Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the series Inventing Anna.
The hit miniseries, Inventing Anna, may have thrust viewers into a lavish world full of fraud, lies, and betrayal, but there are some genuine moments of bravery and kindness from its characters.
From Jack’s unconditional support for Vivian to Anna’s introduction to Nora’s friends, the best things the characters do almost always come from a place of love for others (or sometimes – like in Rachel’s case – for herself). Although some of their well-intentioned actions have questionable results, they’re arguably still noble at the moment they’re made.
Jack Mercer: Supported Vivian Kent
Although he doesn’t have a ton of screen time, Jack is easily one of the most likable characters in Inventing Anna. He’s an incredibly patient and supportive partner for Vivian, who is going through a terrible time in her life because of her damaged career.
Despite how shocked or confused he can get by her aggressive reactions or seeming nonchalance towards their future child, he tries his best to reason with her and understand where she’s coming from. It’s the kind of support she needs after a stressful day at work or with Anna, and she knows he’s always there to provide it.
Nora Radford: Introduced Anna Delvey To Her Friends
Nora is arguably the richest and most influential character in the series, and she knows it. It’s obvious to her that Anna wants her approval, but she makes the fraudster work for it. She may eventually introduce Anna to her affluent friends mostly in an attempt to spite Chase, but it’s still a beneficial action for the protagonist.
She’s suddenly recognized in those elite circles as a legitimate player with a grand plan. Nora certainly made the wrong choice by being generous, but it was still her kindest action in the show.
Alan Reed: Endorsed Anna Delvey To Financial Institutions
Anna knows that she will never be able to make her foundation a reality without the endorsement of renowned individuals from a variety of industries, including the bigshot finance lawyer, Alan. The best thing Alan does for Anna comes from a place of blind faith and trust that she is who she says she is.
He (perhaps unknowingly) risks his career to endorse her to the biggest financial institutions. Without Alan, Anna would have never even had to chance to get “dangerously close” to establishing the ADF.
Chase Sikorski: Made Anna Delvey Look Good In Front Of Nora Radford
Chase’s best action in the miniseries may have been unintentional, but it still impacts Anna’s life in a significant way. He undermines Anna and thinks he has the upper hand in the relationship, but that’s far from the truth. His gravest mistake makes the most powerful character in Inventing Anna finally side with the protagonist.
Nora eventually introduces Anna to her affluent friends, which elevates her status in those circles. If Chase hadn’t been trusting enough to reveal the impending failure of his startup, Anna would have never gotten as far as she did.
Todd Spodek: Kept Fighting For Anna Delvey
There are only a handful of people Anna can rely on to support her until the very end, and one of those is her unpaid lawyer, Todd. At first, it seems as if Todd may be an unimpressive character who doesn’t have any fierceness in him, but it’s soon revealed that he’s a passionate and driven friend who has Anna’s back.
It’s not too far-fetched to say that no one would have defended Anna to the same extent that he did, not only because hers is a losing case, but because she would likely give any lawyer a ridiculously difficult time. Todd doesn’t budge, though, as he genuinely cares about the fraudster’s fate.
Kacy Duke: Supported Rachel Williams
When Rachel decides to file a case against Anna, it infuriates Neff who sees it as a betrayal. She doesn’t lose the support of her closest friend, Kacy, though, who’s always there to remind her that she’s “a bad b***h.”
Kacy shows that she’s the kind of person anyone would want to be good friends with, as she encourages and defends Rachel throughout the whole process. It’s possible that Rachel would have withdrawn her case or refused to sit on the stand if it wasn’t for Kacy’s strong support.
Rachel Williams: Stood Up For Herself
She may be a polarizing character in the fandom, but Rachel is still undoubtedly one of the best characters in Inventing Anna. Her storyline is among the most interesting ones in the series, as it highlights how damaging the protagonist’s actions can be.
The bravest thing she does on the show is understandably for herself. After months of letting Anna get away with defrauding her, she finally decides to stand up for herself and take the issue to court. She has to muster up a lot of courage to do so, and despite how things turn out for her, it’s still an admirable thing to have done in that situation.
Neff Davis: Opened Doors For Anna Delvey
As Vivian put it, Neff is the real “power behind the throne” who opened the doors for Anna in NYC. Her powerful database and numerous connections get Anna into all the exclusive parties and fancy events around town.
Anna may have been initially drawn to Neff for this, but they eventually become close friends. The protagonist may never admit it, but Neff was instrumental in her momentary success in the city. For a while, she’s the actual “hustler” who gets things done, and Anna just has to walk in when everything’s ready.
Vivian Kent: Wrote The Story About Anna Delvey
Vivian is smart enough to know that there’s something different about the then-unknown con artist, Anna. She pursues the story and doesn’t stop until it’s finished, which ultimately leads to Anna reaching her ultimate goal to be famous. No one else would have known about Anna’s devious schemes and wild experiences without Vivian’s persistence.
Of course, the journalist benefits from the situation as well, since the popular article revives her struggling career and thrusts her into the spotlight. Her reputation is quickly fixed after it’s published, and she even gains the respect of colleagues who once undermined her.
Anna Delvey (Anna Sorokin): Gave Vivian Kent An Exclusive Interview
Anna may not have known it at the time, but her decision to accept Vivian’s repeated requests for an exclusive interview would revive the journalist’s ruined career. Anna admittedly doesn’t do many admirable things on the show, but that one action transforms Vivian’s future in a good way.
She needed that scoop, and Anna could see how badly she wanted to tell the con artist’s story. It’s unsurprisingly not a totally selfless act on Anna’s part, but it all works out for the both of them eventually.