Inventing Anna
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| Inventing Anna | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Crime drama |
| Created by | Shonda Rhimes |
| Inspired by | "How Anna Delvey Tricked New York's Party People" by Jessica Pressler |
| Starring | |
| Music by |
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| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 9 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Cinematography |
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| Editors |
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| Running time | 59–82 minutes |
| Production company | Shondaland |
| Original release | |
| Network | Netflix |
| Release | February 11, 2022 |
Inventing Anna is an American crime drama television miniseries created by Shonda Rhimes, inspired by the story of Anna Sorokin and the article in New York titled "How Anna Delvey Tricked New York's Party People"[1] by Jessica Pressler. It was produced by Shondaland. Netflix released the miniseries on February 11, 2022.[2][3]
The miniseries stars Julia Garner in the title role. Critics praised its performances (particularly Garner) but criticized its inconsistent tone.
Premise
[edit]Under the assumed name Anna Delvey, Russian-born Anna Sorokin infiltrated New York's high society by convincing them she was a German socialite and an heiress to a massive fortune, all while scheming and scamming them out of millions.
Cast and characters
[edit]Main
[edit]- Anna Chlumsky as Vivian Kent[4]
- Julia Garner as Anna Sorokin/Delvey
- Arian Moayed as Todd Spodek[4]
- Katie Lowes as Rachel Williams[4]
- Alexis Floyd as Neff Davis[4]
- Anders Holm as Jack
- Anna Deavere Smith as Maud
- Jeff Perry as Lou
- Terry Kinney as Barry
- Laverne Cox as Kacy Duke[4]
Recurring
[edit]- Rebecca Henderson as ADA Catherine McCaw
- Kate Burton as Nora Radford
- Saamer Usmani as Chase Sikorski
- Tim Guinee as Paul
- Gabriel Sloyer as Gabriel Calatrava
- Armand Schultz as Landon Bloom
- Anthony Edwards as Alan Reed[5]
Guest
[edit]- Caitlin FitzGerald as Mags
- James Cusati-Moyer as Val
- Marika Domińczyk as Talia Mallay
- Joshua Malina as Henrick Knight
- Christopher Lowell as Noah
- Ben Rappaport as Billy McFarland
- Will Stephen as Martin Shkreli
- Gemma McIlhenny as D.O.C. Officer
- Kieron J. Anthony as Dr. Millikan
- Tracy Pollan as Sherry Reed
Episodes
[edit]This article needs a plot summary. (January 2026) |
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Life of a VIP" | David Frankel | Shonda Rhimes | February 11, 2022 |
| 2 | "The Devil Wore Anna" | Tom Verica | Matt Byrne | February 11, 2022 |
| 3 | "Two Birds, One Throne" | Daisy von Scherler Mayer | Jess Brownell | February 11, 2022 |
| 4 | "A Wolf in Chic Clothing" | David Frankel | Abby Ajayi | February 11, 2022 |
| 5 | "Check Out Time" | Ellen Kuras | Carolyn Ingber Lewinsky and Abby Ajayi | February 11, 2022 |
| 6 | "Friends in Low Places" | Nzingha Stewart | Jess Brownell | February 11, 2022 |
| 7 | "Cash on Delivery" | Nzingha Stewart | Abby Ajayi | February 11, 2022 |
| 8 | "Too Rich for Her Blood" | Tom Verica | Nicholas Nardini | February 11, 2022 |
| 9 | "Dangerously Close" | Ellen Kuras | Matt Byrne | February 11, 2022 |
Production
[edit]In June 2018, Netflix and Shondaland acquired the rights to the life story of Anna Sorokin and the New York article "How Anna Delvey Tricked New York's Party People" by Jessica Pressler, with plans to turn it into a television series with Shonda Rhimes serving as producer and writer, alongside Betsy Beers. Sorokin received $320,000, which was used to pay restitution and legal fees.[6] David Frankel was named as director and executive producer of two episodes of the series, including the first.[7]
In October 2019, Julia Garner, Anna Chlumsky, Katie Lowes, Laverne Cox, and Alexis Floyd joined the cast of the series.[8] Madeline Brewer was set to portray the role of Anna Delvey but had to pass due to scheduling conflicts.[9] Also in October 2019, principal photography began in New York and Los Angeles.[10]
In November 2019, Arian Moayed, Anders Holm, Anna Deavere Smith, Jeff Perry and Terry Kinney joined the cast of the series.[11] In February 2020, Jennifer Esposito joined the cast of the series, but she never appeared and the part of Talia was played by Marika Dominczyk.[12][13]
On February 11, 2022, Inventing Anna premiered on Netflix.[3]
Reception
[edit]Reviews
