Anna Kendrick is an American actress and singer, born on August 9, 1985, in Portland, Maine. She is the daughter of Janice (Cooke), an accountant, and William Kendrick, a teacher. Kendrick has an older brother, Michael Cooke Kendrick, who has also pursued acting. She is of English, Irish, and Scottish descent.

Kendrick began her career in theater, earning a Tony Award nomination for her role as Dinah in the Broadway musical "High Society" at the age of 12, making her the second youngest nominee ever. She gained widespread recognition for her performance in the film "Up in the Air" (2009), for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Kendrick is also well-known for her roles in the "Pitch Perfect" film series, "Into the Woods," and "A Simple Favor." Her versatility as an actress and singer has made her a prominent figure in Hollywood.