“In that moment, I realized what a complete change and accent I did for that character.
It was kinda shocking, actually.”
Ani) and quickly proposes and marries her on a spontaneous trip to Vegas.
Illustration by Sophia Lauren Franco
Below, Baker and Madison sit down withThe Awardistpodcast for an in-depth conversation about the making of the film.
Can you take me back to that moment?
SEAN BAKER:It’s a moment that I’m still processing.
We didn’t expect it, quite honestly.
We did not expect it.
And so for that to happen was gravy on top of everything.
It was just incredible.
BAKER:28-minute real-time home invasion.
Did you film that as a 28-minute sequence?
I like the actors being in the moment and capturingrealmoments.
But it was very choreographed.
So there was the injecting of humor throughout, and that was a real difficult balance.
Yeah, a reaction shot just to give us that little bit of black humor.
Or that’s all choreographed and planned?
We went through it at quarter-speed.
MIKEY MADISON:Right.
And I was like, yes, I’ll do.
I’ll definitely find my foot flinging over that direction.
BAKER:[Laughs] Which is just incredible because it’s at the end of the shot.
And then Mikey just punts that vase for that last shatter.
It was very impressive.
Sean Baker (right) directs stars Mikey Madison and Mark Eydelshteyn on the set of ‘Anora’.Augusta Quirk/Neon
I think we brought up the fact that one of your favorite films isPossession.
That’s like an automatic, “You’re cast!”
[Laughs] And I knew she was going to bring the attitude.
MADISON:I wasn’t really thinking about confidence.
So it had nothing to do about how I felt.
So I wanted to be very, very prepared in all aspects, physically and mentally.
MADISON:I think that Sean and I had some kind of understanding with each other.
And so I think something was just sort of connected there.
What’s going to get their attention?
So from an actor’s perspective, it’s really exciting because all of those scenes are improvised.
What kind of person is he?
And sort of discovering it over the course of giving a full lap dance.
That’s a pretty unique experience to be able to film a scene that way.
BAKER:This is a sequence that takes place in the beginning of the film.
Well, maybe “charming” isn’t the right word.
MADISON:Prince Charming at first.
BAKER:Definitely at first.
But we had this club sort of up and running the way it runs every night.
And her improvisation was wonderful.
I hope this doesn’t embarrass you, Mikey.
I want to read a bit from EW’s review of this film.
Yura Borisov in ‘Anora’.Neon
“Madison is effervescent in the role, blending street smarts, romantic naivete, and an effortless charm.
It’s obvious why Ani’s good at her job.
And that last part, the “real person,” that’s the goal.
That’s what you’re saying, Sean.
She’s got to feel like someone you might know.
MADISON:Well, thank you.
And I think that it keeps it real, and all of my actors understood that.
So they were okay with the blemishes or whatever, and they were okay leaning into that.
Sometimes you’ll look good, sometimes you’ll be attractive.
I don’t feel like I’ve ever seen a character like this.
But Mark Eydelshteyn let’s go there,
MADISON:Because he’s a one-of-a-kind actor really.
He embodies this spastic, magnetic energy in such a way that you watch every single thing he does.
A24; Netflix
I understand his audition was pretty undeniable.
But beyond what you saw on the tape, what sold you on him as Vanya?
As an actor, like all of my actors, he really cared about understanding Ivan.
But I think he got it pretty early on, and he was bringing a lot of ideas.
That first time at the house flipping around on the bed, was that all him?
So he pitched me that.
He was like, “I want to just flip back and land in position on the bed.”
Did you know he was going to do it?
MADISON:Yeah, he pitched it to me when I walked onto set.
Kirsten Dunst in ‘Civil War’.A24 / Courtesy Everett
He was like, “Okay, I have an idea.”
But I couldn’t fully visualize it.
And that’s why I knew that every night, every day we were getting gold like that.
And it was really nice to go home knowing we got some amazing stuff in the can.
He’s going to play the character, and it’s unbelievable.”
They showed it to me, and he’s completely naked with this weird hat on.
But I was like, this guy has guts….
So I owe so much to Yura.
Neon
Yura is so good.
James McAvoy in ‘Atonement’.Focus Features/ Everett
MADISON:I think there was a small paragraph sort of describing it.
And I think towards the end, we decided that it would be better if we had no dialogue.
I always knew it was going to be one shot and that it would be about five minutes maybe.
Denzel Washington at the 1990 Oscars.Barry King/WireImage
Meaning you played it different ways each time?
So there were lots of aspects of just the scene needing to be a certain way.
BAKER:There was a whole technical side to it, because it’s happening during a snowfall.
And in a confined space.
So it was just Mikey, Yura, and me in that car.
MADISON:Sean was laying in the back seat.
You hid very well.
But the endings, for me, are the most important part of a film.
So it was extremely stressful to make a run at pull it off.
What is that performance for you?
Is there another actress whose work you look at as touchstone of great work or an inspiring role?
BAKER:We definitely keep the ’70s sensibility alive.
I always say 1974 that’s the pinnacle.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Listen to our full interview with Baker and Madison in the podcast below.
Other than that, it’s wise to predict the men responsible for the, well, safest bets.
Check out Joey Nolfi’s predictions for lead and supporting actor and actress here.
But through the pain, there are lots of laughs.
Be sure to check out the video above.
As Robbie Turner, he’s mercurial, sexy, noble.
and heartbreaking in equal measure.
Now I got the model for him.
