FWM: You were born in the small town of Olexandriya in Ukraine. Share your upbringing.
I grew up in a small town in the middle of Ukraine far away from any major city. Some might call it the middle of nowhere. There wasn’t much going on so my grandmother and mother tried to keep me busy by getting me involved in whatever was available. For me, that was ballet and English lessons starting at age 4, at an all-girls boarding school with piano and singing classes, and eventually into a comedy club and folk dance group in high school. I was always busy. Summers were spent reading and helping my folks in the garden or on the farm growing potatoes and tomatoes. I can teach you sometime ;-).
FWM: You built a career as a successful model in Tokyo. How did this time shape you as a person?
My modeling career started in Kiev, the capital city of Ukraine after I moved there for college. I was working at various promotional events and slowly made my way to a modeling agency. My first international Photoshoot took place in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Summer after my first year of college. Following that experience, I moved to Japan and put my education on a slow track taking fewer credits so I would have more time to model. It was very adventurous and a lot of but I got very lonely and homesick at times. Coming from a poor country like Ukraine where my family couldn’t afford to pay for my higher education where I was a recipient of the Presidential scholarship I kept thinking how unfair it was for a young girl to have to travel so far from home just so she could make a living – despite being such an excellent student! I felt lost and sad at times but I was also learning how to be brave and resilient gaining a new sense of freedom. I was starting to mature and grow into a self-sufficient and strong woman. After five years of flying back and forth between Kiev and Tokyo, I finally graduated with a Bachelor in Arts in teaching English and world literature, which enabled me to get a position teaching English to Japanese students. I was the first non-native English language teacher to get a Japanese Business visa. That felt special, I started to build a lot of trust and confidence in myself… I guess you could say my modeling career was not only the beginning of my career on a financial level but opened the doorway to my path into the future on a personal level as well.
FWM: When did you decide to act? When was your first break?
Acting came as an art form in my childhood when I started ballet training. Dancing is great when they combine dance techniques with the ability to convey feelings of the character they perform. I have evolved from dancing to modeling, then to a TV Reporter and finally to an Actor. I always knew where my place was, so all the training and work I have done before along with a full time acting class added to the quality of Actor I have become. An interesting Actor is an interesting human being first.
The moment I decided to create my own work – produce short films and act in them – I was able to use my artistic freedom to express my true ideas of the work, talk about my life experiences and my struggles in society. I highly recommend that all Artists keep creating! It is the heart’s desire to share!
FWM: What roles particularly interest you?
I have worked on narrowing down the categories of films and TV shows that not only interest me but also the type of roles most suitable for me personally. I have become very interested in politics lately (laughing). You might have noticed after Extradition. Another fun subject is artificial intelligence versus the human mind. I could see myself diving into the world of computer crime, hacking, and other similar futuristic scenarios.
I have been supporting an organization called THE SET, which educates children about human trafficking. It runs art exhibits and fashion shows to raise money. I have modeled for those events. It breaks my heart to read the tragic stories and the statistics on how widespread human exploitation has become. These issues among many other subjects dealing with violence, sexual offenses, and child abuse are covered in one of my favorite shows… Law and Order SVU.
I definitely see myself being involved in the creation of a film or tv episode playing either a victim or a predator.
FWM: Are you a champion for women?
I am a huge fan of involving women in my projects and gladly work with directors, ADs, photographers, mua and designers who identify as female. It happens so that I cross paths with amazingly talented artists, whose work resonates with my voice – celebration of women’s achievements, sharing the struggles and fighting for gender equality and happiness!
Tell us about your role of Ukrainian Council in the web series “EXTRADITION’ directed by Anthony Grasso.
EXTRADITION is a political drama and TV pilot based on real events. A Ukrainian Embassy Council reaches out to a corrupt US Senator running research on Hackers with the FBI. She is looking for ways to interfere with Russian attacks and intrusion in Eastern Ukraine. Little does she know that the Senator is excited to use that specialist to satisfy her own agenda. She plays the role of a chameleon who is ready to go underground for a very good cause and she is open to breaking rules to make justice triumph!
Unlike so many other films constantly portraying women as antagonists with each other Anthony Grasso creates a triangle where women become allies, not opponents. Anthony Grasso is a champion in directing strong female roles!
The Film is running in a festival circuit, including The Hell’s Kitchen Film Festival January 18th and the Garden State Film Festival, in New Jersey in March.
