Anna Kendrick recently graced London for the 2025 BAFTA Awards and her appearance is making waves for more than just her acting career. The star known for Pitch Perfect and A Simple Favor has long been admired for her talent. Now she is turning heads with a style transformation that is both striking and relatable.
Kendrick openly admitted in a recent interview with ELLE that she never really considered herself a "fashion girl." However her recent red carpet choices especially at the BAFTAs suggest a confident embrace of style and glamour. This BAFTA season became a showcase of Kendrick's evolving fashion sense a journey from feeling outside the fashion loop to finding her own stride on the red carpet.
BAFTA Bulgari Glamour: Anna Kendrick's Georges Chakra Statement
A Plunging Gown with 1920s Hollywood Charm
For the main BAFTA event at London's Bulgari Hotel Kendrick chose an archival Georges Chakra black gown. This was no ordinary dress. Kendrick herself described it as "daring plunging." The dress featured a bold neckline that went down to her "belly button" as she humorously noted. Despite any initial nervousness she radiated confidence in the design.
The gown's inspiration drawn from the 1920s and 1930s Hollywood era was a key element of its appeal. Kendrick expressed her fondness for that period of filmmaking making the vintage-inspi red dress a perfect choice. The classic black color served as an ideal canvas for her stunning Bulgari jewelry selections.
To complement the Georges Chakra gown Kendrick opted for a suite of Bulgari diamonds and emeralds. The centerpiece was a diamond necklace featuring a central 35-carat emerald. Matching earrings and a ring completed the jewelry ensemble. Kendrick highlighted her appreciation for jewelry noting that it "always fits and looks great" removing the sizing anxieties often associated with clothing.
Anna Kendrick's Evolving Fashion Sense: From Not a "Fashion Girl" to Style Stride
Finding Freedom in Personal Style Choices
In her ELLE interview Kendrick openly discussed her past insecurities about fashion. She confessed to feeling pressure early in her career to follow trends and align with emerging designers. However she admitted "frankly I never knew or never found that out." This honesty about navigating the fashion industry as a young actor adds a layer of relatability to her style journey.
Kendrick revealed a turning point in her fashion perspective. Entering her mid-thirties she experienced a sense of liberation. The pressure to adhere to trends faded. She explained "it suddenly occur to me that nobody's checking to see what I'm wearing to see if I'm in the right trends and wearing the right things." This newfound freedom allowed her to prioritize personal comfort and flattery over external expectations. Her philosophy now is simple: "I wear whatever is flattering and makes me feel nice. I guess I wish I'd been doing that the whole time."
Relatable Style Challenges: The Petite Actor's Perspective
Navigating Runway Fashion at 5'2"
Kendrick also touched upon the practical aspects of fashion for someone with her petite frame. Standing at 5'2" she acknowledged that her height significantly influences her clothing choices. She humorously described the potential for "heartbreak" when envisioning outfits from mood boards only to face tailoring challenges. Her self-deprecating humor shone through as she joked about having a "camera roll full of me just doubled over laughing trying to wear trousers that have walked a runway."
This candidness about the realities of dressing a petite body further enhances her relatable persona. She openly questions "I have to wonder if the models and I are the same species" highlighting the often unrealistic standards of runway fashion and acknowledging the common struggles many women face in finding clothes that truly fit.
Classic Hollywood Glam: Hair and Makeup as Battle Armor
"Big Eye" Makeup for Red Carpet Confidence
While clothing can present fitting challenges Kendrick finds more control and enjoyment in hair and makeup. For the BAFTAs she collaborated with Zoe Taylor for makeup and Pete Burkill for hair. The result was a classic Hollywood look further solidifying the vintage glamour of her overall appearance.
Kendrick emphasized the empowering effect of makeup particularly "a big eye." She explained "Especially when I’m wearing a black dress. It makes me feel like I'm ready to interact with a bunch of fancy people who I feel quite intimidated by. Once the eye goes on it makes me feel ready for battle." This "battle armor" analogy reveals the role of makeup as a confidence booster helping her navigate high-pressure red carpet events despite her continued shyness. She added "I’d hoped these feelings of being so nervous before events would have gone away after 15 years of going to them but I still get so shy" reinforcing her down-to-earth nature.
Daring Red Dress Amidst Simple Favor Speculation: A Bold Statement?
Anna Kendrick's Marc Jacobs Moment at BAFTA Nominees Party
Adding another layer to her BAFTA style story was Anna Kendrick 's appearance at the EE BAFTA Film Awards Nominees’ Party . Here she opted for a striking red Marc Jacobs mini dress a departure from the classic black gown of the main event. This "LRD" (little red dress) as it was dubbed by SheKnows offered a "chic spin on the little black dress staple."
The vibrant red color commanded attention. The Marc Jacobs dress praised for its amazing fit showcased Kendrick's figure. Styled again by Jordan Johnson she paired the dress with Bulgari jewelry this time a golden choker gold hoops and a ring. Hairstylist Pete Burkill maintained the slicked-back hair while makeup artist Zoe Taylor intensified the look with a dark smokey eye using Lancôme products.
This red dress appearance arrived amidst swirling rumors of "Simple Favor drama" involving her co-star Blake Lively. While Lively has maintained a low profile Kendrick's bold red carpet presence was interpreted by some as a confident statement. SheKnows declared she "came to turn heads" and was "giving all the femme fatale vibes!" suggesting the daring red dress was perhaps a deliberate move to draw attention and assert her own narrative.
Upcoming Projects: Another Simple Favor and Directorial Aspirations
Teasing the "Crazier" Sequel and Future Behind the Camera
Beyond her fashion moments Kendrick is also generating excitement for her upcoming projects. Most notably she is set to star in Another Simple Favor the sequel to the popular 2018 film alongside Blake Lively. Kendrick expressed her enthusiasm for the movie stating "I'm so excited for that to come out."
She teased the plot of Another Simple Favor promising an even more intense story than the first film. "What I can say about it is that the plot is so much crazier than the first one" she revealed adding "I know that it is going to live up to the promise." She praised director Paul Feig's "very very dark and luscious" mind hinting at the sequel's twisted and engaging nature.
In addition to acting Kendrick shared her aspirations to potentially move into directing. She explained "I'm also trying to find something that I feel really strongly about and would maybe want to direct." She acknowledged the significant commitment and risk involved in directing stating "You have to be so committed to the journey and give two years of your life to that and know that it could be a total disaster because that's the risk you take. Nobody sets out to make a bad movie but lots of movies don't work out like you’d hoped." This ambition suggests a desire for greater creative control and a deeper involvement in filmmaking.
Anna Kendrick: A Red Carpet Revelation and Relatable Star
Anna Kendrick's BAFTA appearances in both black and red served as a powerful demonstration of her style evolution. From her own admission of not feeling like a "fashion girl" she has blossomed into a confident red carpet presence. Her style journey is marked by a shift towards personal comfort and flattering choices over chasing trends. Her relatability remains a key part of her appeal. She openly shares her insecurities her petite-fashion struggles and her ongoing shyness even after years in the spotlight. This blend of glamour and genuine honesty makes Anna Kendrick a truly inspiring and relatable star.