[edit]On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a 64% approval rating based on 87 reviews, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "While Inventing Anna is as tonally wobbly as Julia Garner's intentionally daffy accent, her committed performance and the salacious story make for juicy entertainment."[14] On Metacritic, the series has a score of 57 out of 100, based on 34 reviews, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[15]
Saloni Gajjar of The A.V. Club gave the limited series a B− and said, "Despite its more evocative performances, Inventing Anna demands patience that doesn't pay off, squandering its promising potential along the way."[16] Reviewing the series for Rolling Stone, Alan Sepinwall gave a rating of 2/5 and described it as "an overly long muddle, never quite sure what it wants to say about its title character, or how to say it."[17]
Mike Hale, television critic at the New York Times, praised some elements of the series and criticized others. Notably, he compared the original thrilling nature of the article to the slower pace of the television series: "Pressler's article was like a speeding car, a thrill ride that kept your pulse up right until it went off a cliff. Inventing Anna is a long, pokey road trip with no G.P.S. All of Pressler's most colorful anecdotes and appalling details have been squeezed in, sometimes tweaked to fit better within what is now a fictional narrative. But the thrill is gone."[18]
Hayley Maitland of Vogue faulted the series for misrepresenting a "Celine-obsessed grifter" as a "21st-century Jay Gatsby, with 281 Park Avenue standing in for Daisy Buchanan". She also noted that the series identified real person Rachel Deloache Williams by full name, real employer, real apartment location, and real alma mater but showed major falsehoods about her, including wearing expensive designer clothes given to her by Anna Delvey, even though Delvey never gave her any clothes; being fired for putting the unexpected $62,000 cost of the trip on her company credit card, even though she transferred the full amount to her personal credit card; and admitting at the courthouse right after giving her testimony that the credit card company had forgiven the debt, even though that did not happen until after the trial was over. Maitland also faults the series for demonizing Williams for doing essentially the same thing a sympathetic character does and points out that Williams is the victim most injured by Delvey.[19]
Audience viewership
[edit]According to Samba TV, 1.6 million US households watched the Netflix series in its first 4 days of streaming.[20]
The series is among Netflix's all-time most watched English language TV series, with 511.92 million hours watched in the first 28 days of release.[21]
Accolades
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Pressler, Jessica (May 2018). "Maybe She Had So Much Money She Just Lost Track of It". thecut.com. New York Magazine. Archived from the original on February 9, 2022.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (July 20, 2018). "Shondaland Unveils Netflix Series Slate: 'The Warmth Of Other Suns', White House Drama 'The Residence', Ellen Pao Project, More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020.
- ^ a b Petski, Denise (November 22, 2021). "'Inventing Anna': Shondaland Netflix Series Gets Premiere Date, First-Look Teaser". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 22, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Wang, Lydia (February 11, 2022). "A Guide to All the Scammers and Scammees of 'Inventing Anna'". Netflix. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022.
- ^ Holmes, Dave (February 11, 2022). "Anthony Edwards Knows Some Good Things Take Time". Esquire. Archived from the original on February 13, 2022.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 8, 2018). "Shonda Rhimes Sets Netflix Series Based On Anna Delvey". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018.
- ^ "NETFLIX AND SHONDALAND UNVEIL CAST OF LIMITED SERIES INVENTING ANNA" (Press release). Netflix. October 31, 2019. Archived from the original on November 4, 2019.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (October 31, 2019). "Anna Chlumsky & Julia Garner Among 5 Cast In Shonda Rhimes' Netflix Series Based On Anna Delvey". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (November 1, 2019). "Madeline Brewer and Keean Johnson to Star in Hulu's 'The Ultimate Playlist of Noise'". Variety. Archived from the original on December 13, 2019.
- ^ "Filming in October: Upcoming Series 'Inventing Anna' in New York". Production List. FTIA. October 16, 2019. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020.
