Anya Major (born 1966) is an athlete and model who starred in
Apple Computer's famous
"1984" commercial, and who appeared as
Nikita in the video to
Elton John's song of the same name.
In 1983, the
Chiat/Day advertising agency held a
casting call in
London, on behalf of their client,
Apple Computer, for what would prove to be a landmark
television commercial. The vision of the agency and director
Ridley Scott stipulated an actress capable of running up to a large video screen, swinging a
sledgehammer in a wide spin, and releasing it at the video screen. Unfortunately, most of the models and actresses tested could not wield the clumsy hammer, much less throw it; in fact, one errant throw nearly struck a passerby at the
Hyde Park casting call.
The petite Major, an experienced
discus thrower who had been discovered at a local health club, won the role with her ability to handle the hammer convincingly.
The commercial aired only twice on
American television, most famously just after half-time of
Super Bowl XVIII on
January 22,
1984.
Even with this limited appearance, the ad created such a media frenzy that it gained many subsequent free TV airings and print mentions as it was discussed in the media.
Major later portrayed "
Nikita" in the
Elton John 1986
music video of the same name. As a spin-off, she released a single named
Moscow Nights using the name
Anya.
Although
Andy Hertzfeld of the Macintosh development team stated that Major had died of breast cancer in 2000, she is alive and well. She lives in
England with her husband Kim Rajah and their three children. Major is an alumna of the
United World College of South East Asia and was in attendance for the 30th anniversary reunion in December 2005 .
See also
