Podtalk: Actor Elena Anaya on Her Career & ‘Rifkin’s Festival’

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CHICAGO – Elena Anaya has had an adventure in her career of over 50 films … from the role of Dracula’s Bride in “Van Helsing” to notable work with director Pedro Almodóvar in “The Skin I Live In,” and up to her current role as Dr. Jo Rojas in “Rifkin’s Festival,” she has embraced the journey with a grateful enthusiasm.

“Rifkin’s Festival” – written and directed by Woody Allen – features Wallace Shawn as Mort Rifkin, a struggling novelist who used to be a film studies professor. Through his academia he met and married Sue (Gina Gershon), a movie publicist who saw potential in his literary pursuit. But the ex-professor doesn’t like modern cinema, and distracts himself at a film festival he’s attending with his wife by pursuing a local cardiologist, portrayed by Elena Anaya, and creating dreams and fantasies from his film heroes.

Riffest
Wallace Shawn and Elena Anaya in ‘Rifkin’s Festival’
Photo credit: MPI Media Group

Elena Anaya has been a screen actor for over 25 years, in a range of Spanish, American and European roles. Her breakthrough was “Familia” in 1997, and in the worldwide sensation “Sex and Lucía” (2001). She first worked with Pedro Almodóvar in “Talk to Her” (2002), and two years later had a featured role in the U.S. gothic film “Van Helsing.” From there she was cast in a variety of roles, until another big notice came with Pedro Almodóvar’s “The Skin I Live In” (2011) as Vera Cruz, for which she received the Goya Award for Best Actress. She also appeared in “Wonder Woman” (2017) as Isabel Maru/Dr. Poison, before working as Dr. Jo Rojas in “Rifkin’s Festival.”

In Part One of a Podtalk, Elena Anaya talks to Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com about “Rifkin’s Festival” and working with Woody Allen and Wallace Shawn …

In Part Two, Elena Anaya reflects on Pedro Almodóvar and the journey of her career …

The Trailer for “Rifkin’s Festival” …

”Rifkin’s Festival” opened in select theaters and through Video-On-Demand on January 28th, 2022. Featuring Elena Anaya, Wallace Shawn, Gina Gershon and Christoph Waltz. Written and directed by Woody Allen. Rated “PG-13”

HollywoodChicago.com senior staff writer Patrick McDonald

By PATRICK McDONALD
Editor, Film Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

© 2022 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com

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