- ^ Otterson, Joe (November 7, 2019). "Shonda Rhimes' Anna Delvey Series at Netflix Adds Five More to Cast". Variety. Archived from the original on December 14, 2019.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (February 5, 2020). "Jennifer Esposito Joins Shonda Rhimes' Netflix Series 'Inventing Anna'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020.
- ^ Lambert, Harper (February 18, 2022). "'Inventing Anna' Cast and Character Guide: Who's Who in the Netflix Show? (Photos)". TheWrap. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022.
- ^ "Inventing Anna: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ "Inventing Anna: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
- ^ Gajjar, Saloni (February 9, 2022). "Netflix's Inventing Anna loses its exciting potential in a dawdling script". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on February 9, 2022.
- ^ Sepinwall, Alan (February 9, 2022). "'Inventing Anna' Can't Catch the Scammer at Its Center". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 9, 2022.
- ^ Hale, Mike (February 10, 2022). "'Inventing Anna' Review: The SoHo Scammer, Explained at Length". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
- ^ Maitland, Hayley (February 28, 2022). "Why Does Inventing Anna Turn Its Victim Into a Joke?". Vogue. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
- ^ "Based on true crime series Inventing Anna & The Dropout score big for Netflix & Hulu". JoBlo. March 10, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
- ^ Moore, Kasey (March 15, 2023). "Most Watched Series & Movies on Netflix of All Time (Hours Watched)". What's on Netflix. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- ^ "2022 HMMA Nominations". Hollywood Music in Media Awards. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
- ^ "Winners: 9th Annual LMGI Awards". Location Managers Guild International. August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
- ^ "MTV Movie & TV Awards: See the full list of winners". CNN. June 6, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
- ^ Snierson, Dan (September 12, 2022). "See the full list of 2022 Emmy winners". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ "2022 Creative Arts Emmys: See full winners list". Entertainment Weekly. September 4, 2022. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ Pedersen, Erik (December 15, 2022). "'Fabelmans', 'Everything Everywhere' & 'Woman King' Lead AARP Movies For Grownups Nominations". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ Pedersen, Erik (October 17, 2022). "Artios Awards TV Nominations: Netflix & HBO/Max Lead Field For Casting Society". Deadline. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
- ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (January 15, 2023). "Critics Choice Awards: Full List of Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 16, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (January 10, 2023). "Severance, Station Eleven, The Daily Show Lead 2023 DGA Awards Television Nominations". Variety. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
- ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (January 10, 2023). "Golden Globes: Full List of Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ Verhoeven, Beatrice (January 12, 2023). "Producers Guild Awards 2023 Film and TV Nominations Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
- ^ Moreau, Jordan (January 11, 2023). "SAG Awards 2023 Nominations: The Complete List". Variety. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
External links
[edit]Inventing Anna
View on GrokipediaBackground
Real-life inspiration
Anna Sorokin, born on January 23, 1991, in Domodedovo, Russia, grew up in a working-class family; her father was a truck driver who later started a heating and cooling business, and her mother worked in retail.[8] In 2007, at age 16, her family relocated to Eschweiler, Germany, where she attended school and later studied fashion at the University of the Arts Bremen before interning in Paris and London.[9] Sorokin arrived in New York City in 2013, initially interning for the fashion magazine Purple, and by 2016, she had adopted the alias "Anna Delvey," presenting herself as a wealthy German heiress with access to a €60 million family trust fund.[10][11] Under this persona, Sorokin engaged in a series of confidence schemes between 2013 and 2017, defrauding individuals, businesses, and financial institutions of approximately $275,000.[12] She forged bank statements and wire transfer documents to secure a $100,000 line of credit from City National Bank, which she used for personal expenses without repayment.[13] Sorokin also accrued unpaid bills at luxury hotels, including over $30,000 at the 11 Howard in SoHo—where she resided for nearly a year—and more than $11,000 at the Beekman Hotel in downtown Manhattan, often promising payment via fraudulent checks or wire transfers that never materialized.