Mark Eydelshteyn lands role in Sean Baker's film Anora with bold nude audition

Mark Eydelshteyn has been cast as Ivan, a wealthy character in the film *Anora*, after impressing director Sean Baker with a nude self-tape audition. Eydelshteyn chose this approach to convey honesty and creativity, given his limited resources. Mikey Madison was offered the lead role of Ani, a stripper, without auditioning. Baker praised her dedication to preparing for the role, which included pole dancing lessons and working with consultants to understand her character better. *Anora* features a significant character shift for Ivan about 45 minutes in, with Eydelshteyn's performance setting up this twist. The film is now in theaters, and both actors emphasize the fun moments in their scenes together despite the darker themes.