Biografia
Emmy® Nominated and Award winning writer/director/actor. Anna received a 2021 Daytime Emmy® Nomination for her latest film, "Take My Heart", in the Outstanding Daytime Fiction Program. The film had its NY premiere at The Women's International Film Festival at The Museum of the Moving Image in NYC. The Los Angeles premiere was at TCL Chinese Theatre, Hollywood, with The Micheaux Film Festival. The film was selected twice to screen with Pan African Film Festival, including their retrospective of Best Films. It was also a favorite at other Oscar and BAFTA qualifying Film Festivals. A dual American/Irish(EU)-Australian citizen, Anna has written/starred in, also written/directed films which garnered awards and screened at Academy Qualifying Festivals such as: Raindance, Flickers' Rhode Island, Cinequest, LA Shorts International Film Festival, The Micheaux Film Festival, Pan African Film Festival and others. Her directorial debut film, "The Aerial Girl", produced by Motherhorse Productions, garnered six awards and four nominations, screening at 40 Film Festivals worldwide and aired on PBS. Theatre trained in London and Sydney, Anna's first acting roles were on Television and Film in Australia working with legendary actors: Jack Thompson, Bill Hunter, Chris Heywood and esteemed directors such as Phillip Noyce and Ken Cameron. At the same time Anna obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and Sociology (Uni of NSW) and Fine Arts (Sydney University). Anna was also the well known face of the Colgate commercials and other Clio Award winning commercials. This was followed by lead roles on stage throughout Britain as well as in NY and LA along with film and TV roles. Anna is the recipient of the Platinum Award, First Place, at the BAFTA Los Angeles Members' Short Film Festival for her film, 'Chasing Chekhov', (writer-producer-star), based on her play. Anna has penned two features now in pitch mode, to direct: 'Salt Creek', a female driven western based on 'The Aerial Girl' and 'Tough 2 Love', based on her play of the same title. In London Anna's first job was with the Young Peoples Playwright's Program at The Royal Court Theatre. Favorite roles in British Repertory Theatre include Sarah in The Norman Conquests by Alan Ayckbourn and many classics as well as new plays in London theaters such as The ICA and The Roundhouse. In New York Anna studied with venerable teachers, Stella Adler and Robert Lewis. She subsequently played lead roles in Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway shows; such as Elizabeth in The Crucible with The Ensemble Company at the Roundabout Theatre. Anna attended workshops at The Actor's Studio in Los Angeles, studying with Martin Landau and Shelly Winters for several years. Her theatre credits in LA include the Theatre East and Complex Theatre productions of her play, Chasing Chekhov; Lost in the Movies, at The Court Theatre; and 'Anon' by Kate Robin (Writer: Six feet Under) with The Echo Theatre Company. Anna's other award winning films include: 'Coming Into Money', 'The Red Scarf', in which she starred opposite Gemini Award winner, Frances Bay; and 'Love in the Time of Isolation' and 'Finding Momma'. The films were produced by her film company VisionFire Films Inc; which she runs with her partner, producer/director Peter Sands. Their combined films have screened at over eighty film festivals worldwide and sold to Television. Anna has penned two feature script to direct: 'Salt Creek', based on her award winning short film, 'The Aerial Girl'; 'Tough 2 Love', based on Anna's play of the same title. She has several projects in development with partner Peter Sands and their company VisionFire Films, including: Nostradamus and The King; 'Of Corsica'; 'Seventh and Santa Fe'. Their latest film, 'I Disappear' is in post. Anna is also a produced playwright. Her play, 'This Dream Life', (originally 'The Grass Couch') was developed by The Directors Company in NYC. Four time Tony Nominee, Tovah Feldshuh, played the lead role in industry readings. Anna's other plays were produced in Los Angeles at The Stella Adler Theatre, Theatre East and various Playwright Festivals. Memberships: BAFTA; SAG-AFTRA, AEA; The Playwright/Directors Unit at The Actors Studio; The Dramatists Guild of America, TheatreMakers Studio, and New York Women in Film and Television.
