironically, despite the director’s initial rejection of her ad-libbed line, Kendrick’s improvisation later featured prominently in the film’s trailer. Reflecting on the unexpected twist, she quipped,
“… The thing that I improved ended up in the trailer,” Kendrick said.
“So f— you!!”
New Project, New Role Behind the Camera
Recently, Kendrick embarked on a new challenge by directing the Netflix crime thriller Woman of the Hour, which premiered on October 18. This film, based on the disturbing true story of serial killer Rodney Alcala, marks Kendrick’s directorial debut. Alcala, responsible for the murders of at least seven women across California and New York in the late 1970s, was suspected of up to 130 victims. Notably, he appeared on the TV game show The Dating Game in 1978, winning a date with Cheryl Bradshaw, though the date never happened.
In Woman of the Hour, Kendrick portrayed Bradshaw, while Daniel Zovatto took on the chilling role of Alcala. The movie, written by Ian McDonald, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 8, ultimately selling to Netflix for $11 million.
Donating to a Greater Cause
Beyond her directorial work, Kendrick felt a profound responsibility toward the film’s proceeds. Speaking on Sirius XM’s Crime Junkie AF podcast, Kendrick shared that she donated her portion of the earnings to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) and the National Center for Victims of Violent Crime. “Believe me, this was never a money-making venture for me, because all the resources went to actually making the movie,” she explained. “The money is going to or has gone to RAINN and the National Center for Victims of Violent Crime. It’s still a complicated area but that felt like the least that I should do.”
