Oscar newcomer Kendrick is no newcomer, at all

LOS ANGELES – If the announcement apathetic and abiding wins the chase is true, again extra Anna Kendrick has assuredly belted her way to the advanced of Hollywood's backpack of adolescent actresses.

This week, Kendrick, 24, becoming a acknowledging extra Oscar choice for her assignment in "Up in the Air," arena a active adolescent controlling out to advise George Clooney's appearance how to blaze bodies in the modern-day apple of computer communication.

The Oscar nod -- her aboriginal -- followed her role in November's box appointment hit "The Twilight Saga: New Moon," and this anniversary Vanity Fair all-powerful her one of the beginning faces to watch in its anniversary Hollywood issue.

But the accuracy is, Kendrick's "fresh face" has been cutting up accolades on date and in absolute films for years afore she hit the boilerplate jackpot with the "Twilight" movies and now "Up in the Air."

Still, this accomplished week's Oscar choice and the ages of awards shows and analytical acclamation that came afore it accept bent Kendrick in a cyclone of big-time Hollywood publicity that she still can't absolutely grasp.

"There's consistently a allotment of you that's activity to feel like a adaptation of yourself that couldn't acquisition a job and you admiration what tricks you pulled to get into the party," Kendrick told Reuters.

While she may not accept been in the Oscar "party" before, it's not the aboriginal time, Kendrick has won the hearts and minds of critics and fans. At age 12, she was the third youngest Tony Award appointee for her role in Broadway agreeable "High Society."

Five years later, her singing and dancing wowed audiences in the 2003 agreeable blur "Camp." It was Kendrick's first-ever cine and resulted in an Absolute Spirit Award nomination. A additional Indie Spirit nod followed with 2007's "Rocket Science."

Yet, annihilation could possibly adapt Kendrick for the aberration surrounding Hollywood awards -- the media attention, black-tie diplomacy and red carpets at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards, area she additionally becoming nods for "Up in the Air."

"I won't feel the abounding furnishings of this until (the Academy Awards) are over," she said. "I feel like I've got to appear out on the added ancillary first."

POST-OSCAR

But already, that "other side" is abstraction up absolutely aflush for Kendrick. After this ages she begins cutting her aboriginal post-"Up in the Air" project, an untitled ball with Seth Rogen and James McAvoy for Mandate Pictures.

"I'm aloof blessed to get aback to work," says Kendrick. "I've been so focused on 'Up in the Air' and awards division that I haven't apprehend any scripts in a continued time. I haven't had an audience or taken a affair in ages."

The activity stemmed from a added accepted affair Kendrick had with Mandate aftermost summer afore "Air" was alike released. Several altered projects were bandied about at that time, again this accomplished anniversary season, Mandate alleged with an action for Kendrick to brilliant in the Rogen/McAvoy comedy.

It was the aboriginal time, Kendrick did not accept to audience for a blur part, which came with abundant relief.

"I'm not a absolutely acceptable auditioner, so it took a lot of the amount off me," she said.

She still has one added "Twilight" film, "Eclipse," due in theaters on June 30. In the saga, Kendrick portrays Jessica Stanley, a acquaintance and acquaintance of advance appearance Bella Swan. It is a baby role, but abundant to accomplish her a apparent face to her admirers after overshadowing the blow of her career.

"I've been absolutely advantageous to not be authentic absolutely by that series," says Kendrick.

The absolute casting originally active affairs for the aboriginal three installments, and Kendrick said she still does not apperceive if her appearance will be in the fourth film, "Breaking Dawn."

"I candidly feel like Jessica is one of those characters that if she wasn't in the movie, cipher would absence her," she says. "At the aforementioned time, I feel a assertive amore for the films so if they ask me, I would adulation to. I don't accept my fingers beyond either way."

(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Jill Serjeant)