You know how some Hollywood couples just make sense? Like, you see them together and you think, "Yeah, they’re probably debating indie film scores over artisanal coffee." That was the vibe with Anna Kendrick and Ben Richardson. They weren't the type to splash their business across Instagram or call the paparazzi for a "candid" stroll in Malibu.
They were private. Like, really private.
But then, after years of being a low-key power couple, they weren't. The silence that once protected their relationship eventually became the thing that defined its end. Honestly, looking back at the timeline of Ben Richardson and Anna Kendrick, it’s a masterclass in how to date in the limelight without losing your mind—until the cracks started showing.
The Drinking Buddies Meet-Cute
They didn't meet at a fancy gala. No, they met on the set of the 2013 film Drinking Buddies. Anna was starring as Jill, and Ben was the man behind the camera as the cinematographer.
Working together can be a bit of a pressure cooker. It’s long hours, bad coffee, and intense creative energy. Some people hate it. Others, like Kendrick and Richardson, found it was the perfect spark. They didn't jump into things immediately, though. Reports suggest they didn't officially start dating until about a year later, in 2014.
Maybe they wanted to make sure it wasn't just "set magic."
Why the Relationship Stayed Under the Radar
Anna Kendrick has always been open about how much she hates the "celebrity" side of her job. She’s the girl who writes a book called Scrappy Little Nobody. She’s self-deprecating. She’s real.
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Ben Richardson is much the same, just from a different angle. As a cinematographer, his job is literally to stay out of the frame. He’s the guy who made Beasts of the Southern Wild look like a haunting dream and gave Yellowstone its rugged, epic visual language. He’s an artist, not a socialite.
Because of this shared "let’s just do the work" attitude, they managed to stay together for nearly seven years without the tabloids breathing down their necks. You’d see a rare photo of them grabbing coffee or maybe a blurry shot of them at a furniture store. That was it. No red carpet debuts, no "he’s my soulmate" captions.
It worked. For a long time, it really worked.
The Quiet End and the 2020 Shift
Everything changed around 2020.
While the world was shutting down, it seems Kendrick’s world was shifting, too. Fans started noticing that the occasional sightings of Ben had stopped. Then came the rumors. By the time 2022 rolled around, the news broke that Anna was dating Bill Hader.
Naturally, everyone asked: Wait, what happened to Ben?
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The truth is, they broke up sometime in late 2020. Anna eventually hinted at the "nightmare" year that was 2020 in a New Year's Eve post, calling it a "rotted b***h." While she never explicitly blamed the breakup for that sentiment, the timing was hard to ignore.
The Complicated Aftermath
In late 2024, Anna went on the Call Her Daddy podcast and dropped a bit of a bombshell. She spoke about a past seven-year relationship that turned emotionally abusive.
Now, let’s be clear: Anna Kendrick has never named the person she was talking about. She described a situation where her partner’s personality shifted overnight. She talked about feeling like she was "crazy" and "terrorizing" him when, in reality, she was the one being manipulated. She even mentioned that they had created embryos together before things fell apart.
Because her relationship with Ben Richardson lasted almost exactly seven years (2014-2020), many people online started connecting the dots. However, Anna has also dated other people in long-term capacities, including director Edgar Wright.
She has kept the name to herself, likely to protect her own peace.
Where Are They Now?
Life moves on, even in Hollywood.
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Ben Richardson is still a massive deal in the industry. If you’ve watched Mare of Easttown or the Yellowstone prequels like 1883 and 1923, you’ve seen his work. He’s moved into directing more frequently, proving he’s got a vision that extends far beyond just lighting a scene. He’s respected, busy, and still keeping his personal life a total mystery.
As for Anna, she’s in a whole new chapter. By July 2025, it was confirmed that she is dating comedian Alex Edelman. They’ve been seen hitting up low-key spots in Los Angeles, and she’s reportedly even met his mom. It seems she’s sticking to her new rule: no dating anyone who hasn't been to therapy.
Lessons from the Kendrick-Richardson Era
What can we actually learn from this?
First off, privacy is a choice. You can be one of the most famous women in the world and still have a "normal" relationship for years if you really want to. But more importantly, Anna’s later reflections show that just because a relationship looks perfect from the outside—or even feels stable for years—doesn't mean it’s healthy.
If you find yourself following this story, here is what you should take away:
- Trust your gut: Anna mentioned that she ignored red flags because she "trusted him more than herself." If something feels off, it usually is.
- Therapy is a non-negotiable: Taking a page out of Anna’s book, prioritizing mental health and emotional intelligence in a partner isn't "picky"—it's self-preservation.
- Closure is internal: You don't always need a public explanation or a dramatic "tell-all" to move on. Sometimes, just walking away and starting fresh with a comedian is the best revenge.
To keep up with Anna's current projects, keep an eye on the release of Another Simple Favor. If you're more into the technical side of film, go back and watch Wind River—Ben Richardson’s cinematography in the snow is basically a character of its own.