The 10 Best Anna Kendrick Roles

Anna Kendrick has built a career on sharp timing, versatile choices, and a mix of mainstream hits and smaller character pieces. From breakout turns in indie projects to leading roles in studio musicals and voice work that anchors a major animated franchise, she has consistently taken on parts that show range across comedy, drama, and music-driven storytelling.

This list pulls together ten film and television roles that highlight the breadth of her work. You’ll find major ensembles, solo-leaning performances, and a TV lead, with details on her characters, the projects’ creative teams, and where each role fits in the larger arcs of their stories.

‘Up in the Air’ (2009) – Natalie Keener

Natalie Keener is a newly hired corporate downsizer whose algorithm-driven approach to layoffs clashes with the road-warrior methods of Ryan Bingham. The film is directed by Jason Reitman and adapted from Walter Kirn’s novel, with a screenplay credited to Reitman and Sheldon Turner, and it pairs Kendrick opposite George Clooney and Vera Farmiga in a contemporary workplace drama about travel, connection, and corporate culture.

Kendrick’s supporting turn is central to the film’s thematic debates about technology and empathy in business. The role earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, as well as major guild and critics’ honors, and it remains one of her most recognized dramatic performances.

‘Pitch Perfect’ (2012) – Beca Mitchell

Beca Mitchell is a college freshman and aspiring producer who reluctantly joins an a cappella group, the Barden Bellas. The comedy is directed by Jason Moore from a screenplay by Kay Cannon, based on Mickey Rapkin’s non-fiction book, and features ensemble work from Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, and Hana Mae Lee, with music production central to the plot.

Kendrick performs multiple arrangements and contributes the film’s signature solo number, which became a breakout recording tied to the soundtrack’s commercial success. She reprised Beca in franchise follow-ups, with the character’s arranging and leadership arcs anchoring the Bellas’ competitive storyline.

‘A Simple Favor’ (2018) – Stephanie Smothers

Stephanie Smothers is a widowed vlogger who becomes entangled in the disappearance of her stylish new friend, Emily. Directed by Paul Feig from a screenplay by Jessica Sharzer, the mystery-thriller is adapted from Darcey Bell’s novel and co-stars Blake Lively and Henry Golding, blending suburban satire with noir twists.

Kendrick’s character drives the investigation through on-screen vlogs, school-gate alliances, and a series of reveals that hinge on shifting identities. The production balances fashion-forward design with a playful tone, and Stephanie’s sleuthing provides the narrative framework for the film’s misdirection and final confrontations.

‘Into the Woods’ (2014) – Cinderella

Cinderella appears as part of an ensemble weaving together multiple Brothers Grimm tales in a screen adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine musical. Directed by Rob Marshall, the film stars Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, James Corden, Chris Pine, and others, with orchestrations and staging built to preserve the score’s intricate rhythms and lyrics.

Kendrick’s interpretation of Cinderella foregrounds the character’s indecision during the royal festival and beyond, including key numbers that examine choice and consequence. Her vocals are featured in solo pieces and ensemble harmonies, and the film’s design and choreography situate Cinderella’s journey within the musical’s larger exploration of wishes and responsibility.

‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ (2010) – Stacey Pilgrim

Stacey Pilgrim is Scott’s younger sister and an advice-giver with pointed commentary throughout the story. Directed by Edgar Wright and adapted from Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novels, the film combines comic-book framing, music-scene culture, and video-game aesthetics, with a cast that includes Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Kieran Culkin.

Kendrick’s scenes function as narrative checkpoints that reflect Scott’s choices back at him through quick-cut edits and stylized dialogue. The production’s sound design, visual effects, and rapid transitions give Stacey’s phone calls and in-person moments a rhythm that supports the movie’s kinetic style and comedic timing.

‘The Accountant’ (2016) – Dana Cummings

Dana Cummings is a junior accountant whose findings trigger an investigation into irregularities at a robotics company. Directed by Gavin O’Connor from a screenplay by Bill Dubuque, the action-thriller co-stars Ben Affleck, J. K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, and Cynthia Addai-Robinson, integrating financial forensics with combat-driven sequences.

Kendrick’s character serves as the audience’s entry point into the film’s corporate plotlines, shaping the stakes as ledgers and contracts give way to larger conspiracies. Dana’s scenes with the title character establish both professional rapport and narrative momentum, linking spreadsheets to the film’s broader network of shell companies, coded identities, and pursuit.

‘Trolls’ (2016) – Poppy (voice)

Poppy is an eternally optimistic Troll princess whose leadership is tested when her community is threatened. Produced by DreamWorks Animation and directed by Mike Mitchell, the family musical pairs Kendrick with Justin Timberlake, Zooey Deschanel, and a large voice ensemble, using pop covers and original songs to drive story beats.

Kendrick contributes lead vocals to several tracks and voices Poppy across subsequent installments and specials, shaping the franchise’s sound. The character’s arc emphasizes music as a problem-solving tool, and the films’ art direction, choreography, and needle drops are built around Poppy’s melody-driven plans and collaborations.

‘Love Life’ (2020–2021) – Darby Carter

Darby Carter is the focal character of an anthology rom-com’s first season, tracing formative relationships from early adulthood onward. Created by Sam Boyd with executive producers including Paul Feig and Kendrick, the series uses a narrator to frame episodes as chapters, with a supporting ensemble that recurs across Darby’s timeline.

Kendrick’s performance anchors the season’s structure, with each episode centered on a different partner or turning point that influences personal and professional choices. The show’s format allows for time jumps, callbacks, and a finale that resolves arcs introduced in the pilot, while guest stars and returning characters add continuity across episodes.

‘Alice, Darling’ (2022) – Alice

Alice is a young woman navigating the psychological impact of an emotionally abusive relationship during a trip with close friends. Directed by Mary Nighy from a screenplay by Alanna Francis, the intimate drama co-stars Wunmi Mosaku, Kaniehtiio Horn, and Charlie Carrick, focusing on subtle behavioral shifts and interpersonal dynamics.

Kendrick’s portrayal centers on micro-reactions, routines, and social negotiations that reveal the character’s internal state. The film’s contained settings and small ensemble emphasize dialogue and silence, and the narrative builds toward a confrontation that reflects the story’s themes of autonomy, support systems, and recovery.

‘Noelle’ (2019) – Noelle Kringle

Noelle Kringle is the daughter of Santa Claus who steps into holiday duties when family responsibilities shift. Written and directed by Marc Lawrence, the seasonal comedy co-stars Bill Hader, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Billy Eichner, and Shirley MacLaine, blending North Pole world-building with a fish-out-of-water trip to a warm-weather city.

Kendrick’s role combines physical comedy with musical interludes and holiday-lore logistics, including lists, deliveries, and language traditions tied to the setting. The film builds its finale around community needs and gift-giving systems, and Noelle’s problem-solving relies on reading people, adapting customs, and coordinating a time-sensitive operation.

Share your favorite Anna Kendrick role in the comments and tell us which performance you’d add to the list!