[11][14] Additionally, she attempted to obtain a $22 million loan from Fortress Investment Group to fund the Anna Delvey Foundation, a proposed private arts club in Manhattan, again using fabricated financial proofs of her supposed inheritance.[15] Sorokin further exploited personal relationships, scamming acquaintances such as photo editor Rachel DeLoache Williams out of $62,000 for a lavish group trip to Morocco and leaving unpaid tabs and loans totaling tens of thousands from friends and associates in New York's social scene.[11][16] Sorokin's deceptions unraveled in 2017 amid mounting complaints from hotels and victims. In July 2017, she was briefly arrested in New York for theft of services after failing to pay bills at the Beekman and W New York hotels, but she was released on bail.[17] Fleeing to California, she was apprehended on October 3, 2017, in Los Angeles through a sting operation orchestrated by the Manhattan District Attorney's office, where undercover officers posed as potential employers to lure her out.[18] Extradited to New York, Sorokin faced charges including grand larceny, attempted grand larceny, and theft of services. Her 2019 trial in Manhattan Supreme Court resulted in convictions on eight counts—four for theft of services, three for grand larceny, and one for attempted grand larceny—leading to a sentence of four to twelve years in prison, a $24,000 fine, and an order to pay $199,000 in restitution to her victims.[19][20] The story gained widespread attention through journalist Jessica Pressler's May 2018 New York magazine article, "Maybe She Had So Much Money She Just Lost Track of It," which detailed Sorokin's schemes after Pressler received tips from a former acquaintance, Rachel DeLoache Williams, and conducted interviews with Sorokin at Rikers Island, her family in Germany, and multiple victims.[11] The piece, which went viral and was named a finalist for the National Magazine Award, inspired a book deal and the Netflix series adaptation, though Pressler received no compensation from Sorokin for her reporting.[21] In 2019, Sorokin sold the life rights to her story to the series' creators for $320,000, a portion of which—$199,000—was applied toward her court-ordered restitution, with the remainder covering fines and legal fees.[22][23]Post-series developments
Anna Sorokin, known as Anna Delvey, was released from prison on February 11, 2021, after serving nearly four years for her fraud convictions, having been granted early release on good behavior and after paying full restitution using proceeds from the Netflix series Inventing Anna. Six weeks later, in March 2021, she was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for overstaying her visa, remaining in immigration custody for 18 months until October 7, 2022, when she posted a $10,000 bond and was transferred to 24-hour house arrest in a one-bedroom East Village apartment in New York City, required to wear an electronic ankle monitor.[24][25][26] Throughout 2023 and into 2025, Sorokin continued to contest her deportation to Germany, where her family resides, arguing against removal due to potential risks and her established U.S. ties; by 2024, she received work authorization from the Department of Homeland Security, enabling employment opportunities despite the ongoing proceedings. In September 2024, Sorokin participated in season 33 of Dancing with the Stars, performing two dances while wearing her ankle monitor; she was the first contestant eliminated and later described the experience as "predatory" and exploitative for ratings.[27] As of May 2025, she relocated to a luxury Manhattan apartment in the same high-rise building housing Elon Musk's young son and his mother, Ashley St. Clair, while remaining under ICE supervision with restrictions on travel beyond New York City limits. Her deportation case persisted into late 2025, with no final resolution by November, allowing her to stay in the U.S. temporarily but facing continued legal oversight and no new criminal charges tied to her prior offenses.[28][29][30] Sorokin maintained a visible public presence, actively posting on her Instagram account (@theannadelvey), which amassed over 1 million followers and featured updates through November 2025, including fashion and personal content that capitalized on her notoriety amplified by the series. In September 2024, she walked the runway for designer Shao Yang's Spring/Summer 2025 collection at New York Fashion Week, visibly sporting her ankle monitor as a stylistic element. By March 2025, following the easing of her house arrest restrictions, she described her post-confinement life as "exciting" in an interview, highlighting newfound freedoms like daily outings and social engagements. In September 2025, Sorokin revealed a 40-pound weight loss achieved through consistent four-mile walks, healthier eating, and wellness treatments, sharing her transformed appearance in media appearances and social posts.[31][32][33][34] To sustain herself financially, Sorokin pursued ventures including the sale of her artwork—such as paintings and drawings often depicting herself—which generated over $340,000 by December 2022 and continued to sell through galleries into 2025. She obtained a Social Security number in 2024, facilitating legitimate work amid deportation threats, and explored media opportunities like a planned memoir, television projects, and influencer partnerships in public relations. These efforts, bolstered by her enduring fame from Inventing Anna, positioned her toward building a personal brand focused on lifestyle and redemption narratives.[35][36][37]Synopsis
