Anna Kendrick has seen many facets of the entertainment industry over her long career.
She made her film debut at just 16 years old in the 2003 film Camp.
Today, Kendrick is known for her roles in major film series like Pitch Perfect and Twilight, as well as films such as A Simple Favor, The Accountant, and Trolls.
Her latest project, Woman of the Hour, will premiere on Netflix next week (October 18).
In this film, Kendrick not only stars but also takes on the role of director, portraying the character Cheryl Bradshaw.
Cheryl, an aspiring actress in the film, finds herself on a ’70s TV matchmaking show called The Dating Game.
Off the dating show, Cheryl auditions for another role and is asked if she’d consider appearing nude.
Kendrick’s character refuses, stating that nudity isn’t ‘for [her],’ but faces a dismissive response from a male casting director who comments, ‘Oh, I’m sure they’re fine’ as he gestures to her chest.
In an interview with The Guardian, Kendrick, 39, discussed how this particular scene resonated with her personal experiences.
“That is lifted verbatim from something that happened to me when I was 19,” Kendrick revealed.
She became emotional as she elaborated on her past experiences.
“I’ve had experiences where I found out there was a wardrobe change that the costume designer had been cagey about, likely because she felt her hands were tied,” Kendrick recounted.
“It’s like you can’t get to the bottom of it: ‘Wait – sorry – um, why would I be in a bathing suit in this scene?’ But I’m grateful that this happens a lot less now. And when you say you’re uncomfortable, there’s more of a culture of being taken seriously.”
During the interview, Kendrick also mentioned how she related to her character in Alice, Darling, a film about a woman who is psychologically mistreated by her partner.
Kendrick herself experienced a coercive relationship lasting five years.
She reflected, “Recovery has been so challenging… I have good days and bad days. But it’s more accurate to call them good months and bad months.
“If you’d asked me three years ago, I would have said there was something almost embarrassing about that. Like: ‘Aren’t you over it by now?’ But I guess I feel a lot grosser saying: ‘I’m doing great’.”
Kendrick hopes that in another five years, she will have moved past these struggles.