‘Anora’ breakout Yura Borisov is not sure what ‘Russian Ryan Gosling’ means. But he'll take it

Yura Borisov does not have a flashy entrance in “Anora.” His character Igor isn’t even introduced until the movie’s nearly halfway through. He’s just the hired muscle, quietly observing and reacting to the quickly devolving situation around him. And yet you can’t take your eyes off of this stranger.

Up until that point it’s been the Mikey Madison show, a chronicle of her character Ani’s whirlwind romance with the spendy, wild son of a Russian oligarch. Igor arrives at the turning point, the end of the honeymoon and the beginning of a swift descent into a chaotic, all-night manhunt. And soon he establishes himself not just as an intriguing outsider, but the soul of the film: The henchman with a heart.

It’s a performance that has caught many off guard: An introduction to a fresh face with an undeniable star quality that has earned him nominations from the Oscars, the Screen Actors Guild and the BAFTAs. But Borisov, 32, is only a newcomer in some parts of the world. Already a star in Russia, Borisov broke through on the international scene in the Cannes title “Compartment No. 6” as the uncouth miner sharing a cramped room with a Finnish student on a long train ride through Russia.

That was the performance that made filmmaker Sean Baker take note and give him a call about participating in what would become “Anora.” Baker has described his secret weapon, who quickly becomes the beating heart and soul of the film, as the “Russian Ryan Gosling." Borisov is flattered, but also little confused by the comparison.

“I love Ryan Gosling and very interested to work with him one day. I’ve seen his films. He plays very, very cool. But I don’t know what he means,” Borisov laughed. “Let’s ask Sean.”

Baker, for his part, knew he had a ringer in Borisov but doesn’t show his hand from the top. He strings the audience along, letting them feel like they’re discovering something too. The 28-minute real-time home invasion scene where we meet Igor was actually Borisov’s first to film. It was rehearsed and discussed in detail before the cameras started rolling. In all, it took about eight days to film and three months to edit.

“We discussed everything trying to find the balance humor and scares and drama and comedy because it’s important for this scene to," Borisov said. “But for me I’m just thinking about a real person named Igor and a real person named Anora.”

He and Baker spoke a lot about Igor’s past, his story, his dreams and his clothes. The white Nike sneakers as contrast to Igor’s all black outfit, he thought, were particularly poignant — a symbol of Igor’s soul. He liked that his director would ask him if he thought Igor might do this or that instead of just telling him to do something.

But Borisov is not the kind of actor who thinks that he has much interesting to say or explain about his performance. If he could, he said, he’d be a writer. For him, it’s the work that does the talking.

“The most important is what do you feel when you see the film,” he said. “It’s not so important what we were discussing.”

The week that Borisov spoke to the AP was the week “Anora” had emerged as the frontrunner in an awards race that had previously been wide open. The supporting actor category however, competitive as it may be with nominees like Edward Norton, Guy Pearce and Jeremy Strong, has been considered Kieran Culkin’s to lose for some time now. But it’s still significant: Borisov is the first Russian actor to get an Oscar nomination since Mikhail Baryshnikov’s nod in 1977 for “The Turning Point.”

“I’m happy that it means something for a lot of people and that’s why it means a lot for me,” he said. “People could feel some hope maybe inside them, maybe proud inside them, you know? “

It’s been a wild ride since Cannes and the end is now in sight. Soon he’d be leaving for London, to attend the BAFTAs — where he would get to celebrate Madison's surprise win (seriously, no one looked more exited than Borisov and Mark Eydelshteyn )— and in two weeks Los Angeles for the Oscars. The accolades and nominations have been exciting, though the impulse to keep the conversations going with all the interesting people he’s met along the way has led to more than few late nights.

“It’s kind of a crazy, crazy time,” he said.

It’s too early for him to talk publicly about how much the raised profile has impacted his career, but, he teased “life is changing.” And if he’s being completely honest, he’s happiest about simply getting to spend more time with the people he made the film with.

