Inventing Anna: Where Are They Now?
I#8: Hunter Lee Soik
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While it’s only speculated that the character of Anna’s boyfriend, Chase Sikorski, is based on the tech entrepreneur, the similarities are pretty uncanny. And according to Instagram, the pair know each other at the very least. Like Chase, Soik’s also known in Ted Talk circles, and his dream database app even appears to be loosely referenced on the show. So far, Soik’s stayed mute on the series, perhaps because he has his hands full with multiple businesses. As of February 2022, his LinkedIn profile notes that he’s the Founder and Executive Chairperson of the ensō group and the Co-Founder and Interim Chief Operating Officer of TRADE X. Otherwise, not much else’s really known about his life today.
I#7: Andrew Lance
The character of Alan Reed was seemingly based on real-life real estate lawyer, Andrew Lance. Anna Sorokin as Anna Delvey approached Lance to help her land the funding for her foundation and apparently tricked him into connecting her with major banks. After closing this dark chapter of his career, Lance continued to work in the same New York City branch of the law firm that first hired him in 1999. He’s had a varied and impressive career that includes representing not-for-profit organizations, handling private estates, and serving as a visiting lecturer at several institutions. He’s been profiled in high esteem by multiple publications and received plenty of honors too. This includes a place on New York Magazine’s list of “New York Area’s Best Lawyers.”
I#6: Kacy Duke
Played by Laverne Cox, Kacy Duke was Sorokin’s personal trainer, whom she befriended. Duke reportedly had many A-list clients over the years, including Dakota Johnson, Bruce Willis, Julianne Moore, and Denzel Washington — she’s represented some big brands too. Duke’s no stranger to television either, with appearances on “The Rachael Ray Show,” “Good Morning America,” “CBS Morning News,” and others. Today, the fitness guru’s still hard at work and enjoys downtime with her grandkids. She is also one of the hosts of the “Real Ass Woman” podcast, which celebrates female entrepreneurs. According to Cox, Duke deserves her own biopic, telling “ET”: “she has lived a life, honey. She has stories.” Spinoff, anyone?
I#5: Rachel DeLoache Williams
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As the series shows, Williams worked as photo editor for Vanity Fair during her friendship with the “SoHo Grifter.” Anna conned her out of $62,000 during the nightmare Moroccan vacation seen in episode 6. So, Williams helped the authorities with their sting operation and testified against Anna in court. She also wrote an essay about her experience for Vanity Fair, and her book, “My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress,” was named one of Time’s “100 Must-Read Books of 2019.” Today, her website lists her as a writer, “freelance photographer, producer, and creative consultant.” Williams has arguably been the series’ most outspoken critic due to the glamorization of its protagonist and the way the story is told.
I#4: Todd Spodek
Spodek was Sorokin’s defense attorney who gave that bizarre speech in court, comparing Sorokin’s story to Frank Sinatra’s. Indeed, he argued that she wasn’t so much a criminal but simply someone who seized an opportunity. Needless to say, the jury wasn’t particularly swayed by his Ol’ Blue Eyes defense. Today, the Brooklyn resident continues to work for the Spodek Law Group P.C. as a criminal defense and family and matrimonial lawyer. It seems that Spodek and Sorokin have since parted ways, as he’s not currently representing her in her latest legal issues. However, Spodek made it back into headlines in 2022 due to his involvement in another high-profile court case.
I#3: Neff Davis
In the series, hotel concierge Neff Davis is portrayed as Anna’s “ride-or-die” — and that’s seemingly true in reality as well. Despite everything, the aspiring filmmaker is still incredibly loyal to the “Soho Grifter” and apparently, stills runs an Instagram account linked to Sorokin. Reportedly, Sorokin once told her that she’d help her make it in the biz and in hindsight, Davis feels that “she kept her word in an evil, dark, twisted, Tim Burton movie way.” Neff served as a paid consultant on the series, and due to her interest in the industry, creator and producer Shonda Rhimes also let her shadow the production team. She now lives in L.A. and supposedly recently finished writing a T.V. script. So, we guess, watch this space!
I#2: Jessica Pressler
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Pressler’s the journalist who uncovered Anna Sorokin’s story. But if you’re only familiar with the Netflix series, you’ll know her better by her fictional counterpart, Vivian Kent. Pressler served as a producer on “Inventing Anna” and has talked about what’s real and what’s dramatized on the series, primarily with respect to how she’s been represented. Still, this wasn’t the only time one of Pressler’s articles got the Hollywood treatment, nor was it the first time she’d been fictionalized on-screen either. Apparently, she’s still writing for New York Magazine and has bylines in Smithsonian, GQ, Elle, and Esquire. If you’re a “Gossip Girl” fan and enjoyed reading episode recaps on “Vulture,” well, that was usually Pressler as well.
I#1: Anna Sorokin
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“Inventing Anna” ends with the “Soho Grifter” behind bars. In May 2019, Sorokin was sentenced to 4-12 years, but in February 2021, she was released on parole for good behavior. Anna only got to enjoy about six weeks of freedom before landing back in custody, this time for overstaying her visa. She’s currently being held in an ICE detention center while she appeals her deportation. To coincide with the Netflix release, “Insider” published an essay written by Sorokin about her current predicament as well as the series. It’s hard to tell if she feels any remorse for her actions, but she certainly doesn’t plan on reflecting on them by watching “Inventing Anna.”