Anna Kendrick

09 Aug, 1985 | Portland, Maine

Actress

Biography

Anna Kendrick is an American film and stage actress. She is known for her prominent roles in the 2003 film Camp and the 2007 film Rocket Science, and her supporting role in the 2008 film Twilight. Career Kendrick claims to have "caught the bug" at the age of ten, when her parents would drive her from her hometown of Portland, Maine, to New York, so that she could attend auditions. Her first appearance was the role of Dinah in the Broadway musical High Society in August 1998, at the age of twelve, which earned her Theatre World Award, Drama Desk Award and Tony Award nominations, the latter of which made her the second-youngest nominee ever. Afterwards, she featured in a number of other theatre productions, including the musical A Little Night Music, before making her film debut in the 2003 musical comedy Camp, for which she was nominated for the 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 to be intimidating and challenging after watching an actual national collegiate championship debate, her performance was highly praised by critics and she was nominated for a 2007 Independent Spirit Award in the category of Best Supporting Actress. In late 2007, she auditioned for the role of Jessica Stanley in Twilight, a 2008 film adapted from the titular first book of the novel series by Stephenie Meyer. 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. Kendrick featured in the 2009 film Elsewhere, in which she plays her first lead character, a girl whose best friend (played by Tania Raymonde) goes missing. Her theatre singing experience gave her the opportunity to star in her next project, The Marc Pease Experience, where she appears opposite Jason Schwartzman and Ben Stiller as a high school senior involved in musical theatre. She was cast in Jason Reitman's film Up in the Air, based on Walter Kirn's 2001 novel of the same name, alongside George Clooney. Personal Life Kendrick and her older brother, actor Michael Cooke Kendrick, who featured in the 2000 film Looking for an Echo, attended Deering High School in Portland, Maine. She lists Parker Posey, Molly Shannon and Amy Poehler as her inspiration.