Get to Know 'Anna' Breakout Star Sasha Luss!

Sasha Luss is the breakout star of the summer, though most fans likely haven’t had the chance to discover her just yet.

The 27-year-old Russian supermodel is leading a movie for the first time as the title character in the spy thriller Anna. The film unfortunately wasn’t given much promotion and was buried at the box office amid the summer blockbusters currently in theaters.

The small legion of fans who have shown up to support Anna are loving it (an 81% fresh audience score on Rotten Tomatoes) and are giving Sasha glowing reviews for her work.

We caught up with Sasha to learn more about her, what it was like training for the action sequences in Anna, her fashion influences, and transitioning from modeling to acting.

Just Jared: How does it feel to be playing the title character in your first major movie role?

Sasha Luss: It feels absolutely amazing, almost like winning the biggest lottery, then waking up as a princess in a castle and later getting a call saying that I won the Nobel and Pulitzer prize at the same time. To be honest, it’s a great honor for me to be a leading role in a Luc Besson film. He is one of the most legendary female-lead driven directors and has worked with some of my favorite actresses like Milla Jovovich, Natalie Portman, and Scarlet Johansson.

JJ: What’s the first word that comes to mind when you think about working with Helen Mirren, Luke Evans, and Cillian Murphy?

SL: So f–king lucky! Having my first role in the same movie with such incredibly talented and genuine people is a dream come true. They’ve all supported me so much, giving me advice, encouraging me to to give it all I’ve got – I couldn’t be more grateful or have wished for a better cast.

Click inside to read the rest of the interview…

JJ: What did you do to prepare for the action scenes in Anna?

SL: It was exhausting! In a good way, but still. I had to start training a few months before we started filming and pushed myself to the limit both physically and mentally. But thanks to my amazing coach, Alan, I made it out alive. And to be honest – you better not mess with me – I’ve got some serious moves!

JJ: Did your modeling career help prepare you for the acting world? What are the main similarities and differences that you’ve found?

SL: I think the biggest similarity is that it takes a team. Everyone counts. But what’s most fun about acting is that you can actually become a character, you can have fun with it, you can explore. I have to thank Luc for giving me this opportunity to try something new, for encouraging me to dream bigger.

JJ: Luc Besson has directed so many iconic movies. Which is your favorite and why?

SL: I think I’ll go for Fifth Element because I’ve watched it 10893578358 times when I was a kid. I can literally quote entire movie. I grew up in a small city in the middle of nowhere and this movie gave me a different perspective on what I could do. To imagine different worlds outside of your own. And that’s another reason why I was so happy to make this movie with Luc — he taught me how to use my imagination.

JJ: What are you watching on TV these days?

SL: I like movies and TV shows with stories from the heart — with an original plot and characters. I recently watched The Favourite and absolutely loved it. Unbelievable performances and a great story. I’m also a huge Harry Potter fanatic and have a family tradition of rewatching it every Christmas. But to be honest, I rewatch whenever I feel down. Love it!

JJ: Who are your fashion influences?

SL: I think my biggest influences are Karl Lagerfeld and Coco Chanel. But I also consider them much more than just fashion influences. They’re classy, witty, and intelligent. Real characters.

JJ: What’s next for Sasha Luss?

SL: I hope that audiences feel something from my performances. I have a couple in the works, and you know… sometimes a good movie can change your life. It can make you smile, make you think, make you cry when you need it. It’s therapy that’s always available — like a friend who’s always there.

Anna is still playing in theaters everywhere!