DOUBLE TALK With co-stars Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively
Teaming up for the mystery thriller ‘A Simple Favour’ the co-stars talk about stardom, swear jars and social media showdowns
Looking in on Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively is a front-row seat to a battle of wits. The co-stars in the new thriller A Simple Favour say they bonded over their love of sarcasm, cookie decorating videos and NSFW language. “Can you imagine how loaded you’d be if you had a swear jar?” jokes Lively, 31. “It’s not like you have to give it to somebody,” says Kendrick, 33. “Oh, maybe people give it to charity. That would never occur to me because I’m a bad person.”
What were your first impressions of each other? KENDRICK We were 18 or 19 and at a party, and I remember thinking, “God, she’s tall.” I liked her immediately, and I still do. LIVELY She was in this movie Rocket Science and she was so great. I met her and I was a little geeked out. Then she did a movie with my husband [Ryan Reynolds] years later and I thought, “Oh, she must be an a--hole now.” KENDRICK Because I’m a big star. LIVELY But then you said something nice about [me] in an interview. It means more when someone is nice behind your back. KENDRICK I try to only be nice behind someone’s back. I would never be nice to your face. Anna, your character in the film is a mummy blogger. Do you two follow any bloggers? KENDRICK I love parenting advice, for my imaginary children. I just like to feel bad about myself. LIVELY I love thinking about how their house looks in the image, and then filling in the blanks of what it actually looks like behind that perfect shot. KENDRICK For a minute we were sending each other videos of other people decorating cookies, because it’s so satisfying to watch. You both seem to have mastered social media. What’s your trick? KENDRICK I like to manufacture relatable situations because my life is just effortlessly chic all the time. I’m fabulous. I’m wealthy. I have everything figured out, so I’ll google “How to be a normal person.” Blake, who is funnier on social media, you or your husband? LIVELY Oh, for sure me. KENDRICK She writes all of his copy. If you could star in one of each other’s movies, what would it be? LIVELY Pitch Perfect, Into the Woods, there are so many. I could take her voice of an angel. I’m hurt by the fact that I cannot sing. It really hurts my soul. KENDRICK The Shallows was cool, but would I get to have the Blake tan? Because this in a bathing suit would be a real challenge for a director of photography – so much white bounce. It’s just not good. I will break cameras. I will blind people. Anna, you playfully called out Ryan Reynolds when you beat him for favourite Twitter Personality at the Teen Choice Awards. Has there been any retaliation? KENDRICK I’m sorry, playfully? I was dead serious. I’m ready to get in a knife fight with that dude. No, I obviously think he is extremely funny. It’s one of those awards that is silly and we’re all having fun, but also I took it really seriously. So it was a great day for me.
“I liked her immediately, and I still do” — Anna Kendrick