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Anna Kendrick was born on August 9, 1985, in Portland, Maine. As a child, her high energy level and outgoing personality led her into acting, which also became an interest to her older brother, Michael Cooke Kendrick. Anna Kendrick's acting aspirations took shape on the stage, starting with her debut as Tessie in a 1991 production of

. With that, she was off to the races and had her own talent manager by age 10.

After a stint in a Maine State Music Theatre production of

, Anna Kendrick got her first big break -- she was cast as Dinah in

, which premiered on Broadway in 1999. Anna Kendrick received rave reviews for her role, including a Tony Award nomination (she was the second youngest nominee ever) and awards from the Drama Desk and Theatre World respectively. Anna Kendrick continued her theater work, but also finished her schooling as an honors student at Deering High School.

anna kendrick in camp and rocket science

Just after graduating from high school in 2003, Anna Kendrick was ready to trade in the Broadway stage for the boob tube. She had some experience in television thanks to an appearance on

in 1999, and a new WB pilot called

looked like a promising opportunity. Unfortunately, the show never saw the light of day and was canceled before it ever went to air. Not one to give up, Anna Kendrick simply bought her time until the next opportunity arose.

Later, in 2003, Anna Kendrick found what she needed by landing the role of Fritzi Wagner in

, a movie about a struggling Broadway songwriter who has to start over at a performance camp. Anna Kendrick's supporting turn earned a Best Supporting Actress nod from the Chlotrudis Awards and another for Best Debut Performance at the Independent Spirit Awards. Four years later, she proved her skills were no fluke with a marvelous turn in the comedy

for which she was nominated again at the Independent Spirit Awards, this time for Best Supporting Actress. 

anna kendrick in the marc pease experience and twilight

Anna Kendrick had three films due in 2008 that stretched across genres and likely extended a new branch of fame in her direction.

sends her back into comedy as a young woman caught between a theater director (Ben Stiller) and a former high school musical star (Jason Schwartzman). Switching genres, the thriller

cast Anna Kendrick as a concerned friend who is out to solve the disappearance of her best pal. Last but not least, Anna Kendrick's most-anticipated film of 2008 was the screen adaptation of

, which was based on the vampire novels by Stephenie Meyer. Considered by some to be the next

in terms of popularity, the film made Anna Kendrink a household name, at least with the teen set.

anna kendrink stars in new moon and up in the air

Anna Kendrink reprised her role as Jessica Stanley in the

sequel in November of 2009, cementing her status as a teen star. Nevertheless, it's her latest role in Jason Reitman's

that has the critics talking. With Oscar buzz surrounding the film since the Toronto Film Festival in September of 2009, there's a good chance Kendrick will get an Oscar nod for her role as Natalie, as a newbie corporate downsizer, a role the Reitman wrote with Kendrick in mind before he even asked her to be a part of the film. It doesn't hurt to have George Clooney playing the male lead either.