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Everything We Know About Netflix's Anna Delvey Drama

Everything We Know About Netflix's Anna Delvey Drama

This is the most exciting bit of TV news we've had in a long time.

Ciara Sheppard

Ciara Sheppard

Hearing the story of Anna Delvey, you wouldn't be amiss to feel as if you were being told the plot to an Ocean's 8 sequel.

But incredibly, this stranger-than-fiction story - about a Russian-born con artist who traversed New York as a fake heiress and swindling hotels and socialites out of thousands - is true.

It's so wild in fact that Netflix have scooped the rights for a drama series based on the character, helmed by Shonda Rhimes.

Here's everything we know about Inventing Anna so far.

Anna during a trip to Venice in 2015, as posted on her Instagram (
@theannadelvey/Instagram)

So firstly, who is Anna Delvey and what did she do?

Anna Delvey is a fake identity created by Russian-born fraudster Anna Sorokina.

Born in a small town near Moscow, Sorokina moved to New York in 2013 and assumed the identity of Anna Delvy, a so-called wealthy German heiress sitting on a €60 million fortune.

In the years that followed, Sorokina assimilated herself into the New York social scene, conning them out of thousands as she went.

Under the pretence she was an heiress, she'd stay in trendy hotels with newfound acquaintances, eat at award-winning restaurants, and regularly visit spas and salons.

Anna documented her lavish lifestyle on Instagram (
@theannadelvey/Instagram)

Sorokina would get her new acquaintances to foot enormous bills towards lavish holidays and trips they took together, claiming she'd checked her wallet with her luggage or guilting friends into paying by saying her card had been declined.

The con artist would tell them she had difficulty moving her assets overseas and would laugh off her forgetfulness when they hounded her for their money back.

The story about how her family had acquired their fortune would change freeflowingly. To one person, her father was annul executive, to another he was a German diplomat, and to others a solar panel magnate.

She'd create wild stories about how she was planning to lease the historic Church Missions House in New York as a studio and events space and set up an art foundation with her family trust.

Anna with friends in New York (
@theannadelvey/Instagram)

Eventually, Sorokina was caught up with by police and arrested in 2017.

In 2019, she was convicted of multiple counts of attempted grand larceny, theft of services, and larceny in the second degree. She was sentenced to between four and 12 years for her crimes.

In total, Sorokina - who came to be known as the Soho Grifter - is thought to have scammed friends and New York businesses out of $275,000 (£220,000).

Anna Sorokina during trail in 2018 (
Shutterstock)

During trial, Sorokin's lawyer Tod Spodek said in his opening statement: "Sinatra said, 'I'll make a brand new start of it in old New York, if I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere' because the opportunities in New York are endless.

"Anna had to kick down the door to get her chance at life. Just like Sinatra had to do it his way, Anna had to do it her way."

Currently serving time at Albion Correctional Facility in Albion, New York, Sorokina told the New York Times from prison: "I'd be lying to you and to everyone else and to myself if I said I was sorry for anything," and that she'd do it all again.

What is Inventing Anna based on?

Inventing Anna will be based on the New York Magazine article 'How Anna Delvey Tricked New York's Party People' by Jessica Pressler.

Pressler's expose became a viral hit when it was published in 2018 as Sorokina awaited trail.

The official synopsis for Inventing Anna reads: "A journalist with a lot to prove investigates the case of Anna Delvey, the Instagram-legendary German heiress who stole the hearts of New York's social scene - and stole their money as well.

"But is Anna New York's biggest con woman or is she simply the new portrait of the American dream?"

According to Netflix, the drama will focus on the journalist investigating the case of Anna Delvey (loosely based on Pressler) and their "funny love-hate bond" as Anna awaits trial.

Who has been cast in Inventing Anna?

Excitingly, Julia Garner - best known for playing Ruth Langmore in Ozark - will be taking on the role of Anna Delvey.

In 2019, Garner won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series - so we're in good hands.

Julia Garner (seen here in 'Dirty John') will be playing Anna Delvey (
Bravo)

The series also stars Anna Chlumsky (Veep) as 'Vivian', Katie Lowes (Scandal) as 'Rachel', Laverne Cox (Orange Is The New Black) as Kacy Duke', Alexis Floyd (The Bold Type) as 'Neff', Arian Moayed (Succession) as 'Todd'.

Also starring is Anders Holm (Workaholics) as 'Jack', Anna Deavere Smith (For The People, Notes From The Field, Nurse Jackie) as 'Maud', Jeff Perry (Grey's Anatomy, Dirty John, Scandal) as 'Lou' and Terry Kinney (Billions) as 'Barry'.

Grey's Anatomy's Shonda Rhimes is show running, while the series is being directed by The Devil Wears Prada's David Frankel.

What. A. Lineup.

When is Inventing Anna coming?

Unfortunately, there's not release date as of yet, but we're praying Netflix don't keep us waiting too long.

Is there a trailer for Inventing Anna?

Not yet! But we will let you know as soon as there is. We cannot wait to get our first glimpse of Julia Gardner in character.

This is the most exciting bit of TV we've caught wind of in a looooong time. Buzzing.

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock

Topics: TV News, TV Entertainment, Netflix