FWM: What would people be surprised to know about you?
When I meet new people, many find these facts fascinating:
I became an academic at 15 years old. I wrote a research thesis on using role games in teaching English as a Second Language for the Malyi Academy of Science in Ukraine.
I have lived in both Tokyo and New Zealand where I learned to speak Japanese. One of the most amazing and connected to nature encounters in my life was swimming with wild dolphins in Kaikora at 5 AM.
I am constantly learning and studying new ideas and philosophies. Recently I started studying Kaballah. I love self-development courses and books. I am learning a lot on the subjects of Neuroscience, quantum physics and the ability of the human body, soul, and mind to heal and change the course of life.
I have visited all continents and I speak four languages – native Russian and Ukrainian, English and Japanese.
FWM: Who would you like to work with?
My list keeps growing as I watch exquisite films and TV shows now available on so many platforms. I have been a huge fan of Robert De Niro and Leonardo Di Caprio for years. The top of the talent list for me would be Merryl Streep and Mariska Hargitay – both strong, beautiful and inspiring women! True Formidable Women!
FWM: Tell us about your role in “HEARTS THAT CROSS BORDERS” directed by Renee Stork How did you prepare for this role?
I’m an Executive Producer and a Female Lead Actor in the immigration themed short film “Hearts That Cross Borders”. This project came about as a collaborative effort of actors and filmmakers in the Actors Green Room in New York City and was completed in August 2017.
The short film opens a discussion about immigrants, traveling abroad searching for love and happiness. So once they cross that border, they have to deal with different new issues and problems, learn a new culture and build relationships with their new families. There is always the sore question of immigration, international unions, stereotypes, and prejudice.
I came to the USA four years ago and met my husband while studying at the Theatre School. Life has thrown us a lot of challenges and we were happy to overcome them. This film is roughly based on my life story and spiced up with the characters and situations faced by my American and immigrant friends.
While shooting “HEARTS” I felt supported, heard and understood by my team, which gave me so much joy and power to transform my story into art.
Note from the Female Director Renee Stork:
“I am a Director, Actress, & Filmmaker here to create stories about the extraordinary lives of remarkable women which focus on their human nature, spiritual connectives, and journey of hearts opening in ways that heal the world.”
The cast and crew of “Hearts That Cross Borders” were female-dominated. The original score in the film “Hero”, “Home” and “Dreamer” was written and performed by Lexi Scherr.
We had a two-year international festival run including Barcelona, Tokyo, NYC, LA. We won an amazing AWARD OF MERIT for “Best Women Filmmakers” at the Best Shorts Contest in LA, CA and I was blessed with the “BEST UPCOMING ACTRESS” award at the International Cutting Room Film Festival! The film won the “BEST PICTURE” Award twice at the Jersey PopUp Film Festival. Lindsay Brice received the “BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS” at the Brightside Tavern Film Festival. We also were chosen as the “Best Of” at The Actors Green Room Monthly Screenings.
FWM: What has been the best advice that you have received during your career?
Perfection is an illusion. All you have to do is let go of control of the results and outcomes, commit fully to your craft, trust your instincts and work hard while constantly enjoying it.
FWM: Share your upcoming projects.
I’m running for a cover of JET SET MAGAZINE. The voting starts on January 14th and runs through March 12th. You can vote to support me daily!
Help Anna Just grace the cover of Jetset Magazine and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the B+ (Be Positive) Foundation which helps families dealing with childhood cancer.
Besides auditioning for TV/Film and commercials, I am a stage mom for my 13 months old son, who is a successful model represented by Future Faces NYC.
I’m currently working on a short film about an Underground casino, run by a Russian Mathematician and the Japanese Yakuza clan in the USA.
Another project is a research and documentary about traditional and alternative ways of healing problems like: neurological and autoimmune disorders, pain and weakness, muscle dystrophy and hormonal balance. The subject of self-healing and healthy living and wellness arouse in my life a couple of years ago and I’m excited to learn! It’s a feature film that requires a lot of digging and experiments.
FWM: Why are you a Formidable Woman?
I believe my family and friends, colleagues and fans really appreciate the positivity and inspiration I bring to both my working career and personal life. Love and light never end. The amount of happiness and goodness you share doesn’t empty out. I see every person as a God, a Titan, a Giant – powerful, strong and great! I’m stubborn, hardworking and always going for the gold! And I trust Universal light and energy!
