Anna Kendrick Never Felt Like A Fashion Girl. Now She's Found Her Style Stride

Anna Kendrick is thrilled to be in London for the BAFTAs. ‘I suppose I'm one of those horrible cliched Americans who find everything British extra classy. So I'm trying to be on my best behaviour,’ admits the 39-year-old actor you’ll recognise from Pitch Perfect, The Twilight Saga and A Simple Favour (more on that later) ahead of the 2025 ceremony.

Having taken in several of the pre-parties over the weekend, the time has come to get ready for the main event at the beautiful Bulgari Hotel in Knightsbridge. ‘I’m wearing a black archival Georges Chakra gown, which I'm very excited about,’ Kendrick says of the daring, plunging dress. ‘The cut down to my belly button does make me a little nervous, but I love that it’s very inspired by the 1920s and 1930s as that’s my favourite period of filmmaking.’

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The classic black gown is a perfect backdrop for some stunning Bulgari jewellery. She has chosen a suite from the Italian jeweller that includes a diamond necklace with a central 35-carat emerald, a matching pair of earrings and a ring. ‘Jewellery is my favourite part of fashion because it always fits and looks great. There's no surprise when you proverbially zip it up.’

Kendrick continues by admitting that she’s never felt like one of Hollywood’s ‘fashion girls.’ ‘I think there is a moment when you’re entering the industry where you feel like you have to sort of try and be on a certain track and calculated in planning things like getting in with the next up-and-coming designer. But, frankly, I never knew or never found that out. Now I want to wear whatever I feel good in.’

‘It has been so freeing to have entered my mid-thirties and it suddenly occur to me that nobody's checking to see what I'm wearing to see if I'm in the right trends and wearing the right things. Now, I wear whatever is flattering and makes me feel nice. I guess I wish I'd been doing that the whole time.’

The petite actor also says that her 5’2” frame heavily dictates what she can and cannot wear. ‘I always feel like I'm gonna get my heart broken if I mood board an entire dress situation before trying any on and getting them tailored. I probably have a camera roll full of me just doubled over laughing trying to wear trousers that have walked a runway. I have to wonder if the models and I are the same species.’

One element that Kendrick can control and plan a little more on is the hair and makeup. Tonight she assembled a team with Zoe Taylor on makeup and Pete Burkill on hair. The look is nothing short of classic Hollywood, evoking a time gone by. ‘I love a big eye,’ Kendrick admits. ‘Especially when I’m wearing a black dress. It makes me feel like I'm ready to interact with a bunch of fancy people who I feel quite intimidated by. Once the eye goes on it makes me feel ready for battle. I’d hoped these feelings of being so nervous before events would have gone away after 15 years of going to them but I still get so shy.’

Kendrick’s next moment in the spotlight will likely be the much-anticipated May release of Another Simple Favour, in which she stars alongside Blake Lively. ‘I'm so excited for that to come out,’ she says. ‘What I can say about it is that the plot is so much crazier than the first one. I know that it is going to live up to the promise. Our director Paul Feig is known for being the biggest sweetheart in the industry, but there is something very, very dark and luscious inside that man's mind because he's a sick puppy and I love him for it.’

‘I'm also trying to find something that I feel really strongly about and would maybe want to direct. You have to be so committed to the journey and give two years of your life to that and know that it could be a total disaster because that's the risk you take. Nobody sets out to make a bad movie, but lots of movies don't work out like you’d hoped.’

And just like that looking every inch a film star in control of not only her career but also her own appearance, Kendrick makes a dash to walk the red carpet. She might be nervous but this relatable class act has us fooled, inspired and relating.

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