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- She failed the entrance exams to the Moscow Art Theater three times, but became a star: Lyudmila Zaitseva turned 80 years old
She failed the entrance exams to the Moscow Art Theater three times, but became a star: Lyudmila Zaitseva turned 80 years old
People's Artist of Russia Lyudmila Zaitseva has gone through a difficult path to recognition. Since childhood, she dreamed of the stage and tried three times to enroll in the Moscow Art Theater Studio School. The attempts were unsuccessful, but this did not prevent her from eventually becoming one of the notable actresses of Soviet and Russian cinema. Her roles were remembered by the audience for their sincerity and depth, and she herself said more than once that success came thanks to perseverance and love for the profession. On the day of the 80th anniversary of the artist, Izvestia remembers her career, as well as her iconic roles in theater and cinema.
Childhood and the path to the acting profession
Lyudmila Zaitseva was born on July 21, 1946 in the Kuban farm Vostochny in a family of hereditary peasants. Her childhood was in the post-war years. Life was not easy then, but it was during this period, full of difficulties and hardships, that the character of the future actress was formed.
The performers of the roles in the film "And the dawns are quiet here" Elena Drapeko (left) and Lyudmila Zaitseva (right) with the film's director Stanislav Rostotsky at the VI All-Union Film Festival in Alma Ata
Her parents separated shortly after the birth of her daughter, and her upbringing fell entirely on the shoulders of Olga Ilyinichna's mother, who tried to instill in the girl a love of art and reading. Later, the actress recalled that the family lived modestly, but there was always a place for books and sincere conversations in the house.
Already in her school years, Zaitseva began to be interested in theater. After graduating from high school, she went to Moscow to enroll in a theater college. She tried to get into the Moscow Art Theater Studio School three times, but failed each time. According to the actress, these refusals hardened her and taught her not to give up.
"They wouldn't take me, and it was very hard, but I understood that if I wanted to, I had to go to the end," she said in an interview.
Despite the setbacks, Zaitseva continued to prepare, while simultaneously working as a plasterer and cleaner. In 1965, Lyudmila was accepted into the supporting cast of the Ryazan Theater of the Young Spectator, where she performed as an actress of mass scenes. A year later, she returned to Moscow and enrolled in the Shchukin Theater College, from which she graduated in 1970.
Actor Gennady Korolkov as Pluzhnikov and actress Lyudmila Zaitseva as Luda Neverova in the play Harmony by Andrey Gorokhov
Studying became an important stage for her, where she not only gained professional skills, but also finally became convinced of the correctness of the chosen path. Later, the actress admitted that perseverance helped her achieve success. She noted that talent is important, but it is impossible to build a career without work and discipline.
How Lyudmila Zaitseva became a star of Soviet cinema
Lyudmila Zaitseva got her first film experience while still studying. It was a cameo role in Andrei Konchalovsky's film "The Story of Asi Klyachina...", which was released in 1967. However, the real fame came later.
The actress gradually gained experience by acting in small roles. The directors noted her naturalness and ability to convey complex emotions without unnecessary theatricality. Her heroines were distinguished by inner strength and vital truth, which resonated with the audience.
The real breakthrough came in 1972, when Stanislav Rostotsky invited her to the war drama "And the dawns here are quiet." The director saw in the actress "peasant beauty and soldier's bearing," approving Kiryanova for the role of Sergeant.
A shot from the movie "... And the dawns here are quiet" (1972)
— It was not easy to properly wear a military uniform, a holster, report according to the regulations and walk in a marching step. But we were assigned people who taught us this. And so is youth, white nights, Karelia, a wonderful band," the actress recalled about the filming.
In the same year, Vitaly Melnikov offered Zaitseva the main role of Shura Yarmolyuk in the melodrama Hello and Goodbye. Her partner in the film was Oleg Yefremov, who played district policeman Grigory Burov. According to the plot, an affair ensued between the characters of the tape. The actors played so convincingly that after the release of the film, the audience "married" Zaitseva and Efremov, although in life they were connected only by friendship.
After these works, the directors began to actively invite the actress to other projects. She was especially good at playing ordinary women from the people with a difficult fate. These images were close to the audience because they reflected real life. According to Zaitseva herself, each role was a separate story for her.
A shot from the movie "Hello and Goodbye" (1972)
— Rural people are spiritually close to me with their openness and spiritual generosity. The image of a rural woman is so multifaceted that two acting lives won't be enough to reveal it. I tried to live the life of my heroine, to understand her," she noted.
