Andrea Werhun

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Andrea Werhun
Andrea Werhun at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival 02 (cropped).jpg
Notable work Modern Whore
Website andreawerhun.com

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] She studied at University of Toronto, majoring in English and minoring in religious studies. [3]

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 violent clients. [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. [4] A feature film version of the documentary, directed by Bazuin and executive produced by Sean Baker, entered production in 2024, [5] and premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. [6]

In 2023, she was a producer of Bazuin's short film Thriving: A Dissociated Reverie . [7]

In 2024, she served as a creative consultant on Baker's film Anora , [8] and had an acting role in Sook-Yin Lee's film Paying for It . [9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 3 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. "Sex worker and Anora consultant Andrea Werhun's journey from strip clubs to Hollywood". Toronto Life. 2025-06-02. Retrieved 2025-07-03.
  4. 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.
  5. Townsend, Kelly (January 17, 2024). "Director Sean Baker boards hybrid doc Modern Whore as EP". Playback . Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  6. Etan Vlessing, "Ben Proudfoot’s Obamas-Backed ‘The Eyes of Ghana’ to Open Toronto Fest Doc Program". The Hollywood Reporter , August 6, 2025.
  7. Babiera, Angelica (December 14, 2022). "Xavier Dolan's drama series selected for Sundance". Playback . Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  8. 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.
  9. Sikander Mirza, Taimur (May 31, 2024). "Wildling, Hawkeye wrap adaptation of novel Paying for It". Playback . Retrieved November 9, 2024.