Mikey Madison stars in Anora, a screwball Cinderella story about a determined Brooklyn stripper, but it’s her Russian co-stars, Mark Eydelshteyn and Yura Borisov, who steal the spotlight.
Eydelshteyn, 22, plays Ivan, a wild but lonely rich kid, while Borisov, 31, portrays Igor, a stoic fixer sent to return Ivan to his family.
The two actors, who became best friends while filming the movie in Brooklyn, bonded over their shared experience of discovering New York together.
Borisov’s performance as Igor earned praise from director Sean Baker, who specifically wrote the role for him after seeing his work in Compartment No. 6.
Eydelshteyn’s audition for Ivan, which involved a humorous and unconventional tape, left such an impression that he was cast on the spot.
Despite their contrasting characters—Borisov’s quiet, soulful Igor and Eydelshteyn’s boisterous Ivan—the actors formed a strong bond, with Eydelshteyn describing Borisov as the older brother he never had.
They shared many moments together, including a memorable trip to Woodstock, New York, and a fun scene where Borisov sang “Forever Young” in a Russian accent.
Their most challenging scene involved a fight between Ani (Madison) and Russian gangsters, which took about eight days to shoot due to the complexity of the action.
Both Borisov and Eydelshteyn are now gaining attention, with Borisov expected to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
The film’s success at the Cannes Film Festival, where Anora won the top prize, marked a major milestone for the actors.
Eydelshteyn recalled the surreal moment he learned of the win while on another set, feeling like he was living out a scene from a movie.
Both actors hope this success will lead to more opportunities in Hollywood and beyond.
