Netflix’s limited series Inventing Anna, released in 2022, stands out as one of the streaming platform’s finest offerings and a remarkable success. Crafted by Shonda Rhimes, the show delves into the intriguing true tale of Anna Delvey, also known as Anna Sorokin (played by Julia Garner), a con artist who managed to penetrate the upper echelons of New York City’s elite by masquerading as a wealthy German heiress.
Throughout it’s nine episodes, Anna exploits her fabricated identity to gain entry to the city’s most prestigious events, swindles friends out of thousands of dollars, and even makes an audacious attempt to secure a $40 million loan to launch her own exclusive social club.
The show draws inspiration from the New York Magazine piece titled “How Anna Delvey Tricked New York’s Party People,” authored by Jessica Pressler. The narrative of Inventing Anna centers around a journalist, portrayed by Anna Chlumsky, who endeavors to uncover the Anna Delvey saga and ultimately secure an interview with her while she is incarcerated.
However, in the series, the journalist’s name is altered to Vivian Kent. Jessica Pressler served as a producer for the series and shares several traits with her television counterpart, yet there are significant distinctions between the two.
The Necessity of Crafting Their Own Vivian Kent In Inventing Anna
When Shonda Rhimes initially reached out to Jessica Pressler regarding the optioning and adaptation of her New York Magazine piece on Anna Delvey, the creator of Grey’s Anatomy did not indicate that she saw a reporter as the central character of the series.
Yet, as the development progressed with Netflix, it quickly became clear that this distinctive viewpoint would be the most effective way to narrate the convoluted tale of the deceitful Russian con artist. Pressler stated in a media interview that there was never any conversation about portraying the reporter as a direct reflection of herself.
According to Jessica Pressler, “I believe it was never meant to be me. The show is a work of fiction, and the character serves as a navigator through this universe. When I encountered Anna Chlumsky, she said, ‘I’m not portraying you,’ to which I responded, ‘Fantastic!’ Vivian embodies an exaggerated, all-caps version of my anger, yet it contains elements that are genuinely authentic interwoven within.”
Transforming the reporter into a fictional character inspired by Pressler granted Shonda Rhimes and her team the flexibility to alter different elements of Pressler’s life without being bound to the actual facts. This method is frequently employed in biopics, as it offers writers greater creative latitude and reduces the risk of lawsuits when the narrative strays from absolute truth.
In the context of Pressler, given that Inventing Anna primarily centers on Delvey/Sorokin, there was no necessity for the journalist character to retain Pressler’s real name. Pressler is well-versed in this process. One of her other pieces for New York Magazine, titled “The Hustlers At Scores,” was transformed into the 2019 movie Hustlers.
In this film, Julie Stiles portrays a journalist inspired by Pressler, albeit under a different name. Credit goes to Pressler for recognizing the instinct to utilize a reporter as the perspective through which the audience experiences the narrative.
As per Jessica Pressler, “Although it wasn’t something I desired, I can grasp the motivation behind their actions. Anna is an enigmatic figure, and her time in jail represents a realm that many are unacquainted with. There was a need for a guide to navigate this unfamiliar territory. Having someone to lead you through it and share in the experiences I had is invaluable.”