Anna Kendrick, the celebrated star of the hit movie “Pitch Perfect,” shared a heartwarming tale about a romantic gesture that she once received from a man she hardly knew. During an interview on the popular talk show hosted by Seth Meyers, Kendrick recounted the story after discussing her experience directing her first film. The movie, originally called “The Dating Game,” underwent a title change to “Woman of the Hour,” with Kendrick taking on the dual roles of director and lead actress.
The Netflix movie portrays the true story of Cheryl Bradshaw, who unknowingly selected a serial killer as her match on the popular game show “The Dating Game” in the 1970s. This incident was reported by TIME magazine. Bradshaw’s intuition proved correct, as she immediately called the show’s coordinator to cancel the date. When Kendrick discussed the film with Meyers, he asked if she had any similar dating experiences. Kendrick reminisced about a man she met in her early 20s, who wrote her a poem on their first date. She found this gesture to be intense and unexpected.
Kendrick went on to explain that the poem was kind, but that her suitor burned the edge of the paper and made it look worn and old. To that she said, “And that should’ve been a red flag,’ and that “Sometimes people just need to get ghosted.” She eventually ended the relationship over the span of a few months.
Kendrick has been candid about her past experiences with toxic relationships, including emotional and psychological abuse. She executive produced and starred in the movie “Alice, Darling,” which explores the challenges faced by a woman struggling with an abusive partner.
In an interview with People, Kendrick shared that she was drawn to the script for “Alice, Darling” because it resonated with her own experiences. “I was coming out of a personal experience with emotional abuse and psychological abuse. I think my rep sent it to me, because he knew what I’d been dealing with and sent it along.”
She told People that she was in a difficult relationship that caused her to begin losing herself. “I was in a situation where I loved and trusted this person more than I trusted myself,” she said. This was one aspect that made it easier for her to be the target of abuse. Sources say that she eventually began to see that he had feelings for another person, which gave her the push to get out of the relationship. Kendrick’s willingness to share her personal struggles is a testament to her bravery and willingness to shed light on important issues.
In discussing both her personal experience with abuse and “Alice, Darling,” Kendrick talked about the process of losing sight of herself to try to repair the relationship. “I was self-abandoning over and over and over again, and something was very lost for a long time. I’m still getting it back,” she said.
According to the “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” star, the script for “Alice, Darling” initially included indications of physical abuse for her character. However, the actor was hesitant to take on the role because she was concerned that her own history of abuse may not compare to what was portrayed on screen, as there may not have been any physical evidence.
“It’s a bold thing to just stay with the main character’s experience, rather than spoon-feeding an audience, ‘Here’s the abuse you can point to.’ To just look at the (psychological) effect that it’s having on a person and trust that it’s abusive,” she said.
After dealing with an abusive relationship, or as you are trying to get out of one, choosing yourself and your safety is a necessary step in protecting oneself from further harm. Kendrick’s honesty and willingness to share her experiences with others is a powerful reminder that no one should have to suffer in silence.