Anna Delvey’s story took the social scene by storm in the 2010s. But the 40-million-dollar question is how did she do it?
Netflix’s newest drama, Inventing Anna, stars Anna Chlumsky as journalist and mom-to-be Vivian Kent and Julia Garner as con-artist-slash-businesswoman Anna Delvey. The hit miniseries Inventing Anna also stars Anna Deavere Smith as Vivian’s co-worker Maud, Katie Lowes as Anna’s former friend and rich socialite Rachel, Jeff Perry as Vivian’s co-worker Lou, Laverne Cox as Kacy Duke, Terry Kinney as Vivian’s co-worker Barry, Anders Holm as Vivian’s husband, Arian Moayed as Anna’s lawyer Todd, and Rebecca Henderson as ADA Catherine McCaw. You may recognize a couple of the cast members in other projects straight outta Shondaland.
Inventing Anna follows Anna Delvey, a supposed German socialite who committed fraud in both the hearts and bank accounts of some of the most notable social scenes in the world. Her story is picked up by Vivian Kent, a journalist for Manhattan in an attempt to revive her own drowning career.
BIG SPENDER LEVEL SPOILERS ALERT…
New York City
The majority of filming was done in the Big Apple. There were several private locations used in the miniseries that were not available to the public.
Church Missions House
Now home to a Swedish photo museum, this Renaissance revival marvel of a building was used in the series as the space Anna wanted to use to develop her foundation, The Anna Delvey Foundation. With a six-story building like this, she’d have to cough up upwards of 40mil, which resulted in her creating false documents and cheques that landed her in jail. The Church Missions House, however, is located on 281 Park Avenue South in a location once known as “Charity Row.”
Bergdorf Goodman
The infamous Bergdorf Goodman was featured in episode three of Inventing Anna. Anna was invited to go shopping alongside Nora (played by Kate Burton), a very wealthy business financier and her equally successful friends. This iconic luxury department mecca’s history dates back to the 1900s. Located at Fifth Avenue between 57th and 58th streets, the store has been featured in shows and movies such as How To Marry A Millionaire, Sex in The City, Halston etc. Only difference is that in those films and shows they weren’t necessarily taken for 400K.
Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Gardens
According to The Cinemaholic, the center and gardens were used as several different backdrops for the series, including the Warren Buffet event Anna stole a plane for. Located at 1000 Richard Terrace, this place was a former sanctuary for worn-and-torn sailors during the 20th century. It was formed as a non-profit in 1975 and merged with Staten Island Botanical Gardens in 2008. The building is now home to the oldest concert halls and is one of the largest adaptive projects in New York’s architectural landscapes.
Los Angeles
Chateau Marmont
In Inventing Anna, she spent some time in Los Angeles at this luxury hotel, located at 8221 Sunset Blvd. The only thing more fabulous than the trips she took, were the hotels she frequented. According to a review on Oyster.com, this hotel is also frequented by many A-listers in its history, such as Natalie Wood, Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Dennis Hopper and the list goes on. Besides the years of A-list history, the hotel offers amenities such as free WiFi, 42-inch flat screens, access to their pool, gym, bar and restaurant.
Morocco
La Mamounia Hotel
If you’re looking for the girls-trip-to-end-all-girls trips, look no further than La Mamounia in Marrakesh. Inventing Anna featured a sort-of girls trip to Morocco and stayed at this hotel. Odds are that costs run upwards of 5K a night for a classic TWIN ROOM and 77K for their largest suite–pinnacle of luxurious stays. The hotel is approaching its 100th Birthday. The amenities include a spa, pool, fitness center, restaurants, a hotel cinema that seats up to 20 people, private wine bar, games room, traditional bars, tea rooms and so much more!
You can catch Inventing Anna on Netflix today!
