'Inventing Anna': everything you need to know about Netflix's drama series on Anna Delvey

Inventing Anna delves into Anna Delvey's wild lies and the infamous New York article that exposed the self-proclaimed German heiress

Netflix's latest Shonda Rhimes project is causing a buzz, per usual, much like Anna herself. Before your new favorite drama series hit screens, we'll fill you in on everything you need to know about the true-life tale. Trust us, you can't afford to miss it.

• Can you guess the most-watched Netflix shows and movies of all time?
• Netflix canceled shows: what's leaving the streaming service in 2021 and 2022
• When is Love Is Blind season 2 coming to Netflix? Get ready for more dating drama

'Inventing Anna': what is it about?

The nine-episode series will focus on millennial influencer Anna Delvey, born Anna Sorokin, who had aspirations of opening an NYC-based art club. In the process, she swindled friends and businesses out of $275,000 over a 10-month period. 

Writer Jessica Pressler thought Anna's suspicious activity would be her big break into the journalism industry, and she was correct. Covering Anna's activities for New York ultimately exposed the scammer, and Inventing Anna will explore the story through the author's eyes.

What happened to Anna Delvey?

In 2019, scammer Anna Delvey was convicted of four counts of theft services, three counts of grand larceny and one count of attempted grand larceny. At the time, she had revealed to The New York Times that she didn't regret her actions, but the way in which she came across as money-hungry when she claims she was really seeking power. 

"The thing is, I’m not sorry. I’d be lying to you and to everyone else and to myself if I said I was sorry for anything," Delvey told the outlet. 

Although she was sentenced to a minimum of four years in prison, she was released in February 2021. Upon her exit, she quickly returned to social media to claim that she had a surprise up her sleeves for her fans. As of November 2021, she still has the possibility of being deported from the U.S.

She's anxious to rewrite the script of her story, as she told ABC News in September 2021. "I never had fraudulent intent. And I guess that's what should really count.”

When is the 'Inventing Anna' release date?

The drama series will hit Netflix on Friday, February 11, 2022. 

Is there an 'Inventing Anna' trailer?

Netflix dropped an official teaser for Inventing Anna on November 22, 2021, and it's full of fashion, finery and, yes, fraud.

Several weeks ahead of the premiere, Netflix released a more in-depth trailer with great tidbits from the series: how the story came to be, a look at Anna's lavish getaways and even an exorbitant loan she was given. 

"Anna came to New York—no rich parents, no rich parents," a character in the series says. "Sometimes you gotta fake it til you make it." 

Well, that she did.

'Inventing Anna' cast: Who's who?

• Julia Garner (Anna) 
• Anna Chlumsky (Vivian) 
• Alexis Floyd (Neff) 
• Arian Moayed (Todd) 
• Katie Lowes (Rachel) 
• Jeff Perry (Lou) 
• Anna Deavere Smith (Maud) 
• Anders Holm (Jack) 
• Laverne Cox (Kacy Duke) 
• Terry Kinney (Barry) 
• Jennifer Esposito (Talia) 

Garner, who is widely known for her role in Ozark, details what it took to create the character for Netflix in a Town & Country feature—how it was difficult to nail the accent, how she was forced to switch on and off between two roles simultaneously. OH, and she actually met with Anna—the real Anna—while she was in jail.

"She's actually really sweet," the actress revealed to the publication. "She was extremely charming. She’s very gentle. But then her voice gets less soft-spoken when she wants something.”

Is 'Inventing Anna' based on a book?

The subject of many a story, Anna's antics were the basis of Vanity Fair photo editor Rachel DeLoache Williams' book, My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress. It was considered a cross between Sex and the City and Catch Me If You Can, yet none of it is fictional! You can't make up this type of story. You certainly want to consider adding it to your shelf.

Amazon, My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress ($14.69, £13.90)

Rachel DeLoache Williams befriended wealthy German heiress Anna Delvey, who seemingly had it all. However, upon the all-expenses-paid trip to Marrakesh, where Delvey's credit cards mysteriously stopped working, the true story of the heiress came to the forefront.  

View Deal