Lana On Her Character’s Evolution: It’s The Same Person, But Different Chapters Of Her Life

Lana believes her time in WWE has made her a better actor.

Speaking with Digital Spy, the RAW Superstar spoke about the evolution of her character over the years; from starting out as a villainous manager with a thick Russian accent to her current incarnation as the bully-beating hero. Lana said the following:

“I like to look at my career in WWE as chapters, different chapters of Lana’s life. I feel like this chapter of Lana is a lot closer to C.J. in the sense of the way we’re even packaging her versus when I first came on the scene with Rusev and I talked with a very thick accent.

Then when I was doing the Bobby Lashley and Rusev story, that’s further. That’s was an adulterous chapter in Lana’s life, so that is very different to who I am, but it was exciting to play.”

Although her on-screen persona is closer now to her real-life than it was when she began, Lana said that it is still a difficult challenge because it’s harder to delineate between yourself and your character. She said the following:

“This [Lana] is much closer to me. But sometimes it’s a lot more challenging mentally because the line is a little bit more blurred but I love it.”

While she wasn’t exclusively a heel for her entire career, Lana has enjoyed showing off her more vulnerable side. It’s a different role, but as always, she relishes the challenge and finds it to be very exciting.

On Monday Night Raw, Lana has been teaming with Naomi, recently losing to Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler in a Tag Team Championship match.

Lana can also be seen opposite Bruce Willis in the new film, Cosmic Sin, which was released on March 12, 2021.