‘Anora’ Breakout Yura Borisov Becomes First Russian Actor to Earn Oscar Nom in Almost 5 Decades

by

It’s worth celebrating that Yura Borisov and the cast of Anora have earned several Oscar nominations this past Thursday.

However, it’s likely that Borisov, the actor who was less known until now, will experience immense joy, as he is the first Russian performer to be nominated for an Oscar in the acting categories since 1977.

OR

Borisov, a previously lesser-known Russian actor, could be overjoyed, being the first from his country to receive an Oscar nomination in the performing categories since 1977.

OR

It’s possible that Borisov, the actor who wasn’t widely known until recently, will feel great excitement as he is now the first Russian performer to be nominated for an Oscar in the acting categories since 1977.

At the Samuel Goldwyn Theater, a complete roster of nominees for the Supporting Actor category was unveiled by actors Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott. In this group were Kieran Culkin from “A Real Pain”, Jeremy Strong from “The Apprentice”, Edward Norton from “A Complete Unknown”, and Guy Pearce from “The Brutalist”.

OR

Bowen Yang and Rachel Sennott revealed the full list of Supporting Actor nominees at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater. This group included Kieran Culkin from “A Real Pain”, Jeremy Strong from “The Apprentice”, Edward Norton from “A Complete Unknown”, and Guy Pearce from “The Brutalist”.

The most recent Russian actor or actress nominated for an Academy Award in a performing category was Mikhail Baryshnikov, who received his nomination in 1977 for the movie “The Turning Point”. However, it was Lila Kedrova who last won an Academy Award, which she did in 1964 for her role in “Zorba the Greek”.

In Sean Baker’s unique retelling of Cinderella, starring Borisov, we follow the story of Anora (played by Mikey Madison, who was also nominated for an Oscar in the best actress category), a sex worker and stripper who runs away with the son of Russian billionaires. Borisov has left audiences spellbound with his touching, somewhat tender, and frequently amusing performance as a bodyguard dispatched by the boy’s oligarch parents to halt the marriage.

Borisov chatted with The Hollywood Reporter in December to discuss the buzz around awards, revealing that the role of Igor was tailored for him by Anora’s writer-director Baker, who initially noticed him at Cannes in 2021. Borisov played a Russian miner in the Grand Prix-winning film Compartment No. 6 by Juho Kuosmanen, which he starred in that year, sharing a train compartment with a Finnish student. Baker was also present at Cannes that year, showcasing his own Red Rocket, another competition entry.

A year passed, and he contacted me, expressing his desire to collaborate on his upcoming movie, stating he would create a part for me. He inquired if this prospect appealed to me. Six months later, the script arrived, and I had some queries or, more precisely, I sought clarity about the world of this film since a script is merely a guide. A script isn’t a book; it’s just a map. We are all connected spirits… I hope that viewers of Anora will sense this connection too.

Read More

2025-01-23 17:55