Anna Kendrick Explains Why She Earned Nothing from ‘Woman of the Hour’

Anna Kendrick just made her directorial debut with Woman of the Hour, and while fans might assume she cashed in on the project, the Pitch Perfect star revealed she didn’t take home a dime. Instead, the actress chose to donate her entire salary to organizations that support victims of violent crime and sexual abuse.

“Believe me, this was never a money-making venture for me, ’cause you know, all the resources went to actually just making the movie,” Kendrick said during an interview on the Crime Junkie AF podcast. “But it wasn’t until the Toronto Film Festival, where the movie premiered… and that is where eventually Netflix bought the movie.”

Kendrick shared that up until the film was picked up by Netflix, she was so focused on meeting deadlines that she didn’t think about the business side. “It wasn’t until like the week before TIFF that I thought, ‘Oh, the movie’s going to make money.’ I was just making the movie, making the movie, and we just barely made the deadline to get into TIFF.”

When Kendrick realized there would be financial gains, she had a gut-check moment. “I sort of asked myself the question of like, ‘Do you feel gross about this?’ and I did,” she admitted. “So yeah, I’m not making money off of the movie. The money is going to, or has gone to, RAINN and The National Center For Victims of Violent Crime, which is a charity that Matt Murphy recommended to me.”

Kendrick’s decision is especially significant given that she recently spoke publicly about her own experience in an abusive relationship.

By turning down personal profit, Kendrick has taken a meaningful step toward supporting others who’ve experienced similar trauma. Woman of the Hour isn’t just a film for Kendrick—it’s a platform to raise awareness and make a difference.

What do you think about Anna Kendrick’s decision to donate her salary? Should more celebrities follow her example in projects close to their hearts? Share your thoughts in the comments!