Like several of Baker’s previous films, Anora highlights and explores the lives of sex workers.

While developing the movie, the director consulted current and former real-life sex workers, including Andrea Werhun, who wrote a memoir in 2018 about her experiences.

Baker told Indiewire:, external “I think no matter what subject matter you’re tackling, if you’re not a part of that world or a part of that community, it’s vital to have consultants, who have that life experience, on board and make sure that you’re representing [it] in an accurate way, a responsible way, a respectful way.”

At a launch event in London earlier this week,, external Madison said Werhun’s memoir “really spoke to me… I was really intrigued and obsessed with her writing”.

She also discussed other ways she prepared for the role, explaining: “I went to New York early, about a month early, so that I could live in Brighton Beach and immerse myself more in that neighbourhood. Also, so that I could fine-tune the accent.”