She studied in London and interned in Paris, where she started using the name ‘Delvey’, before relocating to New York. In reality, Sorokin was born in Russia and moved to Germany aged 15.
If you are into true crime mixed with "life styles of the rich and famous", I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.Inventing Anna, the first show to come from the blockbuster deal between Netflix and great television creator Shonda Rhimes ( Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder), boasts at the start of every episode that is “This whole story is completely true, except for all the parts that are totally made up”.Įven this disclaimer has the tongue-in-cheek shady tone of Anna Delvey, the con artist pen name of Anna Sorokin (Julia Garner), a middle-class Russian immigrant who successfully scammed her way into the New York City social elite by pretending to be a rich German heiress. "Inventing Anna" premiered on Netflix a few days ago, and all 9 episodes are now ready to be binged if you are so inclined. After having seen the first three episodes last night, I thought to myself "Am I really gonna spend time to watch 6 more episodes of this?" I honestly don't know as of now. Leave out the fluff, and instead it should've made a terrific 3 or 4 part mini-series. Second, at a running time of almost 10 hours, the mini-series is too long for its own good. So what this means is that we have no idea what parts are based on the real life story of Anna Delvey, and what is "totally made up". But two things hold this mini-series back: first, I am bothered by the disclaimer that opens each episode that "all is true, except where it isn't". And Julia Garner ("Ozark") is terrific in the lead role. Who is she? A German heiress with unlimited funds from her trust? A skilled con woman out to connive Manhattan's high society? Both? More? This mini-series spares no expenses, and we get a lot of "the life styles of the rich and famous" type stuff. Here she uses an article from New York magazine to bring a sprawling look at the real life story of this mysterious Anna Delvey a/k/a Anna Sorokin. Couple of comments: this is the latest brainchild from Shonda Rhimes ("Grey's Anatomy", "Bridgeton"). At this point we are 15 min into Episode 1. She pitches the idea of doing a deep dive on this Anna Delvey to the magazine, and goes off to Rikers to meet Anna in person. In a parallel story line, we are introduced to Vivian Kent, a struggling writer at Manhattan Magazine and who happens to be pregnant with her first child. Except the parts that are totally made up." We then go to "November 20, 2017" as Anna Delvey is charged in a New York court with various crimes and remanded to Rikers Island. As "Inventing Anna" (2022 release 9 episodes ranging 60 to 80 min each) opens, we are reminded that "This whole story is completely true.