Getty Images for PORTER Incredible Women Gala 2018
Anna Kendrick is recalling an “icky” moment when a director embarrassed her in front of 100 extras after asking her to improvise a scene.
The “Woman of the Hour” director, 39, addressed the situation during a recent live taping for the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast.
When asked what the worst note she was ever given on a shoot, Kendrick shared an encounter with an unnamed director who encouraged her to go off script then belittled her in front of everyone.
“I remember a director once in a room full of 100 extras or something being like, ‘Hey, on this next one just try something. Just make something up. Just improv something,’” Kendrick said, adding it didn’t go as planned.
“And I did it and then the director called cut and came over and, once again in front of 100 extras, was like, ‘Oof, let’s go back to the script!’” she remembered.
The “Pitch Perfect” actress chalked the experience up to a power move — and she didn’t appreciate it.
“It really felt like a very specific power move thing to embarrass me, to gain dominance,” Kendrick stated. “It was very icky.”
The moment came full circle when her improvisation wound up in the film’s trailer.
“And then the thing that I improved ended up in the trailer,” the star said on the podcast. “So, f–k you!’
Kendrick has starred in over 40 movies — including “Twilight,” “A Simple Favor,” “Up in the Air” and the “Pitch Perfect” franchises — and didn’t reveal the director’s name, making it hard to pinpoint one person in particular. However, her story was shocking enough to make the live audience audibly gasped as she shared her story on the episode, per Daily Mail.
Kendrick recently made her directorial debut with the Netflix crime thriller, “Woman of the Hour.” She also stars in the flick, written by Ian McDonald.
The movie is based on the true story of serial killer Rodney Alcala and his 1978 appearance on the televised show “The Dating Game” during his murder spree.
Kendrick plays Cheryl Bradshaw, who moved to Los Angeles in hopes of becoming a star only to be cast as the unlucky game show contestant who ultimately picks Alcala (Daniel Zovatto) as the winner for their date.
Alcala had killed before his TV appearance, garnering him the nickname, The Dating Game Killer. He was arrested in 1979 and linked to at least seven women’s deaths; however, law enforcement believe the count to be as high as 130.
Alcala was convicted of killing four woman and a 12-year-old girl after pleading not guilty and was sentenced to death. He died on July 24, 2021, of natural causes at age 77 while on death row in Calif.