The most famous roles of Lyudmila Zaitseva
Over the years of her creative career, Lyudmila Zaitseva has starred in more than 70 films and TV series. Among her notable works is Vasily Shukshin's lyrical comedy "Stoves and Benches", where she played the small but vivid role of Lyudmila, the sister of the main character Ivan Rastorguev. Another important milestone was the multi—part film adaptation of Mikhail Sholokhov's novel "The Quiet Don", in which the actress played Vasilisa Ilyinichna, the mother of Grigory Melekhov.
A special place in her filmography is occupied by the role of the mother of the main character in the film "Little Vera" directed by Vasily Pichul. Initially, Zaitseva refused to participate in the project. According to her, after reading the script, she had a feeling of disgust. It seemed to the actress that the authors deliberately want to blacken the image of ordinary working people in order to attract attention.
However, the director managed to convince her. Pichul personally met with the actress and spoke in detail about his idea, explaining that the film reflects the reality of his time — with generational conflict, family dramas and internal contradictions. As a result, Zaitseva agreed to take part in the filming.
A shot from the movie "Little Faith" (1988)
This role has become one of the most striking and controversial in her creative biography. The film caused a lot of discussion and controversy. The actors, including Zaitseva, were accused of promoting an immoral lifestyle. However, the actress herself noted that her character has recognizable features — she herself had seen such women in the Kuban.
The film "Little Vera" became one of the most striking films of the perestroika period and received many awards, including the Nika Award, the prize of the International Association of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) at the Venice Film Festival and a special prize at the Montreal International Film Festival.
Personal life of Lyudmila Zaitseva and her family
The actress was married twice. She met her first love at the Shchukin College. Her classmate Sergey Milovanov became her chosen one. The feelings were so deep that the actress later called them dependent. According to her, the actor was extremely talented, almost brilliant, but experienced serious difficulties in his profession and eventually began to abuse alcohol.
Because of this relationship, she couldn't focus on her studies, and her teachers advised her to break up. As a result, the wedding never took place.: the actress chose a career.
Later in her life, engineer Vladimir Fedorov, a graduate of MEPhI, appeared. They met as part of a "cultural exchange" between university students and Shchuka students. At first, they were united by their interest in European cinema, but then communication became regular. The couple got married and lived together for about eight years, but over time the feelings faded and they separated.
For the second time, the actress married director and screenwriter Gennady Voronin, whom she met on the set of the film "Childhood Holidays" based on the stories of Vasily Shukshin. His independent outlook on life and deep inner freedom immediately attracted Zaitseva. He proposed right during the film expedition, and the wedding took place in Moscow.
In 1982, the couple had a daughter, Vasilisa. Zaitseva and Voronin have lived together for more than 30 years. In the 1990s, the director became seriously ill, suffered a heart attack and stroke, and the actress actually left her job to be with him. In 2011, Gennady Voronin passed away. After that, Zaitseva never remarried.
Actress Lyudmila Zaitseva and her husband, film director Gennady Voronin, at the Shukshin readings in the village of Srostki
The daughter of the actress Vasilisa Voronina also chose the acting profession. She married her classmate and became the mother of three children — Serafim, Anfisa and Stepanida. According to Lyudmila Zaitseva, with the appearance of grandchildren, her main role in life has become the role of a grandmother, and she tries to be an attentive and caring mentor for them.
Interesting facts about Lyudmila Zaitseva on her 80th birthday
One of the most famous facts of Zaitseva's biography remains her attempt to enter the Moscow Art Theater. Three failures could break anyone, but she didn't give up on her dream. This episode is often cited as an example of perseverance and strength of character for future applicants and students of theater universities.
The actress has always been principled in her choice of roles. She refused projects that did not correspond to her inner beliefs. According to her, it was important for her to remain honest with herself and the audience, so she was attracted not by the number of roles, but by their content.
In addition to cinema, the actress devoted many years to the theater. Before entering the Shchukin College, she managed to work in the Ryazan Youth Theater, and in 1976 joined the troupe of the Moscow Theater Studio of the actor. Since 2019, she has been a member of Nikita Mikhalkov's Workshop 12 troupe.
Despite her popularity, the actress does not seek publicity and rarely gives interviews. By her admission, she has always been more interested in work than in the attention of the press. Perhaps that's why her film roles are still so beloved by the audience.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
