To the world, Anna Kendrick is the sharp-witted, Oscar-nominated star of Up in the Air and the pitch-perfect voice of Queen Poppy in Trolls. But in her hometown of Portland, Maine, she wasn’t a silver-screen darling—she was a “hyperactive spy” who made Christmas mornings an endurance test for her family.
Her older brother, Michael Kendrick (an actor known for his role in Looking for an Echo), has shared the “terrifying” secrets of their childhood holidays. While most of Maine was blanketed in a peaceful white snow, the Kendrick household was often in a state of high alert starting at 4:00 A.M.
The 4 A.M. Wake-Up Call: A Brother’s Survival Story
Michael recounts that Anna’s enthusiasm for the holiday was so intense it bordered on a military operation. Long before the sun rose over Portland’s Old Port, Anna would be awake, fueled by what Michael calls her “drama queen” energy.
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The Forced Awakening: Anna didn’t just wake up; she ensured the entire family—including her history-teacher father, William, and accountant mother, Janice—woke up at all costs. She would bounce from room to room, refusing to let anyone sleep until the gift-opening ritual commenced.
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The Spy in the Hallway: One particular year stands out in Michael’s memory. He describes Anna “planning” like a professional spy to infiltrate the room where their parents hid the gifts.
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The Gift Room Breach: Michael recalls her sheer determination: “If Anna wanted to know what was in the box, no one could stop her. She was like a tiny, extremely determined private investigator.”
The Kendrick Traditions: From Victorian Garb to Silent Football
Despite the “terrifying” early starts, the Kendrick family Christmas was deeply rooted in the charm of Maine.
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The Real Santa: Anna’s father, William “Will” Kendrick, was a beloved figure in Portland who actually served as the resident Santa Claus at the local Christmas fair for years—complete with a real, majestic white beard.
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The Old Port Carols: As a member of her high school choir at Deering High, Anna would dress in Victorian garb and go caroling downtown in the Old Port. Her favorite song remains the bittersweet “Good King Wenceslas.”
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The “Nutcracker” Football Ritual: One of the strangest traditions the family maintains involves watching football with the sound off while playing The Nutcracker soundtrack. They do this hoping the plays will once again sync up perfectly with the music—a “miracle” that happened once years ago and has never been repeated.
2025: A Legacy of Maine Magic
As of late 2025, Anna Kendrick’s association with Christmas has moved from the Portland Old Port to the global stage. Her 2019 film Noelle has become a holiday staple, featuring her as the daughter of Santa—a role Michael says isn’t too far off from the festive child he grew up with.
Tragically, the family mourned the passing of their father, William, in late 2022. In 2025, Anna and Michael continue to honor him by sharing these stories, including their annual “war” over a specific Victorian house Christmas ornament from Springer’s Jewelers in Portland—a piece of home they still fight over with the same “drama” as when they were kids.
The story of Anna Kendrick’s “spy missions” serves as a reminder that the ambition seen in her career started in a Maine hallway at 4 A.M. To Michael, she might have been a “terrifying” morning wake-up call, but to the world, she’s the queen of the holidays.