In 1956 , a movie called Anastasia was made . Ingrid Bergman acted Anna Anderson , Yul Brynner was General Bounine ( a fictional character based on several real men ) , and Helen Hayes as the Dowager Empress Marie , Anastasia 's grandmother . The most famous is probably the highly fictionalized 1956 Anastasia starring Ingrid Bergman as Anna Anderson , Yul Brynner as General Bounine ( a fictional character based on several actual men ) , and Helen Hayes as the Dowager Empress Marie , Anastasia 's paternal grandmother .