Anna Kendrick is joining the chorus of female — and male — voices out there who say that the Hollywood movie machine is not giving women their due.
“All the films nominated [for a Best Picture Oscar] this year had male leads. Like, every single one,” Anna Kendrick told Glamour Magazine. “So I’m glad that [equality’s] feeling like a bigger issue now.”
Other notable celebs who are banging the same marching drum include Patricia Arquette, Amy Schumer, and Emma Watson. Many have particularly pointed out that there is a disparity in pay for women nationwide, not just in Hollywood.
But Anna Kendrick sees this disparity rear its head in other ways in Hollywood.
“There’s [a film I’m considering] now where I have to wait for all the male roles to be cast before I can even become a part of the conversation,” she said. “Part of me gets that. [But] part of me is like, ‘What the f–k? You have to cast for females based on who’s cast as males?'”
This is not uncommon. Sometimes it is even the other way around. If a film is built from mostly female characters, those may need to be in place before the males in support roles can be nailed down. Any casting director is familiar with this. What if you were initially hoping for Matthew McConaughey in a role, and went ahead and offered his love interest part to Charlize Theron? Then McConaughey could not do the part and you cast Tom Cruise instead?
Have you seen Charlize Theron standing next to Tom Cruise?
But Anna Kendrick has another explanation.
“To me, the only explanation is that there are so many f–king talented girls, and from a business standpoint it’s easier to find women to match the men. I totally stand by the belief that there are 10 unbelievably talented women for every role.”
And she may be on to something. Any girl who has come up through a college acting program knows that the ladies outnumber the men by a ridiculous margin. Competition among women is fierce. But Anna Kendrick has a different perspective on that too.
“If anything, it bonds you because we’re all dealing with the same problem.”
Maybe Anna Kendrick sees the world from a different angle than most struggling actresses. Many of those say that they have to endure backstabbing and sabotage from these other actresses, not a bonding.