Sean Baker knew he wanted the Russian actor Yura Borisov for his new film even before he’d written the script that would become “Anora.”
“I saw him in ‘Compartment No. 6’ at Cannes in 2021 and immediately fell in love — I could just see what an amazing actor he was,” says the director, who cites Spike Lee as his influence for his constant use of “fresh faces” in films like “Tangerine,” “Florida Project” and “Red Rocket.”
Baker knew the film would be “setting up stereotypes and then shattering them,” so he needed a henchman who was a “teddy bear” underneath. When he watched more of Borisov’s movies he knew his instinct was right. “His performances had that sensitivity, a lot of that emotion going on behind his outer shell.”
Borisov earned a BAFTA nomination, a Golden Globe nomination, a Critics Choice nom and other accolades.
Borisov had no idea who Baker was when the acclaimed director reached out. “I said, ‘Where can I see your movies?’ And he sent me some links,” Borisov recalls. He was immediately sold. “I could feel Sean’s soul in these movies. So even though he didn’t have a script, I said, ‘Let’s go.’”
Borisov loved how collaborative the director was, saying, “He kept asking me about my character, never saying, ‘You must do this or go that way. There was a lot of freedom and the whole cast did it together.”
Baker says that approach paid dividends small and large. Borisov was the one who recommended fellow Russian Mark Eydelshteyn for the leading role of Vanya. And while Borisov’s Igor didn’t have much dialogue, Baker says Borisov came up with minor details to reveal his character — that the endlessly chaotic day at the center of the film was his birthday, or that in the memorable diner scene he’d be hungrily shoving a hamburger into his mouth the entire time.
“He’s a genius,” Baker says, noting that Borisov somehow ate and ate through each take without a spit bucket. “That was crazy.”
Crazy is how the first days on set felt to Borisov. He’d never worked with a director like Baker before, he’d never done an English-language film before … he’d never even been to America before.
While much of the cast and crew had established a working rhythm, Borisov’s first day on set was shooting the henchmen’s frenetic and failed effort to corral Vanya, or at least subdue Ani (Mikey Madison). The violent scene includes shattered artwork and a broken nose among the destruction, “and I was just entering and trying to understand what was going on, like when you walk into a party late and are trying to understand the vibe,” Borisov recalls.
“I felt like an alien in this country, this city and my new community and I don’t know what is happening or what will happen,” he says, confusions and concerns he channeled directly into Igor. “When Sean said ‘Action,’ this universe turned on and you jump inside and it’s a crazy moment there and you’re just trying to catch everything you can.”
(Baker is surprised to hear all this, saying, “that might have been happening inside Yura but he came across hundred percent confident and very secure.”)
And like Igor after those rough opening moments, Borisov — who says Igor is ultimately “a man with a clean soul” — saw his job as to support Madison, whose commitment to the role helped him. “Her acting is very real, she doesn’t feel like she’s playing so Igor has to feel that way too,” he says. “And like him, I had to be focused on Mikey. She is on Jospeh Campbell’s journey of the hero, so what’s important for me is to support her.”
