Featured Image Credit: Netflix/Getty/Frazer Harrison
Topics: Crime, True crime, Netflix, Celebrity, Money
Britt Jones
Topics: Crime, True crime, Netflix, Celebrity, Money
Trigger Warning: Themes of rape and murder are discussed in the below article.
Anna Kendrick’s new movie has been a hit with true crime fans, and now, viewers love her even more after learning about what she did with her salary.
Kendrick has been highly praised online for her decision to donate all of the money she made in her new movie, which she both directed and starred in.
The film, set in the 70s, shows a real-life crime play out for viewers to watch.
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Because of the hard-hitting subject, Kendrick reportedly donated all of her salary ,as it left her feeling ‘gross’ to take money for talking about such an important topic.
For those who don’t know, the actress made her directing debut when she took on a Netflix hit focused on the crimes of Rodney Alcala.
Alcala, a faux photographer, went on to lure unsuspecting women to remote spots where he would rape and murder them.
In total, police believe he was responsible for over 100 killings during his spree.
His murders beganin 1977 and ended in 1979, when he was arrested and later sentenced to death.
In the middle of his spree, Alcala famously appeared on the hit dating show called The Dating Game, which earned him the nickname the ‘dating game killer’.
Titled Woman of the Hour, the film focuses on the very same episode of the dating show Alcala appeared on, and his killing spree.
Kendrick’s masterpiece tells the story of his victims, as she portrays Sheryl Bradshaw, an aspiring actress and contestant who ended up selecting Alcala as the winning bachelor.
Thankfully, in real life, Sheryl Bradshaw went on to narrowly escape him after cancelling their date due to his creepy vibes.
Because of her affiliation with the movie, and the harrowing subject it depicts, Kendrick decided that she couldn’t possibly keep any of the proceedings from the film.
That’s why she decided to donate it to nonprofit organizations that help victims of violent crime.
In an interview with SiriusXM, Kendrick said: “Once I realized, ‘Oh there’s going to be money exchanging hands,’ I asked myself the question, ‘Do you feel gross about this?'”
She added: “And I did. So I’m not making money off the movie. The money is going to RAINN and the National Center for Victims of Crime.”
Because of so much focus on murderers and their depraved acts, Kendrick decided she wanted to do something different with her film and focus on the victims.
She shared with Rolling Stone: “I felt like the question in the air for a lot of Sheryl’s story is ‘Hang on, do you see me as human or something else?’’”
People online praised her for not keeping the cash, with one writing: "Every day I grow to admire Anna Kendrick more."
The flick hit hard for Kendrick, who felt as though she could empathize with Sheryl after coming out about her own abusive relationship.
Aside from the dating show, Sheryl was seen auditioning for a part in another project, where she's asked if she'd be willing to appear naked.
Kendrick's character tells them no, and says nudity is 'not for [her]', when a male casting director gestures at her breasts and says, 'Oh, I’m sure they’re fine'."
For Kendrick, it’s a story about very real people, and now with the donations, she can help others too.