by Before she became a household name for her role as Jessica Stanley in the Twilight film series, Anna Kendrick was just another struggling actress trying to make ends meet in Hollywood. Though she had achieved some early success as a child star in Broadway productions, Kendrick still faced years of rejection and financial instability before her big break came along. In several candid interviews, Kendrick has opened up about just how close she came to giving up on her dreams during those lean years.
“There were a lot of nights when I thought, ‘What am I doing with my life?’” she told Vanity Fair in 2019. “I was literally going broke. I got to a point where I couldn’t even pay to put gas in my car. I was starting to feel like maybe I needed to throw in the towel and admit I couldn’t make it as an actress.”
Kendrick’s story is one of perseverance in the face of daunting odds. Growing up in Portland, Maine, she fell in love with performing at a young age. By 12, she had secured a role in the Broadway musical High Society, becoming the second-youngest Tony nominee ever. But after that meteoric start, Kendrick’s career stalled as a teenager. The roles dried up and she struggled to land auditions. Each rejection stung and slowly eroded her confidence.
“It really does a number on you,” Kendrick told Elle. “There were so many times when I thought, ‘I just need to pick another career path because this acting thing is too hard and too heartbreaking.’ I started to believe the people who told me I didn’t have ‘it.’”
With no roles or income in sight, Kendrick leaned heavily on her parents for support. They believed in her talent and encouraged her to keep fighting. But as the months dragged on with no big break, even their patience was tested.
“My parents gave me this timeline of, ‘You have one year left of us supporting you financially,’” Kendrick recalled to Vanity Fair. “After that, I needed to throw in the towel or else figure out how to make it on my own. That timeline was creeping up on me and I was starting to freak out.”
At her lowest point, Kendrick could barely afford food and gas. She loaded up on ramen noodles and dodged bills collectors. Her beat-up car screeched to halt more than once as the gas light blinked on empty. She scoured Craigslist for any odd jobs or temp gigs to make quick cash.
“I was literally down to my last dollar, trying to figure out how I was going to eat that week,” she told The Guardian. “The only thing that calmed my panic was reminding myself that I could always borrow money from my brother if it really came to that.”
Despite the financial strain, Kendrick refused to fully give up on acting. She continued to squeeze in as many auditions as she could. But the constant rejection only fed her insecurities.
“I remember crying to my mom and saying things like, ‘I’m just not pretty enough’ or ‘I’m not talented enough,’” Kendrick shared. “Of course, she told me I was being ridiculous, but when you hear ‘no’ enough times, you start to believe it.”
Finally, in 2007, Kendrick landed a small but crucial role in the indie film Rocket Science. While the film didn’t make much of splash, her performance generated some positive buzz. Encouraged, Kendrick made the risky choice to move to Los Angeles to pursue more auditions. However, the bigger pond brought even more disappointment.
“Those first six months in LA were even worse than before,” she admitted. “I was convinced that I’d made a huge mistake. I couldn’t get any traction at auditions. I had no money coming in. I was so stressed I broke out in hives.”
Ready to pack it in and head home, Kendrick agreed to do one final audition for a supporting role in an upcoming vampire movie called Twilight. Based on a popular YA book series, there was no indication the low-budget film would become a worldwide sensation. Kendrick figured she had nothing to lose.
“Honestly, when I first read the Twilight script, I didn’t understand the appeal at all,” she told Vanity Fair. “I couldn’t believe I had messed up so many auditions and this cheesy vampire thing was the only project that wanted me.”
Of course, Twilight exploded into a pop culture phenomenon beyond anyone’s wildest dreams—including Kendrick’s. Grossing nearly $400 million worldwide on a $37 million budget, the first Twilight film turbocharged Kendrick’s career into the stratosphere. She could hardly believe her sudden change in fortune.
“It was total whiplash going from counting pennies for ramen to having a little financial security almost overnight,” Kendrick marveled. “I could finally get a new car, find an apartment that didn’t have mold on the walls, and pay off those credit cards I’d been dodging.”
While Twilight’s massive commercial success shocked her, Kendrick was even more surprised by the passionate, intense reaction from fans. Suddenly, she couldn’t go anywhere without being mobbed by crowds of screaming teens. It was her first lesson in the ferocity of fandom.
“The Twilight craze completely overwhelmed me at first,” she admitted. “I went from struggling to land any job to having these bizarre experiences of being chased through an airport by a pack of superfans. I was like, ‘What planet am I on right now?’”
Despite the media circus, Kendrick looks back fondly on her Twilight years. The role gave her the means to keep pursuing acting on her own terms—a dream that once seemed impossible.
“As stressful as that time was, I’m grateful for every step along the way—good and bad,” she reflected. “All those years spent broke and doubting myself shaped me into the person and actor I am now. I have more empathy and resilience because of that struggle.”
Kendrick’s story proves that perseverance and passion can overcome even the bleakest circumstances. Though she almost gave up on herself, she’s thankful she held on a little longer. Her advice to aspiring actors facing similar struggles: “Keep going. Don’t let the world’s doubts become your own.”
After staring financial ruin in the face, Kendrick is now worth an estimated $10 million and considered one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actresses. But she hasn’t forgotten those lean years spent scrounging for work. Her close brush with ruin taught her to never take success for granted.
“To this day, I still get a little panicky if I don’t have a job lined up,” she said. “That scarcity mindset sticks with you. But I’m a lot more optimistic now that acting can actually be a career for me and not just a pipe dream. I know I have what it takes. I just needed to survive long enough to prove it.”
