Russian Oscar nominee signs with Hollywood agency – media
Yura Borisov’s contract with UTA will see him “represented in all areas,” according to Variety magazine
Russian Oscar-nominated actor Yura Borisov, known for his role in US director Sean Baker’s film ‘Anora’, has signed with a major Hollywood agency, according to US entertainment weekly Variety.
Borisov, 32, became the first Russian-born actor to be nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film, which won five Oscars, as well as the Palme d’Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Though he missed out on the Academy Award, his scene-stealing performance drew widespread acclaim and marked him as a breakout star. In addition to his Oscar nomination, Borisov received Best Supporting Actor nods from the BAFTA, the Golden Globes, the Gotham Awards, and the Film Independent Spirit Awards.
His new contract with United Talent Agency (UTA) will see the Russian actor “represented in all areas,” Variety reported on Thursday.
Los Angeles-based UTA represents actors such as Timothee Chalamet, Chris Pratt, and Benedict Cumberbatch, as well as actresses Cynthia Erivo and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The agency describes its clients as individuals whose voices and vision “shape culture and drive the future.”
Borisov will continue to be represented by agencies ColorCreative, Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman, and Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis, according to Variety.
In Anora, a film exploring class divides and power struggles, Borisov plays Igor, a ruthless yet layered henchman.
He told Variety he was the first actor Baker approached, even before the script was ready. Baker, who had seen his performance in the Finnish film ‘Compartment No. 6’ at Cannes, later called him and “said we should do his next movie together,” Borisov said. Compartment No. 6 won the Grand Prix at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival and earned him a European Film Award nomination for Best Actor.
READ MORE: Russian actor misses out on historic Oscar
Born in December 1992 in Reutov, a suburb of Moscow, Borisov had no family ties to the acting world. He began his journey in a school theater group before earning a place at the prestigious Shchepkin Higher Theater School at just 16. He showed early promise, winning the Golden Leaf Theater Award at 20, but spent years in minor roles before breaking through with ‘The Road to Berlin’ in 2015.
His additional credits include ‘Captain Volkonogov Escaped’, which was nominated for the Golden Lion at the 2021 Venice Film Festival, and ‘Anna K’, Netflix’s only Russian original series.