“Her name is Anna Delvey, or Anna Sorokin — no one’s sure,” a journalist says in the trailer for “Inventing Anna.” “She’s either a rich German heiress or she’s flat broke.” A Netflix limited series from Shonda Rhimes, “Inventing Anna” tells the stranger-than-fiction story about the phony socialite and very real con artist Anna Delvey.
Portrayed by Julia Garner (“The Assistant”), Delvey is described as “everything that’s wrong with America right now.” As a prosecutor puts it, “Anna committed real white collar felonies while posing as a socialite in an attempt to steal millions of dollars.” She managed to get a bank to loan her $40 million for a club that never opened, and charged luxurious vacations on her friends’ dime — of course, they didn’t know about that until they later got the bill.
In the spot, Anna doesn’t seem to feel remorse or even fully comprehend the destruction she’s caused. When a friend begs Anna to repay the money she stole, she asks, “Why are you being like this, so dramatic?” She also uses sexism to justify her actions. “Every day men do far worse things than anything I’ve allegedly done,” Anna says.
“Inventing Anna” marks the first show Rhimes has created since “Scandal.” She is also the showrunner. Jessica Pressler, who wrote the New York Magazine piece that inspired the series, is among its producers.
As a producer, Rhimes has been working on “Bridgerton” and its upcoming spinoff following Queen Charlotte. The former returns on Netflix March 25 and “Grey’s Anatomy,” the show that made Rhimes famous, was recently renewed for Season 19. It is the longest-running primetime medical drama in TV history.
A two-time Emmy winner for “Ozark,” Garner’s other credits include “Dirty John” and “The Americans.” She just signed on to topline Natalie Erika James’ psychological thriller “Apartment 7A.”
“Inventing Anna” premieres February 11 on Netflix. Anna Chlumsky (“Veep”), Laverne Cox (“Orange Is the New Black”), Katie Lowes (“Scandal”), and Anna Deavere Smith (“Nurse Jackie”) also star.