Andrea Werhun

Werhurn at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival

Andrea Werhun is a Canadian writer and actress from Toronto, Ontario.[1] She is most noted for her 2018 book Modern Whore, a memoir of her time as a sex worker prior to establishing herself as a creative professional.[2]

Werhun worked as an escort and as an erotic dancer.[2] After leaving that line of work she wrote and published Modern Whore,[2] but remained active as an outreach worker helping to educate active sex workers on issues such as safer sex and protecting themselves from violence.[1]

After publishing Modern Whore, she appeared in a short documentary film adaptation of the book, directed by Nicole Bazuin.[1] An expanded edition of the book was published by Penguin Random House Canada in 2022,[3] and a feature film version of the documentary, directed by Bazuin and executive produced by Sean Baker, entered production in 2024.[4]

In 2023, she was a producer of Bazuin's short film Thriving: A Dissociated Reverie.[5]

In 2024, she served as a creative consultant on Baker's film Anora,[6] and had an acting role in Sook-Yin Lee's film Paying for It.[7]

  1. ^ a b c Simonpillai, Radheyan (March 28, 2020). "Toronto sex worker Andrea Werhun: 'Whores are pretty relatable when it comes down to it'". Now. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Kozicka, Patricia (December 21, 2017). "Andrea Werhun: 'It's a really good time to talk about sex work'". The Guardian. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  3. ^ Perdue, Noelle (June 9, 2022). "'Modern Whore' is a love letter to sex workers—and the art of the hustle". Xtra Magazine. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  4. ^ Townsend, Kelly (January 17, 2024). "Director Sean Baker boards hybrid doc Modern Whore as EP". Playback. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  5. ^ Babiera, Angelica (December 14, 2022). "Xavier Dolan's drama series selected for Sundance". Playback. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  6. ^ Perella, Vincent (September 8, 2024). "Sean Baker Didn't Pick Up on the Similarities Between 'Anora' and 'Pretty Woman' Until Halfway Through Production". IndieWire. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  7. ^ Sikander Mirza, Taimur (May 31, 2024). "Wildling, Hawkeye wrap adaptation of novel Paying for It". Playback. Retrieved November 9, 2024.