By Achilles M. Peklaris

She’s a total blonde, but she doesn’t think or talk like one. She's a teenager, but she doesn’t act like one. Most of the teen stars her age would be more than happy to get a role in a famous Greek TV series, but Anna Rezan-Kritselis, instead of staying in Athens and enjoying her early stardom, decided to go to the Big Apple–that is, New York City. She moved stateside in early autumn and she’s still here trying to prove a point. What’s wrong with this kid? Is she never satisfied?

Actually, there’s nothing wrong with her—yet, it’s true, she’s never satisfied! Probably ten or twenty years ago just picking up and moving to New York after having such a measure of success in Greece, would sound risky and frivolous--even dangerous. But in the year 2008, when the world has turned into a “small village,” because of the Internet and Facebook, moving to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean is way safer than it used to be. That’s how Anna made it and that’s why she didn’t hesitate at all in taking that big step.

“I think moving to the USA is a decision I made when was a kid,” she says. “Ι’ve always been a big fan of the ‘land of opportunities’. And when I was ready to move permanently to London, while thinking that my America plans had to wait for a couple of years, I came here for an intensive ‘acting for camera’ workshop and I ended up leaving my friends, car, cats, apartment, career and, of course, my mom’s moussaka – and moved to New York for good!” Wow, that sounds exciting! Why New York? “Ι fell in love with this city immediately. I noticed straightaway that if you have a goal and you are a crazy dreamer, this is the place to be!”

But is this the right move, career-wise? Career-wise she was doing just fine in Greece. Born in Maroussi, Athens (her parents are lawyers: her father comes from Smyrna, Crete and Peloponnesus and her mother is a Sephardic, Polish-Jew), Anna was already an entertainment veteran.

“Well, that’s kind of funny, because I moved here exactly at the point that I got established in the Greek entertainment industry. Ι worked in many TV shows, participating with bigger or smaller parts. The best and my most favorite part is the one I did for this very season, just before I left the country. It was a pleasure working with one of the most renowned and successful Greek directors, Mr. Kostas Koutsomitis, the show is a period drama, based on Dido Soteriou’s bestseller Matomena Khomata (Farewell Anatolia). Other interesting things I did was working with other promising directors, such as Dimitris Vorris, for his animated feature film (the first in Greece) – being a cartoon was fun!” More directors she worked with: “Some very talented ones, like Stelios Zogopoulos and Christos Houliaras.”

But she leaves it all behind and comes to New York: “Αs I already said, everything seemed like a step taking me to a different level, so I just wanted to take things to the next level. For myself, and my career, and last, but not least, quite important I would say, is that sometimes I just couldn’t deal with the way things work most of the time in Greece.”

This is a very hot topic for us Greeks living abroad: Why Greece’s business and star system don’t work quite the way they should. Anna explains her own case:

“Listen, I’m in and out of the business, literally, since I was a little kid, in many fields, like dancing, singing, high fashion, musical theatre, acting etc. Even when I was studying at the university (she studied Communication, Media and Culture at the Pantion University of Athens) I noticed one single thing: In my humble opinion, Greeks do cut their own wings. They like to play it safe; they never risk in order to get things further on. Therefore, most of the time they stay in the average safety-middle-boring zone. Hence, there are not many chances. Most of the time people are afraid of anything new. No matter if you’re a young actress, a young doctor, or a young journalist.”

So has she found what she was looking for in New York City?

“Ηere you’re able to find the people, the teachers, the partners, the space, the money, the understanding (above all) and the audience to make a start. And I believe that if you have something to contribute, there is no way of losing. I strongly believe that,” she points out, sitting at her Queens flat one rainy afternoon. “Anyway, whether you like it or not, the US was always open and helpful to many new ideas and young people. Americans always use young people’s energy to move things forward and that’s why this country is always ahead and it culturally rules the world.”

What are her achievements so far in America? “Frankly, I realize that I’m playing in a different court. Ιn the first place, Ι’m taking classes constantly, that’s the most important right now. I have to understand and learn the ‘American way’ and, of course, meet people, discover this beautiful city, watch plays, movies, go to concerts. I have to get into it, be a part of it. So far I had a role in an indie feature film. It was a very interesting part in a fiction movie and I can’t hide how excited I am about that! I cannot say more about this project, not yet at least.”

Anna splits her time between L.A. and New York and, as she says, “at some point I’ll have to stick to one of those cities. My goal is to make my dreams I had since I was a little girl come true. To work with all these people that I admire and respect or with others that share the same vision. I’m ready to work hard and I don’t worry at all. I am convinced that sooner or later I’ll get my reward...”

While now in love with America, Anna would still like to see more of Europe--Berlin, London, Paris, or Athens. She looks forward to participating in Giorgos Papatheodorou’s new TV series in Greece. She mostly admires the «Old Hollywood» actresses, such as Marlene Dietrich or Rita Hayworth, but she’s very attracted to Juliette Binoche, Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway or Cameron Diaz—“all of them for a different reason!”

Her life motto? Well, there is more than one: “Those who dare, do not live long, but all the others don’t live at all.” And Anna adds: “A dear friend of mine used to say: ‘Dude, live it or leave it’ and I totally agree on that one!”

Achilles M. Peklaris is the New York Desk Editor for the Athens Voice
achillespek@yahoo.com

Photographer Andreas Stavrinides

Photographer Andreas Stavrinides was born and raised in Athens. He studied Sociology and Art History while he was working as an event organizer for quite big productions, such as 1997’s Krzysztof Penderecki performance at Herodium Theater (under the Acropolis), as well as other important music projects on the radio. He was the publicist for the renowned Greek opera singer Mr. Mario Frangoulis and the Press Officer for the «Art Theater of Athens». Since 1998 Andreas works as a professional photographer, being a regular contributor for publications like VOGUE (Greece and Portugal), ELLE, MARIE CLAIRE, VOTRE BEAUTE, MUSE, BMM and he’s a associate of the Italian VOGUE. Anna Rezan’s photo shooting for NEO Magazine was done in London, U.K.