Summary

• Anna Baryshnikov, daughter of ballet legend Mikhail Baryshnikov, has carved out a successful career in film and TV, standing apart from her father's fame.
• Despite initially trying to follow in her father's footsteps in ballet, Baryshnikov found her true passion in acting and has landed major roles in movies and TV shows at a young age.
• Baryshnikov's breakout role was in the film "Manchester by the Sea" where she delivered a confident and mature performance, standing out among more experienced actors. She gained further recognition for her role in the series "Dickinson," showcasing her range as an actress.

Though she is still a young star on the rise, Anna Baryshnikov has already amassed an impressive array of credits in both film and TV. Daughter of world-famous ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, the junior Baryshnikov has stepped out of her famous father's shadow and created a successful career for herself in an entirely different sphere. Though her dad also turned heads on screen when he earned an Oscar nomination for his role in 1977's The Turning Point, the Baryshnikov name has forever been linked to the world of ballet thanks to Mikhail's amazing achievements.

When appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2017, Anna Baryshnikov mentioned that she tried to follow in her father's footsteps by attending ballet classes, but was unable to stop chatting while in lessons. Clearly a performer from the outset, Baryshnikov's abandoning of dance allowed her to pursue art of an entirely different sort, and she landed big roles in movies and TV at a young age. Though she has big shoes to fill as a rising star in Hollywood, Anna Baryshnikov has already played career-defining roles and is certain to play many more in the future.

Anna Baryshnikov's Breakout Role Was Sandy In Manchester By The Sea

The unforgettable 2010s drama Manchester by the Sea made waves when it was released in 2016, and amid the gripping story of loss and redemption, Anna Baryshnikov had her first major big-screen success as Sandy. The supporting character is introduced as one of Patrick's (Lucas Hedges) love interests and is a girl he desperately wants to be with. For her part, the relatively inexperienced Baryshnikov brought maturity to the teen character and delivered a confident performance that totally bucked the shy, girl-next-door tone of stereotypical characters like Sandy. The film itself garnered a Best Picture Oscar nomination, and Baryshnikov held her own among much more experienced performers.

Anna Baryshnikov Is Best Known For Playing Lavinia Norcross Dickinson In Dickinson

Though Anna Baryshnikov's Manchester by the Sea role put her on the map, she became a household name thanks to her co-starring turn as Lavinia Norcross Dickinson in the playful Apple TV+ series Dickinson. The show chronicled the fabled life of poet Emily Dickinson (Hailee Steinfeld) but was not bound by the typical strictures of a period piece. The youngest of the Dickinson siblings, Lavinia's desire for a husband is her driving emotion, and the show's anachronistic approach to storytelling allowed Baryshnikov's performance to transcend the stuffiness of its period setting.

Anna Baryshnikov's role as Lavinia allowed her to stretch her range a bit, as the character's patent immaturity was in direct contrast to the self-assured Sandy that she had previously played in Manchester by the Sea. The actress was also given the chance to offer growth within a character, as she was involved in some of Dickinson's steamy romances across its three seasons which gave her a chance to change. Having already made a mark in both film and TV, Anna Baryshnikov has proven herself to be a capable star.