Anna Kendrick is one of those performers who will fool you and that is why we have come up with 5 Anna Kendrick performances. This fresh, freckle-faced girl has grown into someone who can tackle all sorts of different roles. Besides rising to fame as Beca from the Perfect Pitch movies, she has made a name for herself in both comedies and dramas. The young looking actress is unbelievably turning 40 soon, and she has a resume of nearly two decades of impressive work. Let’s check out 5 Anna Kendrick performances that show why she is such a versatile actress.
5 Anna Kendrick Performances That Are a Must Watch
Up in the Air (2009)
In this flick Anna plays Natalie, the antagonist to George Clooney‘s Ryan. Ryan is a corporate downsizing strategist, meaning that he looks to streamline corporations and boost profitability. He is a frequent traveler, traversing miles across the country to do his job. Natalie comes in and shakes his world up, by doing this kind of thing remotely. Of course, the two start to butt heads, and trouble ensues.
Into the Woods (2014)
This musical movie is based on the fairytale of Cinderella. Kendrick plays the lead, Cinderella, opposite Meryl Streep as the witch, and Chris Pine as the prince. Visually enchanting, and a little foreboding, this film will suck you right in to fairytale mode, and leave you wanting more. It definitely is one of 5 Anna Kendrick performances you should not miss.
Mr. Right (2015)
Here is a totally fun movie about a mismatched couple. Martha (Anna Kendrick) meets Francis, played by Sam Rockwell. Things go well at first, but she finds out he’s a hitman and running from the people who employ him. Ooops. After a few twists and turns, she realizes they may be a better match than she first thought. Excellent supporting cast – with Tim Roth and Anson Mount.
The Accountant (2016)
Anna plays Dana Cummings, opposite Ben Affleck in his role of Christian Wolff. As serious, unemotional, and rigid as Christian is, Dana is personable, curious, and she humanizes every moment of this movie. We’re sorry that Anna is not in the second installment; we hope to see her in the third. This movie is certainly worth the watch, especially now that The Accountant 2 is out. Therefore, this role definitely deserves to be in the 5 Anna Kendrick performances.
Woman of the Hour (2023)
This is not only a noteworthy performance from Anna Kendrick, but it is also her first directorial attempt. She masterfully tells the story of Rodney Alcala, the “Dating Game killer.” Anna portrays Sheryl, based on Dating Game contestant, Cheryl Bradshaw, who nearly did go out with Rodney Alcala. Fortunately, the real Cheryl didn’t, but in this film we explore what could’ve happened if Sheryl had.
A Few Final Thoughts
As evidenced here, Anna Kendrick is more than just a young actress who happens to sing and play irreverent roles. She has given gravity to some serious roles, excels at dark comedies, has done lots of voice work, and recently she has tried her hand at directing. With roughly 70 credits to her name, we can’t see what else she has in store. The 5 Anna Kendrick performances listed here are the ones that viewers need to see.
