by Anna Kendrick is one of the most talented and versatile actresses of her generation. She can seamlessly transition between comedy, drama, and musical roles, always delivering an authentic and captivating performance. But Kendrick’s path to stardom and her acclaimed role as Beca in Pitch Perfect was an unconventional one. She broke many of her own long-held rules about accepting roles, particularly in musicals, to take on the part that would become iconic for her career.
As a young actress, Kendrick was determined not to be typecast. After receiving a Tony Award nomination at age 12 for her Broadway debut in High Society, she intentionally avoided theater roles. She later revealed she had vowed never to even audition for another musical. Kendrick feared getting stuck playing the same kinds of perky, precocious characters that defined her early stage career.
The same went for film roles that required singing. “For a while, I was really kind of stubborn about the idea that I didn’t want to make movies where I’m singing, because I worked so hard to be seen as not just one thing,” Kendrick explained. She turned down auditions for musical TV and film projects, not wanting to regress professionally.
That changed when the script for Pitch Perfect landed on Kendrick’s desk. She found herself utterly drawn to the story’s central character, the rebellious Beca who joins an all-female a cappella group. As Kendrick recalled, “She wasn’t like anyone I had read before…I saw a lot of myself in her and it made me feel very vulnerable.” The role scared Kendrick, but also excited her with its complexity and opportunity for growth.
Still, Kendrick was hesitant about signing onto a musical comedy film. She had studiously avoided such projects for years and worried about cementing her image as a musical performer. Ultimately though, her connection to Beca outweighed any career concerns. Kendrick realized she had to follow her passion as an actress, rather than making calculated decisions about each role.
Taking a chance on Pitch Perfect proved to be a career-defining move for Kendrick. Though she was initially nervous about handling the musical aspects, Kendrick dove headfirst into preparations. She trained extensively with a vocal coach to develop her contemporary singing style and adjust to a cappella arrangements. The cast rehearsed the musical numbers for months to build tight harmonies and syncopated dance moves.
On set, Kendrick continued honing Beca’s brooding attitude and deadpan sarcasm. She drew on her own experiences feeling like an outsider during adolescence. Kendrick also bonded closely with her castmates while filming, creating an authentic sense of friendship among the Bellas. That camaraderie is evident in their emotional late-night rendition of “Party in the U.S.A.” which Kendrick improvised as a surprise for her co-stars.
When Pitch Perfect was released in 2012, Kendrick’s magnetic performance earned her universal praise. Critics hailed her as “compulsively watchable” and commended her for avoiding caricature as the brash alt-girl. Kendrick’s original solo songs, “Cups” and “When I’m Gone,” also became major chart hits. As Pitch Perfect grew into a sleeper hit, Kendrick saw how her willingness to defy conventions paid dividends.
The film’s massive success prompted two big-budget sequels in 2015 and 2017. Kendrick reprised the role of Beca, developing the character into a mature leader of the Bellas. Her emotional finale solo of “Freedom! ’90” in Pitch Perfect 3 showcased Kendrick’s vocal and dramatic talents. She also extended her music career, releasing a folksy pop album and performing her original song “Cups” at major events.
Most meaningfully, Kendrick found that playing Beca altered her outlook on mixing singing and acting. She became more open-minded about roles that required musicality. As Kendrick explained, “I felt like if I was going to have to overcome fear and anxiety, I wanted to do it in something I loved…I’m glad that the first thing I did where I had to overcome that was Pitch Perfect.”
Landing the once-in-a-lifetime part of Beca unlocked a new level of artistry for Kendrick. She incorporated singing into acclaimed performances in The Last Five Years and Trolls. Kendrick also served as an executive producer for the musical series Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist. Rather than avoiding her theatrical roots, she now embraced that skillset.
Kendrick’s success has made her one of the most sought-after leading ladies in the industry. She has thrived in commercial films like the Pitch Perfect franchise but also earned critical respect for independent dramas like Up in the Air and 50/50. Kendrick has discovered that taking career risks, even when they defy the rules she set for herself, can be tremendously rewarding experiences.
The bond Kendrick forged with a character outside her wheelhouse has sustained beyond Pitch Perfect. She has named Beca as one of her most beloved roles, saying “[She] will always have such a special place in my heart.” Kendrick even got a tiny tattoo of a Bella’s scarf, keeping her Pitch Perfect days permanently marked on her skin.
Landing that breakthrough role taught Kendrick the power of giving herself over fully to a film she connects with, regardless of genre. She has said that experience “reminded me how important it is to go after things that you want and love doing.” Kendrick took control of her career on her own terms and, in the process, created the character that will likely define her acting legacy.
Breaking her self-imposed rules allowed Kendrick to deliver one of the most iconic performances of her generation. Despite early reluctance about starring in a musical comedy, she committed herself wholeheartedly to embodying the sarcastic yet vulnerable Beca. Kendrick’s openness to challenging her boundaries was rewarded with a new level of stardom and acclaim.
Pitch Perfect tapped into Kendrick’s natural charisma and musicality, combining them in a way that felt fresh. Her willingness to take a risk transformed her career trajectory. Years later, Kendrick continues to look for complex roles and women’s stories that fully engage her, even if they take her out of her comfort zone.
Kendrick made a brave choice when she ignored her vow to avoid singing roles. As a result, she earned a career-defining part and forged an irrepressible bond with the character of Beca. Kendrick demonstrated the magic that can happen when seasoned performers like herself stay open to reinvention. She honored her inner artistic voice rather than sticking to self-imposed rules.
When asked what advice she would give her younger self, Kendrick reflected: “Don’t limit yourself…Your love for something should override any kind of rule that you have.” She took that advice herself by joining Pitch Perfect. Kendrick rediscovered her passion, and found within Beca Mitchell the character that she will always be proud to call her own. Her fans will forever be grateful that she took that leap and sang her heart out.
