Anna Kendrick Donated ‘Woman of the Hour’ Salary to Domestic Violence Charities so as Not to Profit Off True Crime

Kendrick also starred in and executive produced her directorial debut.

Anna Kendrick made a point to not profit off of true crime with her directorial debut “Woman of the Hour.”

Kendrick, who also stars in and executive produces the film, donated her salary to organizations RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) and the National Center for Victims of Violent Crime.

“Woman of the Hour” captures the true story of serial killer Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto), who appeared on “The Dating Game” in 1978. Kendrick portrays “The Dating Game” contestant Sheryl Bradshaw who chose Alcala. Prior to his appearance on the reality show, Alcala had served three years in prison for assaulting two underage girls prior to murdering five women under the guise of photographing them for The Los Angeles Times, where he worked.

Kendrick said during the “Crime Junkie AF” podcast in the below video that she did not want to “feel gross” about making money from telling the story of Alcala, who was later convicted of killing five people.

“This was never a money-making venture for me,” Kendrick said. “Eventually, Netflix bought the movie. But it wasn’t until, like, the week before [the movie’s premiere at] TIFF that I thought, ‘Oh, the movie’s going to make money.’ I asked myself the question of, ‘Do you feel gross about this?’ And I did.”

She continued, “So I’m not making money off of the movie. The money is going to — or has gone to — RAINN and to the National Center for Victims of Violent Crime. That felt like the least that I could do.”

Scott Berkowitz, the founder and president for RAINN, told Variety that Kendrick’s donation will benefit the program’s National Sexual Assault Hotline.

“We’re so grateful to Anna Kendrick for her support of RAINN and all survivors, and for being a compassionate storyteller when it comes to raising awareness of sexual violence,” Berkowitz said. “Her donation will help us continue to provide free, 24/7 support through RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline.”

The National Center for Victims of Crime CEO Renée Williams also issued a statement about what Kendrick’s support means for the non-profit.

“In a world where the true crime genre often sensationalizes tragedy, Anna’s work in ‘Woman of the Hour’ stands out as a beacon of compassion and leadership,” Williams said. “By advocating for a victim-centered approach, she is helping to reshape narratives that prioritize the dignity of those affected by crime. Her commitment to uplifting survivor stories reminds us that behind every statistic, and true crime ‘story’ is a human being with a powerful story to tell. Anna’s support sends a strong message that we can engage with hard truths while honoring the experiences of victims and survivors. It’s about creating a culture that listens, validates, and empowers those who have been through unimaginable pain.”

Kendrick previously starred in and executive produced domestic abuse drama “Alice, Darling.” Kendrick started the “Alice, Darling” press tour by detailing her own experience with emotional and psychological abuse by a former partner; she later told IndieWire that “keeping [the abuse] a secret was compounding the shame so badly.”

“It’s not like I thought I was going to sit on it forever, or never mention that I felt a personal connection to the film, but it just sort of happened,” Kendrick said of publicly discussing surviving her past relationship. “I guess, like every really terrifying thing, the world didn’t swallow me whole when that happened. I didn’t just catch on fire. I’m kind of glad the Band-Aid got ripped off.”