Anna Kendrick on Being a Gay Icon: “I’m Such a Straight, Cis, Boringface McGee Over Here”
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Anna Kendrick has long been celebrated for her wit, charm, and sharp performances in films like Pitch Perfect and A Simple Favor. But over the years, she has also earned an unexpected and endearing title: gay icon. Kendrick herself has expressed surprise at the label, calling it both flattering and humbling. “I’m such a straight, cis, Boringface McGee over here, so I love that that could be even a little true,” she told The Advocate in 2016. “The idea that I’m resonating with other people who have ever felt like outsiders is the coolest.”
Her journey to this status reflects not only her roles on screen but also her personal relationships, openness about identity, and enduring allyship with the LGBTQ community.
A Lifelong Connection to the LGBTQ Community
Kendrick’s relationship with queer culture isn’t superficial — it’s woven into her personal life. “My ten closest friends right now… they’re all gay,” she once remarked, highlighting the depth of those connections. She was exposed to LGBTQ culture early, performing on Broadway at 12 and later living in West Hollywood, where her role in the 2003 indie film Camp made her something of a local mini-celebrity.
Her support has always been outspoken. Recalling her childhood reaction to churchgoers who objected to homosexuality, Kendrick said bluntly: “I was like, ‘Wait, so they’re idiots, right?’” That instinctive rejection of prejudice has carried through her career, shaping her as a vocal ally.
Her affection for the community often shows in lighthearted ways too — like a 2015 Instagram post joking about a “lesbian-only Thanksgiving,” a reflection of how naturally her social world includes queer friends and fans.
Openness to Sexual Fluidity
Kendrick has also been candid about her own experiences that blur traditional boundaries of sexuality. In a 2018 interview with Pride Source, she recalled kissing a woman after high school: “It was the first time I had kissed a girl where it wasn’t just like, we’re at a party and boys are watching! That horrible performance silliness.”
While she identifies as straight, Kendrick admitted she’s had “girl crushes” on women like Blake Lively and Emily Blunt, describing them as a form of “puppy love” — not fully romantic, not purely platonic. “Which isn’t saying it could never happen to me,” she added, reflecting an openness that resonates with fans navigating the complexities of identity.
Roles That Cemented Her Icon Status
Much of Kendrick’s gay icon status also stems from her screen roles. Her Pitch Perfect character Beca inspired a devoted fanbase that passionately “shipped” her with Brittany Snow’s character Chloe, affectionately dubbed “Bechloe.” Kendrick leaned into the fandom herself, once joking that the third film should feature “all-out passionate lovemaking” between the two characters.
Her performance in A Simple Favor further reinforced her connection to queer audiences. Playing opposite Blake Lively, she explored themes of sexual fluidity, with her character’s wide-eyed uncertainty contrasting against Lively’s enigmatic Emily. Together with her campy breakout role in Camp, Kendrick has amassed a résumé that resonates deeply with LGBTQ viewers.
Why She Resonates
At the heart of Kendrick’s appeal is her authenticity. She approaches fame with self-deprecating humor, evident in her memoir Scrappy Little Nobody and in interviews where she frequently pokes fun at herself. That humility, paired with her genuine allyship, makes her approachable in ways that many stars are not.
Ultimately, Kendrick’s status as a gay icon doesn’t come from calculated branding or playing exclusively queer-coded roles. It stems from the way she has embraced her friendships, spoken out against prejudice, and created characters that queer audiences can see themselves in.
As she once put it: “The idea that I’m resonating with other people who have ever felt like outsiders is the coolest.” And in the eyes of her LGBTQ fans, that makes her far more than “Boringface McGee.”
Would you like me to expand this into a cultural commentary piece (looking at why straight celebrities often become queer icons) or keep it as a profile-style feature centered on Kendrick herself?
