Anna Kendrick Facts: 23 Things You (Probably) Don't Know About the 'Into the Woods' Star

Anna Kendrick is one of the most versatile and brightest actresses in Hollywood today.

The young star got out of the gate in a hurry, earning her first Tony Award nomination before she was even a teenager. About a decade later, Kendrick added an Oscar nomination to her resumé. Her performance in "Up in the Air" opposite George Clooney brought Academy acclaim, but it was ultimately Kendrick's starring turn in "Pitch Perfect" that pushed her into the pop culture spotlight. This holiday season, the actress stars as Cinderella in the film adaptation of "Into the Woods."

From her early Broadway acclaim to her time on the Billboard charts, here are 23 things you probably don't know about Anna Kendrick.

1. Anna Kendrick was born August 9, 1985, in Portland, Maine to Janice Cooke and William K. Kendrick.

2. Her mother is an accountant and her father is a history teacher.

3. She has an older brother, Michael Cooke Kendrick.

4. Kendrick's professional career began when she was only 10 years old. Her parents would often drive her from Portland to New York City for her auditions. It paid off.

5. From her beginnings at age 10 to today, Kendrick has had the same manager, Kim Matuka.

6. In 1998, Kendrick's talents earned her a Tony Award nomination for her performance in "High Society" as Dinah Lord.

7. She was the third-youngest person ever nominated for a Tony Award.

8. In 2003, Kendrick made her onscreen debut in the film "Camp."

9. The role earned her an Independent Spirit Award for Best Debut Performance.

10. Her first big film, however, was 2008's "Twilight," in which she played Jessica. She reprised her role in the first three sequels.

11. At 24, Kendrick was nominated for an Oscar. She received the Best Supporting Actress nod for her performance in "Up in the Air" opposite George Clooney.

12. She is the only actress of the "Twilight Saga" to be nominated for an Oscar while the films were in production.

13. She was "Up in the Air" director Jason Reitman's first choice for the role after he had been impressed by her performance in "Rocket Science" (2007).

14. Kendrick's critically acclaimed performance in "Up in the Air" also earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

15. Despite the industry recognition, she still remained relatively unknown until her breakout performance in 2012's "Pitch Perfect."

16. The pop music-filled movie has spawned a sequel, due in 2015, in which Kendrick will reprise her starring role as Beca, head of her school's female a cappella group.

17. Her song "Cups (When I'm Gone)" from "Pitch Perfect" became a hit and rose to No. 2 on Billboard's Adult Pop Song chart.

18. That's not her only tie to the pop charts! In 2010, she also appeared in LCD Soundsystem's music video "Pow Pow."

19. On April 5, 2014, Kendrick hosted "Saturday Night Live" for the first time. Pharrell was the musical guest.

20. As for her personal life, Kendrick dated director Edgar Wright ("Hot Fuzz") from 2009 to 2013.

21. They met on the 2009 production of "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" (2010).

22. Since the first "Twilight" in 2008, Kendrick has appeared in an astonishing 20 films.

23. Bonus Fact: She loves old screwball comedies, but her favorite modern comedies are "Wet Hot American Summer" (2001) and "Hot Fuzz" (2007).

[Sources: IMDb, Wikipedia]

'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1'

The second-to-last "Hunger Games" installment saw the franchise slowing down, focusing mostly on the political machinations associated with Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and her decision to lead the underground rebellion in earnest. Action was in short supply in this entry; instead it was all about mood, tension, and unspoken sexual anxiety. (This was the first one without any actual, you know, games.) And yet it was just as thrilling, giving an even more rounded view of the dystopian future and the people personally affected by the ruling powers keeping the weak and poor under their boot. It's also a rousing call to arms, saying that those underneath that boot can (and should) rise up. Power to the people y'all. Hopefully everything explodes in the second installment, due next Thanksgiving, but even if it doesn't, another mood piece would be OK with me.

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