Anna Kendrick, both star and director of Netflix’s latest hit Woman of the Hour, has donated her entire salary from the film, revealing she felt “gross” about profiting from its dark storyline. Kendrick’s decision was inspired by the film’s real-life basis on Rodney Alcala, a notorious serial killer known as the “Dating Game Killer.” Alcala’s chilling crimes involved luring women to remote areas under the guise of photography before brutally assaulting and murdering them.
Woman of the Hour centers on Alcala’s infamous appearance on The Dating Game during his killing spree. Kendrick portrays Sheryl Bradshaw, the contestant who narrowly avoided becoming his victim after feeling uneasy about him post-show. The film’s intense themes led Kendrick to donate her earnings to nonprofits RAINN and the National Center for Victims of Crime, supporting victims of violent crime.
In interviews, Kendrick shared how the film’s subject brought up tough ethical questions, particularly given her personal history with abuse. She wanted Woman of the Hour to keep the focus on victims, not the killer. Social media users widely praised her choice, noting it underscores Kendrick’s empathy and integrity as both a creator and advocate.
