Anna Kendrick Shines in The Hollars, Garners Critical Praise for Supporting Role

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Anna Kendrick played Rebecca in The Hollars, a 2016 American comedy-drama film directed by John Krasinski and written by James C. Strouse.

The film stars an ensemble cast led by Krasinski, starring Sharlto Copley, Charlie Day, Richard Jenkins, Anna Kendrick, and Margo Martindale.

During the world premiere of “The Hollars” at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2016, the cast members’ ages were as follows: John Krasinski, 36 years old; Sharlto Copley, 42 years old; Charlie Day, 39 years old; Richard Jenkins, 68 years old; Anna Kendrick, 30 years old; and Margo Martindale, 64 years old.

John Krasinski played John Hollar, a graphic designer who returns to his hometown after his mother is diagnosed with a brain tumor, while Anna Kendrick played his girlfriend RebeccaJohn Krasinski played John Hollar, a graphic designer who returns to his hometown after his mother is diagnosed with a brain tumor, while Anna Kendrick played his girlfriend Rebecca (Credit: Sony Pictures Classics / Shutterstock)

Anna Kendrick’s performance stands out for its understated brilliance. Her portrayal of Rebecca, the pregnant girlfriend of the main character John (played by Krasinski), is a refreshing departure from her off-screen persona.

Kendrick’s role as Rebecca is relatively small, preventing audiences from superimposing preconceived notions onto the character. In the movie, Rebecca supports John, who is grappling with the prospect of parenthood while dealing with family issues that prompted his return to his parents’ home.

During an interview on the National Public Radio program ‘Fresh Air,’ while promoting the movie, John Krasinski shared an intriguing anecdote about the casting process. He recounted that Richard Jenkins, one of the actors considered for a role, had sent him an email saying, “Love the script. If you get Margo Martindale, I’ll do it.”

The Hollars stars an ensemble cast led by Krasinski, starring Anna Kendrick, Margo Martindale, and Ashley Dyke as the leading female charactersThe Hollars stars an ensemble cast led by Krasinski, starring Anna Kendrick, Margo Martindale, and Ashley Dyke as the leading female characters (Credit: INFphoto)

At first, Krasinski thought of it as a joke and responded accordingly. However, Jenkins clarified that he was entirely serious, leading to his eventual participation. Consequently, when Margo Martindale agreed to join the cast, Richard Jenkins followed suit, a remarkable turn of events.

In a separate reminiscence, Krasinski harked back to his early acting days. He mentioned his initial professional role as an extra in a Marshalls commercial where Margo Martindale was the lead.

Interestingly, he was upgraded to a “featured player” status during filming, allowing him to interact with Martindale. Despite having no lines, Krasinski humorously noted that he played the role of the guy assisting her in selecting reasonably priced handbags.

Randall Park’s The Office Cameo Connected Him to John Krasinski’s Movie

The movie’s connections extended further as Randall Park portrayed John Krasinski’s character in a memorable episode of the TV series ‘The Office.’ Randall Park played “Steve” in the third episode of the ninth season of The Office, titled “Andy’s Ancestry.”

Steve is an actor friend of Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) who he hires to prank Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) by pretending to be Jim at the Dunder Mifflin office while the real Jim is at the dentist.

Steve even remembers Jim’s actual sales information and kisses Pam Beesly (Jenna Fischer), flabbergasting his “co-worker.”

Randall Park played the character "Steve" in the third episode of the ninth season of "The Office," titled "Andy's Ancestry"Randall Park played the character “Steve” in the third episode of the ninth season of “The Office,” titled “Andy’s Ancestry” (Credit: NBC)

Randall Park portrayed Dr. Fong, Sally’s physician, in the movie “The Hollars.” Another noteworthy detail emerged from the movie’s family names—Don, Ron, and John Hollar—rhyming, a subtle touch that isn’t explicitly highlighted.

Krasinski also shared previous screen time with Josh Groban in The Office. Josh Groban guest-starred as Andy Bernard’s younger brother, Walter Bernard, Jr.

Director John Krasinski and star Anna Kendrick crossed paths on the television game show ‘Lip Sync Battle’ while the film was in progress.

John Krasinski, Margo Martindale, and Sharlto Copley attend the AOL Build Speaker Series to discuss "The Hollars"John Krasinski, Margo Martindale, and Sharlto Copley attend the AOL Build Speaker Series to discuss “The Hollars” at AOL HQ on August 17, 2016 in New York City (Credit: Fernando Lucena / Startraksphoto)

Filming itself spanned multiple locales in Mississippi, including Jackson and the picturesque town of Brookhaven. The Crossroads Film Festival in Madison, Mississippi, marked the movie’s premiere, coinciding with another film shot in Mississippi, ‘The Sound and the Fury.’

The cast’s connections extended beyond this film, as Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Anna Kendrick had appeared together in ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.’ Curiously, Charlie Day’s character in the film is married to Mary Elizabeth Winstead, mirroring his real-life marriage to Mary Elizabeth Ellis.

As for the filming process, scenes set in the airport required significant time, with 17 hours of filming yielding approximately 10 minutes of screen time.

Anna Kendrick Stuns in Sleek Black Jumpsuit at Los Angeles Film Festival

Anna Kendrick graced the premiere of 'The Hollars' at the 2016 Los Angeles Film Festival in a black Narciso Rodriguez flare-leg halter jumpsuit that seamlessly harmonized with her elegant appearanceAnna Kendrick graced the premiere of ‘The Hollars’ at the 2016 Los Angeles Film Festival in a black Narciso Rodriguez flare-leg halter jumpsuit that seamlessly harmonized with her elegant appearance (Credit: FayesVision / WENN)

In June 2016, Anna Kendrick ditched the standard red carpet ensemble for a sleek black jumpsuit at the Los Angeles Film Festival screening of the 2016 American comedy-drama film The Hollars.

The then-30-year-old actress looked sexy and stylish as she walked the red carpet before the premiere.

The Narciso Rodriguez jumpsuit she wore drew attention to her trim waist with the help of a red belt, highlighting her slender frame. A classy, wide-leg silhouette elongated Anna’s legs, adding sophistication to her ensemble.

Anna Kendrick's outfit was accentuated by a striking red belt that provided a captivating contrast at the LA Film Festival premiere of "The Hollars"Anna Kendrick’s outfit was accentuated by a striking red belt that provided a captivating contrast at the LA Film Festival premiere of “The Hollars” in Culver City, California on June 3, 2016 (Credit: FayesVision / WENN)

A halter neckline gave the ensemble a hint of modesty, but the harness back and side cutouts played up the sex appeal of this gorgeous jumpsuit.

Anna Kendrick complemented her ensemble with straight, off-the-shoulder tresses that framed her face with a touch of timeless allure, and a bold red lip added a splash of vibrant colorAnna Kendrick complemented her ensemble with straight, off-the-shoulder tresses that framed her face with a touch of timeless allure, and a bold red lip added a splash of vibrant color (Credit: FayesVision / WENN)

The “Pitch Perfect” star accessorized with some rings and sparkling earrings, holding a geometric clutch that matched her ruby belt.

She kept her brunette locks middle-parted and straight, tucking them behind her ears. Vampy red lipstick, rosy cheek, and dark eyeliner rounded out her sultry look.

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