Anna Kendrick: ‘There are 10 unbelievably talented women for every role’

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Anna Kendrick covers the June issue of Glamour. It feels like this is a repeat, right? It’s not – a few months ago, she covered Glamour UK, but it was a totally different photoshoot and interview. This American issue is to promote Pitch Perfect 2, which I actually want to see WAY more than some of the big summer action movies. As for this cover… it sort of looks like Anna. Like, Anna morphing into Amanda Peet and Allison Williams. Right? Anyway, you can see Glamour’s slideshow here. Some highlights from the interview:

On turning 30 this year: “I felt different at 29 because 29, to me, is 30. There are times when I still feel like an actual toddler in a grown-up—well, semi grown-up—body. But other times I can’t wait to actually be 30, just so I can say things like, ‘I’m 30. I don’t have time for that. F–k off!'”

Gender equality in Hollywood: “All the films nominated [for a Best Picture Oscar] this year had male leads. Like, every single one. So I’m glad that [equality’s] feeling like a bigger issue now. There’s [a film I’m considering] now where I have to wait for all the male roles to be cast before I can even become a part of the conversation. Part of me gets that. Part of me is like, ‘What the f–k? You have to cast for females based on who’s cast as males?’ To me, the only explanation is that there are so many f–king talented girls, and from a business standpoint it’s easier to find women to match the men. I totally stand by the belief that there are 10 unbelievably talented women for every role.”

The fear of being unemployed: “As an actress you’re perpetually about to be unemployed. That fear—when you have two parents who worked 9-to-5 jobs and went through periods of being unemployed—is real. Those were not welcome times in my childhood. Working 14 hours a day isn’t sustainable, but I prefer it [to doing fewer films]. I might as well be doing the thing that I wanted to do my whole life.”

[From Glamour]

I see her point about wanting to work as much as possible and I relate to that too – it’s a very middle class thing. Work as much as you can while you’re being offered those jobs and save for a rainy day. Even though Anna is a “star” and an Oscar-nominated actress, she approaches her career more like a struggling actress. She’s hungry. And that’s good. As for her idea that the women get cast after the men… God, that sucks. I can’t believe that STILL happens.

AK2

Photos courtesy of Glamour.

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14 Responses to “Anna Kendrick: ‘There are 10 unbelievably talented women for every role’”

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  1. aims says:

    I understand the need to work also, but I was raised by a single mom who busted her ass to provide for us. It does seem strange to twirl your thumbs for a job waiting on a male co star.

    • Franca says:

      I think it’s like that for all of us who faced financial uncertainty while growing up. My country did the transition from cummunism to capitalism quite badly, so a lot of bussiness went bust, and the recession hit us pretty badly too.
      So, when I was growing up, we had times where both of my parents were employed so things were pretty good, to periods where only one of them was employed, to periods where only one of them was employed but wasn’t getting paid regularly and so on. We were lucky that we owned our house and my parents never went into debt, but there were times where things were really rough.
      And that stays with you, that feeling that things are good now, but you never know what might happen so you always have to work to be prepared for the bad times, because the bad times are bound to come.

  2. Abbott says:

    I want to know what movie that casting story is about.

  3. renee28 says:

    She’s a middle of the pack actress. She’s successful and works consistently but she’s not making JLaw money. She’s smart to work as much as possible.

  4. PunkyMomma says:

    I like this woman so much. Anna isn’t afraid to speak up for herself in a tough industry. You go, girl.

  5. OSTONE says:

    I LOVE Anna! Cannot wait for pitch perfect 2!

  6. INeedANap says:

    HONK for Anna Kendrick.
    She’s not the most amazing actress, but she is charming and believable on-screen and has a great off-screen presence. As we’ve seen, press tours can implode if your actors aren’t up for it. She’s extra-bankable.

  7. Gill B says:

    She’s right – there is ferocious competition among talented female actors of her age, with little or no margin of error for the odd weak performance or dubious behaviour, whereas male actors like Shia LeBoeuf and Taylor Kitsch seem to get multiple chances to make their mark.

  8. j.eyre says:

    Sometimes I am surprised by my own naiveté when it comes to Hollywood. I keep reading over that sentence about Ms. Kendrick having to wait so they can cast all the men first and I cannot seem to digest it.

  9. Elizabeth says:

    If there were 10 unbelievably talented actresses for every role, how do you explain Kristen Stewart?