Anna Urbanova Character Analysis

A film actress and a lover of the Count’s. When the two meet in 1923, Anna is at the height of fame, having starred in several popular films. She initially makes a poor impression on the Count, but she invites him to dinner and quickly seduces him. Over the course of the novel, Anna has some major setbacks in her career when people start to see that most of her films celebrate old values of individualism and contain a lot of nostalgia for princes and princesses. Anna loses most of her possessions and her home, but she persists. Gradually, she is able to get small parts, often as a working woman who asks others to push on for the common good. This relaunches her film career until she gradually makes the transition to theater, demonstrating her ability to adapt to the attitudes of the time. Throughout this tumultuous period, Anna keeps up her romance with the Count whenever she visits the Metropol. The two take comfort in confiding in each other about the hardships they are experiencing in life, and their bond becomes deeper and more loving. Like other characters such as Mishka, Nina, and Sofia, Anna takes on a role that is more familial than friendly. When the Count escapes the hotel, he goes to see Anna, implying the immense value of their relationship to him.