Before Quan became an award-winning producer, she starred in a handful of TV shows and films, including the 2003 rom-com
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One recent Oscar winner appeared alongside Kate Hudson in the classic romantic comedy How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
Anora producer Samantha Quan accepted the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 2025 Oscars on Sunday, March 2, alongside fellow producer Alex Coco and her husband, producer/writer/director Sean Baker. But before Quan, 49, became an award-winning producer, she starred in several TV shows and films — including the 2003 hit film.
After the ceremony, Instagram user Lizzie Logan pointed out on Monday, March 3, that Quan was in the popular rom-com. She noted that Quan had a “pivotal” role as Lori, one of Andie Anderson’s (Hudson) co-workers and fellow writers at the fictional magazine Composure.
Logan provided a clip from the beginning of the film when Lori is pitching a few article ideas to their boss, Lana (Bebe Neuwirth), alongside co-workers Andie, Michelle (Kathryn Hahn) and Jeannie (Annie Parisse).
“Well, the botox for beginners piece is done now,” Lori says in the scene Logan shared. “It’s a little scary but mostly upbeat! Now I’m on ‘What your gyno won’t tell you,’ which is also pretty scary. But, you know, upbeat! I finished my research on deadly pedicures about the woman who contracted that fungus from the unsterilized tools. It’s a terrible story. Although, surprisingly, upbeat!”
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Several Instagram users expressed their shock in the comment section. “Omg that is her? I love her character in how to lose 😭,” one user wrote.
“What an absolute icon,” another commented. “omg i knew i recognized her but couldn’t think of where from!!!!!!,” added one user.
Another confessed: “Her role in HTLAGITD is one of my favorites. Some of my friends would end things with ‘upbeat’ when things would get a little serious.”
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After acting in the rom-com, which also starred Matthew McConaughey, Quan starred in episodes of CSI: NY, CSI: Miami, NCIS: Los Angeles, Castle and Elementary.
Outside of acting, Quan has coproduced Baker’s features The Florida Project, Red Rocket, and, more recently, Anora. She was also a producer on Baker’s short film Snowbird.
In addition to Best Picture, Anora won four other awards during the 2025 Oscars: Original Screenplay, Film Editing, Directing and Actress in a Leading Role to Mikey Madison.
Baker, who wrote and directed the independent film, is now tied with Walt Disney as the only two people in the Academy’s history to win four Oscars in one year. However, Baker did set a new record by becoming the first person to win four Oscars for the same film.
Anora centers on the title character, a young sex worker (Madison) from Brooklyn who finds herself in a whirlwind love story when she meets Vanya (Mark Eydelshteyn), the son of a Russian oligarch, while on the job. The two fall in love and elope in Las Vegas. But Ani’s fairytale gets interrupted when the news of their marriage reaches Russia, prompting his parents to set out for New York and get the marriage annulled.