Premise
Inventing Anna is a nine-episode miniseries that centers on journalist Vivian Kent's investigation into Anna Delvey, a young woman who poses as a wealthy German heiress while perpetrating elaborate scams against New York's social elite.[38] The narrative explores Anna's rise through high society, her relationships with influential figures, and her eventual arrest and trial, all presented through a non-linear structure that interweaves Vivian's present-day reporting with flashbacks to Anna's past deceptions.[39] Vivian's pursuit of the story is complicated by her own professional pressures and personal life, including her pregnancy, as she seeks to uncover the truth behind Anna's fabricated identity.[2] The series depicts specific cons orchestrated by Anna, such as extended unpaid stays at luxury hotels, chartering private jets under false pretenses, and soliciting funds for her proposed art foundation, the Anna Delvey Foundation.[39] These schemes culminate in her arrest for grand larceny and the ensuing courtroom drama, where witnesses from her social circle testify against her.[38] Narrated primarily from Vivian's perspective, the storyline balances the journalist's quest for accuracy with the moral ambiguities of profiling a charismatic fraudster.[40] Key themes include deception and the ease with which ambition can blur into fabrication, particularly within privileged circles where appearances hold sway.[2] The series also examines the blurred lines between truth and invention in journalism, alongside gender dynamics in both fraud and media, portraying how societal expectations influence women's paths to power.[40] The tone blends glamour and tension with ironic undertones, capturing the opulent yet precarious world of New York's elite through stylish visuals and sharp dialogue.[39] Stylistic elements like fourth-wall breaks and on-screen text annotations distinguish factual elements from dramatized fiction, enhancing the meta-commentary on storytelling itself.[2]Episodes
Inventing Anna is a nine-episode miniseries that was released in its entirety on Netflix on February 11, 2022.[38] Each episode runs between 59 and 82 minutes, contributing to a total runtime of approximately 602 minutes (10 hours and 2 minutes).[38] The series utilizes a split-timeline format, interweaving journalist Vivian Kent's contemporary investigation with flashbacks detailing Anna Delvey's schemes in New York City.[41]Episode list
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Life of a VIP | David Frankel | Shonda Rhimes | February 11, 2022 | Reporter Vivian Kent defies her editor to pursue the story of Anna Delvey, an alleged German heiress indicted for grand larceny and jailed without bail.[38][42] |
| 2 | The Devil Wore Anna | Tom Verica | Matt Byrne | February 11, 2022 | Anna's glamorous lifestyle comes into focus as her former friends share details with Vivian, from a yacht off Ibiza to a suite at Paris Fashion Week.[38][43] |
| 3 | Two Birds, One Throne | Daisy von Scherler Mayer | Jess Brownell | February 11, 2022 | With Anna uncooperative, Vivian seeks out Anna’s ex-boyfriend Chase and wealthy entrepreneur Nora to fill in the blanks.[38][44] |
| 4 | A Wolf in Chic Clothing | David Frankel | Abby Ajayi | February 11, 2022 | Vivian investigates how Anna persuaded Manhattan lawyer Alan Reed to help her secure millions for her business venture.[38][45] |
| 5 | Check Out Time | Ellen Kuras | Carolyn Ingber | February 11, 2022 | Vivian explores Anna’s stay at a swanky hotel, where she befriended and tipped concierge Neff, while grappling with a past mistake.[38][46] |
| 6 | Friends in Low Places | Nzingha Stewart | Jess Brownell | February 11, 2022 | Vivian obtains footage of Anna’s chaotic Morocco trip with Rachel, Kacy, and a videographer.[38][47] |
| 7 | Cash on Delivery | Nzingha Stewart | Abby Ajayi | February 11, 2022 | Pressured to finish her article and nearing her due date, Vivian tries to contact Rachel about the Marrakech fiasco.[38][48] |
| 8 | Too Rich for Her Blood | Tom Verica | Nicholas Nardini | February 11, 2022 | Post-publication, Vivian digs into Anna’s German roots and her stay at L.A.’s Chateau Marmont.[38][49] |
| 9 | Dangerously Close | Ellen Kuras | Matt Byrne | February 11, 2022 | Anna focuses on her trial style as Vivian covers the proceedings, Rachel testifies, and defense lawyer Todd urges cooperation.[38][50] |