Meet Alexis Floyd, Who Plays the Scene-Stealing Neff in ‘Inventing Anna’

I anticipate this show being one of the biggest hits of the year, so are you ready to start being recognized wherever you go?

I’ve been taking it one step at a time. I’ve always acknowledged that there’s something almost mystical about this story. I remember feeling that way when I was doing research for the audition because the mystery surrounding Anna was really out of this world. The other thing I’m excited for is the opportunity to connect with more stories of freedom, and more stories about the struggle to find worth. I’m excited that this opportunity feels like a door opener for all of us to find the next story. 

I love people. People are why I act and want to tell their stories. That’s what I’m in it for. I loved the dialogue that came from The Bold Type [when I was on]. That experience was really exciting, especially when people start to talk to you about why it connected to them emotionally. And then when they’re brave enough to take that step of telling you, then I really enjoy meeting people and inquiring about them. It’s nice to not feel like it’s happening in a vacuum. That’s one of the things about theater I love so much—there are heartbeats in the room and everyone’s kind of breathing together and you can feel it in the moment. With this show, you get to see a lot more behind the curtain, but there’s still a lot of unanswered questions. It’s really worth getting into dialogue about.

Would you want to meet the real Anna Delvey/Sorokin?

She always has sort of felt almost mythical to me, like she has supernatural powers that would give me the shivers a bit. But I think—and this is telling of Julia’s performance of her—I learned through working on the show that there was a real love and relationship between Neff and Anna, even if it didn’t penetrate to the point where Anna fully exposed all of the details of her identity to her. I think their connection and respect for one another was real, and I’m fascinated to know where that lives in the real Anna.

Do she and Neff still have a friendship?

I think it’s complicated. I think Neff is continuing to find the right boundary in that relationship. From what I understand, it changes. I think letting her in and then deciding that space is the healthiest thing so it’s a bit of an ebb and flow, which is emotional. I don’t know where exactly they are now. I think there is a sort of a sense of loyalty to someone who was a genuine friend to her that Neff maintains. 

OK, let’s play some rapid-fire questions. How did you celebrate getting the role of Neff?

Ice cream and talking with my mom on Zoom.

What was your favorite scene to film?

The hotel bed scene with just me and Julia. It was just the most grounded…the two of us. It felt relaxed. And it was my first scene with Julia, which was really special and such a cool way to start.