Anna Kendrick Recalls Nerve-Wracking Sick Duet with Justin Timberlake at Cannes

Anna Kendrick recently reflected on the pressure of performing while unwell alongside Justin Timberlake during the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. The duo sang a stripped-down rendition of Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors while promoting their animated film Trolls.

Speaking on Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard on December 20, Kendrick, 39, described it as one of the toughest yet most unforgettable moments of her career. Both she and Timberlake were sick at the time, adding to the challenge of singing live.

“He’s so sweet, and we were both really, really sick. But he is one of the great all-time pop recording artists,” Kendrick said, acknowledging Timberlake’s musical expertise.

She recalled the duo drilling the song repeatedly to prepare. However, moments before their performance, Timberlake’s impromptu vocal warm-up left Kendrick anxious. "I went, ‘Are you gonna do it like that?’ And he was like, ‘No, no, no, no, no. It’s fine!’"

Despite her nerves, Kendrick called the experience “surreal,” labeling it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share the stage with Timberlake at Cannes.