In a recent interview, Anna Kendrick revealed that she hasn’t profited from her directorial debut, “Woman of the Hour.” Instead, she chose to donate all the earnings from the film to charity. During an October 25 episode of the “Crime Junkie AF” podcast, Kendrick explained that the funds were directed to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) and the National Center for Victims of Crime. She emphasized that her primary motivation was not financial gain, as most of the resources were used to actually produce the movie.
“Woman of the Hour,” released on Netflix on October 18, delves into the harrowing stories of women who were abused and murdered by serial killer Rodney Alcala. In the film, Anna Kendrick portrays Cheryl Bradshaw, a 28-year-old woman who encountered Alcala while appearing on the famous TV show “The Dating Game” in 1978.
Kendrick was so dedicated to completing the film and meeting the Toronto Film Festival deadline that she didn’t consider its potential profitability until just a week before the event. She reflected on the shift in her mindset, saying, “I went from thinking, ‘Just let me know when the movie is ready’ to realizing, ‘Oh no, I’m responsible for this.’ That’s when it hit me that money would actually be involved.”
At that moment, Kendrick felt “gross” about the idea of profiting from the film, which influenced her decision to forgo any earnings. She explained, “It’s still a complex issue, but it felt like the very least I could do.”
Kendrick’s representatives confirmed her donations to both non-profit organizations, but they did not immediately respond to inquiries about any future donations or other organizations that could benefit.
“Woman of the Hour” can be streamed on Netflix.