If it seems like Anna Kendrick has been everywhere in recent years, that's because she has. The 26-year-old actress was nominated for an Oscar (for "Up in the Air"), starred in the cult favorite "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World," and has made appearances in all four "Twilight" movies. She even found time to lead the music video for the LCD Soundsystem song "Pow Pow."
Fortunately for fans, Kendrick's schedule shows no signs of slowing down: She's starring in seven movies set for release between 2012 and 2013, including "What to Expecting When You're Expecting." Out Friday, the adaptation of the popular reference book -- which has been transformed into a narrative feature by Lionsgate -- finds Kendrick playing a young woman who has a one-night stand with her food-truck driving rival (Chace Crawford) and winds up pregnant.
Kendrick spoke to HuffPost Entertainment about her initial trepidation with taking a role in "What To Expect When You're Expecting," why she hates meeting celebrities, and what she counts as her favorite "Twilight" memory.
What was your initial reaction to hearing that "What To Expect When You're Expecting" was being turned into a movie?I knew they must have come up with some narrative, but I thought it was just gonna be about pregnant ladies and babies. I was like, "I don't want to watch a movie where women are just talking about how they're pregnant all the time." But, obviously, it's a real movie with relationships and people.
Audiences might be shocked at some of the things your character goes through in the film, especially based on the idyllic poster. Did that surprise you while reading the script?I was pretty surprised, actually, at the level of honesty that was allowed to exist in a kinda glossy studio movie. To be perfectly honest. I was pleased and I thought it was brave that some of these characters -- and my character in particular -- have some difficult questions to ask themselves, and then deal with situations in a dark way.
How do you prepare to play someone who goes through the ups and downs of pregnancy in the ways your character does?I didn't really know how to research it. It was actually kind of shocking -- the amount of women who volunteered their story when they found out what I was doing. Or, even all the female crew members would come up to me and just talk to me about their particular experience. Sometimes those stories were very private and painful memories, but I was certainly appreciative that they would share that with me.
Are you the type of actress who really likes to research a role?I guess it depends on the character. Some characters are easier to research than others. This was a particularly strange one. If you're playing a downhill skier, and you know a downhill skier, it's easy to be like, "Hey, can we grab lunch? Can I pick your brain?" This was a little trickier: "Hey, did you ever have an unexpected pregnancy from a one-night stand? Can I ask you about that?"
You mentioned "glossy studio movies"; do those kind of scripts get pitched to you a lot?It's actually pretty rare that I get offered that kind of thing. Every time that I do, I'm like, "Why?! There's so many girls who would be better at this and would make more sense!" I'm always a little bewildered when I get offered a "Two Weeks Notice"-type thing. I'm not knocking that at all, but it's like, "What world does this make sense to anyone?"
"What To Expect When You're Expecting" is one of these star-studded omnibus comedies that have become en vogue in recent years. How does that process work for the actor?You feel like you're the lead of a short film.
Are Jennifer Lopez and Cameron Diaz hanging out on set while you're shooting?No. You know, meeting celebrities makes me so nervous, I was actually sort of fine with that.
So, is that disappointing? When you got cast, were you like, "I get to meet Cameron Diaz!" and then you didn't?I've met them since! I met them at a photo shoot and they're obviously lovely, lovely women. But that was a clammy-hands day for Anna.
Why?I get nervous meeting anyone. I'm pretty awkward. So I just try to stick with old friends. If you're famous, I'm going to say something weird to you and it's going to be awkward for anyone.
Your obligations to the "Twilight" franchise ended with "Breaking Dawn Part 1." What's your best memory from those films?I'm going to say something that I genuinely mean as playful, but it's going to get me in trouble anyway: The night that we wrapped and I got to go home and sit in front of a heater. It was so cold! There are just no words for how cold and wet and tired you are all the time.
You were Oscar-nominated for "Up in the Air"; do people recognize you more for that or for "Twilight"?Weirdly, it's mostly "Up in the Air," I guess. I still get a surprising amount of "Scott Pilgrim." But it's always an embarrassing thing when I see a young man and his wheels are turning, and I'm going, "You're about to say, 'Hey, are you that girl from 'Twilight' and embarrass yourself in front of your friends. Don't let it come out of your mouth. I know your girlfriend made you watch it, I get it, but don't say it. Your friends are literally going to never let you hear the end of it."
Last thing: You worked with Robert Redford on "The Company You Keep"; what was he like as a director?Oh my God. I kind of broke my back to make that work with my schedule. I was just like, "We need to make it happen." I got offered that and was like, "We're figuring it out. Never say never. It's gonna happen." That was absolutely one of those bucket list-things that isn't even on your bucket list because you wouldn't presume to think it was a possibility. That was so special and so great, and he is still so handsome.
"What to Expect When You're Expecting" is out in theaters on May 18.
