Anna Kendrick Gave Away Her Netflix Paycheck—Here’s the Emotional Truth Behind Why
When Woman of the Hour premiered on Netflix, it was pitched as Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut and a chilling dramatization of one of America’s most twisted serial killers. But behind the streaming queues and press interviews,
Kendrick quietly made a decision that stunned Hollywood insiders: she donated every cent of her earnings from the film. Not because of PR pressure. Not because of optics. But because keeping the money, as she later admitted, made her feel “sick.”
The film centers on Rodney Alcala, a convicted serial killer who murdered at least eight women and bizarrely appeared as a contestant on The Dating Game during his killing spree. Kendrick stars as Sheryl Bradshaw, the woman Alcala unsuccessfully tried to charm on national television—and whose instincts likely saved her life.
But Kendrick wasn’t just acting. She was also directing. And more importantly—she was grappling with the uncomfortable implications of telling a story rooted in trauma.
“It hit me all at once,” Kendrick revealed on the Crime Junkie AF podcast. “We were at TIFF, Netflix had acquired the film, and someone mentioned profits. And I remember just thinking, ‘Wait… I don’t want that money.’”
Turning Discomfort into Action
Kendrick said the very idea of making money off a story that emerged from so much pain sat heavily with her. She wrestled with the ethics of monetizing a film that, though sensitively handled, was still tied to real suffering.
“I asked myself, ‘Would I be okay cashing that check?’ And I wasn’t,” she said. “It wasn’t even a debate. I just knew.”
So she gave it away—all of it.
Her entire paycheck from Woman of the Hour was donated to two national organizations: RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) and the National Center for Victims of Violent Crime. Both nonprofits provide support services, legal advocacy, and trauma resources for survivors of assault, domestic violence, and homicide-related grief.
“It felt like the only way I could reconcile telling this story,” Kendrick explained.
Personal History in the Spotlight
What makes Kendrick’s decision even more profound is how it ties into her own past. In a rare moment of openness, she previously spoke about enduring an emotionally abusive relationship—one that deeply impacted how she viewed herself, the industry, and the silent suffering of others.
“The abuse wasn’t always loud,” she told The Independent. “It was quiet—dismissive glances, denial, gaslighting. People saw it and still acted like nothing was wrong.”
Her comments resonated deeply with those who’ve lived through similar experiences, especially her description of subtle signals others dismiss:
“Someone touches you in a way that looks harmless. But you can feel it—like the air changes. That’s fear, and it’s real.”
From Performance to Purpose
While the film has earned praise for its tone and restraint, Kendrick’s real impact may lie off-screen. Her decision to redirect her earnings shows a rare fusion of ethics and empathy—something often lost in the glare of Hollywood.
“She didn’t have to do this,” wrote one commenter online. “But she did. And it tells you everything about who she is.”
The Bigger Picture
Woman of the Hour could have been just another entry in the endless cycle of true-crime adaptations. Instead, it became something more—a platform for change, reflection, and respect.
With her bold gesture, Anna Kendrick set a powerful example: that art, even when it reflects horror, can be a vehicle for healing. And that doing the right thing doesn’t always come with applause—but it should come with respect.
The film is now streaming on Netflix. The message behind it lingers long after the credits roll.