“Maybe it looks like kind of stupid because you could say that ‘man, it’s awards, it’s big opportunities for you, why are you talking about spend time with your friends?’” Borisov said. “Maybe it’s kind of stupid, but for me, it’s still important to spend this time with them together. Because without this stuff, we will go to live our life separately. And it will be one day, of course, and I’m kind of sad about this but it just will come. Now we’re still together and I’m happy about this.”

For more on this year’s Oscar race and show, including how to watch the nominees, visit https://apnews.com/hub/academy-awards

Yura Borisov poses for photographers upon arrival at the 78th British Academy Film Awards, BAFTA's, in London, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (Photo by Alberto Pezzali/Invision/AP)

Russian actor Yura Borisov, from the film "Anora," poses for a portrait on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in London. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Russian actor Yura Borisov, from the film "Anora," poses for a portrait on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in London. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Russian actor Yura Borisov, from the film "Anora," poses for a portrait on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in London. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Russian actor Yura Borisov, from the film "Anora," poses for a portrait on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in London. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Russian actor Yura Borisov, from the film "Anora," poses for a portrait on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in London. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Russian actor Yura Borisov, from the film "Anora," poses for a portrait on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in London. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Russian actor Yura Borisov, from the film "Anora," poses for a portrait on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, in London. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

FILE - Cast members, from left, Lindsey Normington, Karren Karagulian, Yura Borisov, Mikey Madison, Mark Eydelshteyn and Vache Tovmasyan pose together at the premiere of the film "Anora," Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, at the Vista Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/ Chris Pizzello, File)

FILE - Cast members, from left, Yura Borisov, Mikey Madison and Mark Eydelshteyn, cast members in "Anora," pose together at the premiere of the film, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, at the Vista Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/ Chris Pizzello, File)

FILE - Yura Borisov attends The Gothams Film Awards at Cipriani Wall Street on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Yura Borisov poses at the premiere of the film "Anora," Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, at the Vista Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/ Chris Pizzello, File)

FILE - Yura Borisov, a cast member in "Anora," poses at the premiere of the film, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, at the Vista Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/ Chris Pizzello, File)

Luxury retailer Saks Global has filed for bankruptcy, preparing to reposition itself in the increasingly competitive upscale market after obtaining about $1.75 billion in financing commitments.

The New York-based private company that owns retailers Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus said in a release Wednesday that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the Southern District of Texas.

The company’s top executive, Marc Metrick, stepped down earlier this month as the firm struggled with debt it took on for its $2.65 billion acquisition of Neiman Marcus in 2024. He was succeeded as CEO by executive chairman Richard Baker, who quit both roles earlier this week and was replaced as chief execute by Geoffroy van Raemdonck.

The company is also facing increasing competition as it tries to winnow down its heavy debt load, while its customers have balked against extravagant price hikes.

The company said it was “evaluating its operational footprint to invest resources where it has the greatest long-term potential.”

Saks said it did not expect its operations to be disrupted and it would continue to honor its customer programs and pay its suppliers and employees.

It said it has financing commitments of $1.5 billion from some of its creditors and another $240 million in “incremental liquidity” from its lenders.

Hudson’s Bay Co., the Canadian owner of Saks Fifth Avenue, split off the luxury retailer’s e-commerce business, Saks.com, in 2021. After acquiring Neiman Marcus three years later, Saks Fifth Avenue changed its name to Saks Global.

Global sales of luxury goods are expected to contract for the second straight year in 2026 as consumers anxious about the global economy pare back their spending, according to a study by Bain & Co. consultancy released in November.

Hudson’s Bay, Canada’s oldest company, moved to begin liquidating all but six of its stores in March 2025.

FILE - Saks Fifth Avenue President Marc Metrick poses for a portrait inside the company's flagship Fifth Avenue store, in New York, on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)