by Anna Kendrick’s poignant performance in the 2016 drama “Shared Tears” earned her critical acclaim and proved to be the most demanding role of her career thus far. She threw herself into the emotionally draining character, drawing from her own real-life struggles with depression and anxiety. In many ways, Kendrick’s role mirrored the inner turmoil she worked hard to overcome in her personal life.
Kendrick plays Lisa, a young woman buckling under the pressures of caring for her sick mother while working a dead-end job. Money is tight and Lisa’s mental health suffers as she desperately tries to keep it all together. She masks her inner pain with a sardonic sense of humor, pushing away those trying to help her.
Lisa hits rock bottom when she has a breakdown at work and ends up at the hospital on suicide watch. This mirrors a time in Kendrick’s own life when she struggled with suicidal thoughts, which she has been open about in interviews over the years.
“I found the script at a time when I was feeling depressed and anxious,” Kendrick told Vanity Fair. “I saw so much of my own experiences in Lisa and it felt cathartic to embody those emotions.”
To prepare for the role, Kendrick worked closely with a dialect coach to perfect Lisa’s Philadelphia accent. She also spent time volunteering at suicide prevention hotlines to gain insight. Her commitment paid off in her nuanced performance.
Critics praised her empathetic portrayal of mental illness. “Kendrick disappears into the role, laying bare Lisa’s fragility and inner sorrow,” wrote Peter Travers of Rolling Stone. “It’s a real tour de force.”
The most heart-wrenching scene comes when Lisa finally breaks down during a support group meeting. She unleashes years of repressed grief and self-loathing in a monologue that leaves her fellow group members and audiences alike in tears.
“That scene was incredibly challenging,” Kendrick said. “I had to dig deep into the darkest parts of myself in order to authentically convey Lisa’s pain. It was draining but also therapeutic.”
The role proved cathartic for Kendrick and mirrored her real-life triumph over depression. “Making this film helped me come to terms with my own mental health struggles,” she said. “It shows that even out of life’s darkest moments, hope and healing are possible.”
“Shared Tears” earned Kendrick her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Her bravura performance remains one of the most celebrated of her distinguished career.
