Inventing Anna

Inventing Anna
Title	Inventing Anna
Genre	Drama
Creator	Shonda Rhimes
Based on	How Anna Delvey Tricked New York's Party People by Jessica Pressler
Starring	Julia Garner Anna Chlumsky Katie Lowes Laverne Cox Arian Moayed Anders Holm Alexis Floyd Jeff Perry
Country	United States
Language	English
Network	Netflix

Inventing Anna is an American television drama miniseries created by Shonda Rhimes for the streaming service Netflix. The series dramatizes the story of Anna Sorokin, a Russian-born con artist who posed as a German heiress under the name Anna Delvey to defraud New York City's social elite and financial institutions. It is based on the 2018 ''New York'' article "How Anna Delvey Tricked New York's Party People" by journalist Jessica Pressler.

Plot

The narrative unfolds through the investigation of Vivian Kent, a fictionalized version of Jessica Pressler working for a magazine called Manhattan. Kent delves into the case of Anna Delvey, who is awaiting trial for grand larceny and theft of services. Through flashbacks, the series depicts Delvey's arrival in New York City, her infiltration of high society, and her elaborate schemes to secure a multi-million dollar loan for a members-only arts club, the Anna Delvey Foundation. Her cons involve defrauding luxury hotels like the 11 Howard and Beekman Hotel, financial institutions, and wealthy friends, including heiress Rachel DeLoache Williams and trainer Kacy Duke. The plot interweaves her trial preparation with her attorney, Todd Spodek, and the unraveling of her fabricated identity.

Cast and characters

The ensemble cast is led by Julia Garner as the enigmatic Anna "Delvey" Sorokin. Anna Chlumsky portrays the determined journalist Vivian Kent. Katie Lowes plays Rachel DeLoache Williams, a photo editor at ''Vanity Fair'' who becomes a victim. Laverne Cox appears as celebrity fitness trainer Kacy Duke. Arian Moayed stars as Anna's defense attorney, Todd Spodek. Supporting roles include Anders Holm as Vivian's husband, Jack; Alexis Floyd as the ambitious neophyte Neff Davis; and Jeff Perry as Lou, Vivian's editor. Notable guest stars include Terry Kinney as Barry, the head of the City National Bank underwriting team.

Production

The series was created and executive produced by Shonda Rhimes through her production company Shondaland, marking her first major project under a lucrative overall deal with Netflix. Betsy Beers also served as an executive producer. The showrunner was Shondaland veteran Matt Byrne. Filming took place primarily in New York City, with locations including the Manhattan Supreme Court and various upstate New York locales standing in for Rikers Island. The production meticulously recreated the aesthetic of Anna Delvey's world, including her distinctive wardrobe and the interiors of high-end hotels.

Release

All nine episodes of the series were released globally on Netflix on February 11, 2022. The release was accompanied by a significant marketing campaign, including features in publications like The New York Times and interviews with the cast on programs such as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The launch capitalized on the ongoing public fascination with the real-life case, which had been covered extensively in media like the BBC and The Cut.

Reception

Critical reception was mixed, with praise for Julia Garner's performance and the series' entertainment value but criticism for its length and narrative focus. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported a 64% approval rating. The show was a significant viewership success for Netflix, topping the Nielsen ratings streaming charts for several weeks following its release. It received a nomination for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards, with Julia Garner winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.

Real-life inspiration

The series is directly adapted from the article by Jessica Pressler published in ''New York'' magazine. The central figure, Anna Sorokin, was convicted in New York State Supreme Court in 2019 on multiple counts of grand larceny and theft of services. Her crimes involved defrauding banks, hotels, and individuals, and she was sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison. Key real-life figures depicted include her defense lawyer Todd Spodek, friend and victim Rachel DeLoache Williams, and former friend Neffatari Davis. Sorokin was released on parole in 2021 but later detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Category:2022 American television series debuts Category:2022 American television series endings Category:American drama television series Category:English-language television shows Category:Netflix original programming Category:Shondaland Category:Television series about crime Category:Television series based on magazine articles Category:Television series about journalists