Anna Kendrick (born August 9, 1985 in Portland, Maine) is an American film and stage actress best known for her roles in the 2007 film Rocket Science and the 2008 film Twilight.
Kendrick's first appearance in the Broadway musical High Society in August 1998 at the age of twelve as Dinah, 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 a 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 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.
Kendrick is featuring in the upcoming 2008 film Elsewhere, in which she plays her first lead character, a girl whose best friend goes missing. She recently finished filming Twilight, a 2008 film adapted from the titular first book of the novel series by Stephenie Meyer, playing Jessica Stanley. Her theatre singing experience gave her the opportunity to star in her next project, The Marc Pease Experience, currently in production, where she appears opposite Jason Schwartzman and Ben Stiller as a high school senior involved in musical theatre.
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 inspirations.
