Trigger Warning: Themes of rape and murder are discussed in the below article.
Anna Kendrick’s latest film has resonated with true crime enthusiasts, and she’s garnered even more admiration from fans after they found out what she chose to do with her earnings.
Kendrick has received widespread acclaim on the internet for her choice to donate the entirety of her salary from her latest project, which she both directed and starred in.
The movie, set in the 1970s, depicts a real-life crime for audiences to experience.
Because of the intense nature of the subject, Kendrick reportedly decided to give away her entire paycheck, as she felt ‘gross’ accepting money for covering such a significant topic.
In case some are unaware, the actress made her debut as a director with a popular Netflix film centered on the crimes of Rodney Alcala.
Alcala, masquerading as a photographer, would lure unsuspecting women to isolated locations where he would then assault and kill them.
Authorities suspect he was behind over 100 murders during his spree.
His killing spree began in 1977 and concluded in 1979, when he was apprehended and subsequently sentenced to death.
In the midst of his crimes, Alcala famously appeared on a popular dating show called The Dating Game, which led to him being dubbed the ‘dating game killer’.
Woman of the Hour, the film, revolves around the specific episode of the dating show Alcala participated in, along with his series of murders.
Kendrick’s film narrates the stories of his victims, with her playing the role of Sheryl Bradshaw, an aspiring actress and contestant who ended up choosing Alcala as the winning bachelor.
Fortunately, in reality, Sheryl Bradshaw narrowly avoided becoming a victim by canceling their date due to his unsettling behavior.
Given her involvement with the film and its disturbing content, Kendrick made the decision that she couldn’t personally profit from the film’s earnings.
This led her to donate her salary to nonprofit organizations dedicated to assisting victims of violent crimes.
During an interview with SiriusXM, Kendrick explained: “Once I realized, ‘Oh there’s going to be money exchanging hands,’ I asked myself the question, ‘Do you feel gross about this?’”
She continued: “And I did. So I’m not making money off the movie. The money is going to RAINN and the National Center for Victims of Crime.”
With the film industry often spotlighting murderers and their heinous acts, Kendrick sought to shift the narrative towards the victims through her work.
She expressed to Rolling Stone: “I felt like the question in the air for a lot of Sheryl’s story is ‘Hang on, do you see me as human or something else?’’’
Online, people commended her decision to forgo the earnings, with one person noting: “Every day I grow to admire Anna Kendrick more.”
The project struck a chord with Kendrick, who felt a connection to Sheryl’s story due to her own experiences with an abusive relationship.
In the film, aside from the dating show segment, Sheryl is depicted auditioning for another role, where she’s questioned about her willingness to appear nude.
Kendrick’s character responds negatively, stating nudity is ‘not for [her]’, to which a male casting director responds by gesturing at her chest and saying, ‘Oh, I’m sure they’re fine’.”
For Kendrick, the film is about real people, and through her donations, she aims to offer support to others as well.