Anna Anissimova – The Trials of Cate McCall

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) I have a film that’s in post production called There’s Always Woodstock. It is coming out in late October. I’m working on writing and developing a couple of my own things – all too early to talk about. And in the meantime, I’m just being a mom and going on auditions.

Q) Please tell us the premise for The Trials of Cate McCall and about your character Lacey. 

A) Cate McCall (Kate Beckinsale) is an alcoholic attorney that gets disbarred after showing up drunk for court. To get reinstated to the bar, she must take on a pro-bono case. The case she gets assigned is the appeal of Lacey Stubbs who is currently serving a life sentence for murder. While the case takes many twists and turns, the film hinges on Cate’s journey. Cate’s disbarment ultimately makes her re-think her life and tests everything she loves and has come to believe. I play Lacey Stubbs a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who’s tough upbringing has taught her to survive by any means necessary. When you meet me, I’m in jail serving a life sentence. Lacey is an extremely complicated and layered character. It was so much fun to bring her to life alongside our wonderful cast. You will have to watch to see exactly what happens between Cate and I, but my relationship with her is an important one for Cate to evaluate her own life.

Q) What made you want to be a part of the film?

A) I was drawn to the complexity of this damaged and broken victim who had been discarded by anyone and everyone who was supposed to love her and protect her. I found the character of Lacey extremely compelling and a bit of a challenge. It was a very emotional role and I really got to let loose and be completely vulnerable and real.

Q) Was there anything about the character you added that wasn’t originally scripted for you?

A) No not really. I always try to honor what is on the page and what I originally signed on for. This character was already on the page and I just trusted our director Karen Moncrieff.

Q) What was it like working with director Karen Moncrieff?

A) She’s not afraid to dig deep and get every last drop out of you as an actress, even if it was whispering horrible things in my ear prior to having to cry in a scene. She knows what she wants and she knows what it takes to get actors there. Although the experience was a bit daunting at the time and emotionally exhausting, watching it back I can’t argue with the results.

Q) Was there instant chemistry when the cast began working together or did it take some time to bond?

A) The cast was great. I got along well with everybody and everybody was friendly on set. Over the course of shooting, the bonds got deeper. You don’t sit with people and try to shoot the same scene for an hour day after day and not get to know them better. It’s intense and fun and after it’s over you have been through an ordeal and that’s always fun. Movies are like going to high school over and over – you show up nervous to make friends and then you go on this journey together. Then, it’s over and you go on your separate ways, but definitely with more than when you started and new friends that you don’t always see all the time but when you do you go right back to that time you spent together.

Q) The movie is in consideration for an Emmy. How does that make you feel?

A) It’s amazing that Lifetime got behind the film like this. I’m living my dream and to have people recognize your work as being worthy is truly on honor.

Q) What was your most memorable moment from filming The Trials of Cate McCall?

A) Hanging out with Nick Nolte was one of the best parts about making this movie. Nick is a great storyteller and has so many stories from his long and legendary career. So, in between takes we just hung out with him and let him entertain us. Awesome.

Q) What do you think it is about the movie that made Lifetime a great fit for the film?

A) I think in the past in Hollywood there was a stigma attached to Lifetime that made you think of them as a place where bad movies go to be consumed in front of a cold TV dinner. Lifetime has completely revamped their brand and they are creating amazing award winning content. I think the acquisition of this movie was just another step in that direction. It’s an amazing story and with a cast like Nick Nolte, James Cromwell, Kate Beckinsale, me and a director like Karen Moncrieff is what attracted Lifetime to this movie.

Q) Where can people go online to learn more about you?

A) Google. But don’t believe anything you read on there. With regards to what I am doing professionally, they can go to IMDB to follow all of my up and coming projects.