People's Artist of the USSR Elina Bystritskaya 90 years

• People's Artist of the USSR Elina Bystritskaya 90 years

April 4 marks the 90th anniversary of one of the most famous Soviet and Russian film and stage actress, People's Artist of the USSR Elina Bystritskaya. Despite the extraordinary talent and spectacular appearance, she played a relatively small role. Viewers will remember her, mainly in the form of Axinya of "Quiet Flows the Don" and do not suspect that such roles in her creative life could be much higher if not for a certain dramatic circumstances because of which the actress for more than 20 years does not He starred in the movie and was even travel abroad.

The actress has long does not give interviews about the holiday dates, and the date does not consider the very special: "I love only two holiday - 23 February and 9 May, and on April 4 - not a holiday, but the fact of my biography." However, on this day it is impossible not to recall those of its work, without which the anthology of Soviet cinema would be incomplete. It is rightly called one of the brightest and most beautiful national stars, although she does not like big words in his address.

Her first notable work in film was "unfinished story". For this film, she turned down the role of Viola in the film adaptation of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" (as a result of its Lucko played Clara). Many such a choice seemed strange - say, as one might prefer the classics of modern world history of love female doctor and her patient. But the actress has never regretted his decision and explained it as follows: "With the war years and the worship of doctors believe that the sacrifice and noble profession on the ground there." (She herself graduated from medical school, but worked in the specialty for long). After the film's release acknowledged her best actress years. That's right, do not hesitate and do not hesitate, it takes all its decisions in the future, for which he earned a reputation for unwavering "Iron Lady", that hardly describes it fully.

The novel by Mikhail Sholokhov "Quiet Flows the Don" Elina Bystritskaya first read in 20 years and since then dreamed of the role Aksinya. She was sure that this character was a real prototype, and that she must have been a whirlwind romance with the writer himself. While still a student at the Kiev Institute of Theater Bystritskaya trying to realize his dream into reality, try on the image Aksinya, but the master of the course it has criticized, saying that her destiny - to play romantic heroines Schiller. But the coveted role she still went - she performed it in 30 years.

The first meeting with the director of "Quiet Flows the Don" was a complete failure: "I came to Gerasimov for the apartment. He gave me an excerpt from "The Quiet Don". I looked, and it is the same as my student, disastrous. I feel I can not open my mouth. In addition, he is sitting next to some hook-nosed actor from Orel with curly dark hair and blue eyes. What kind of Grisha? He is the son of Turkish women! He just did not like me. But it was not in it, and in my fear of a repetition of student failure. And I said Gerasimov, I can not now read ... ". Nevertheless, after much trial Bystritskaya approved - insisted on it himself, Mikhail Sholokhov. Axinya role in "Quiet Flows the Don" the actress called the most difficult in my life and confessed that she could not let go of it for many years. After that it was associated only with Aksinya. "After the" Quiet Flows the Don "thirty elders of the Don Cossacks handed me a certificate on parchment in the form of a scroll, which declared me an honorary Cossack and asked henceforth be designated only as Aksinya Don. I told him that his father's name will not change, but they are extremely grateful for the recognition of my achievements ", - says the actress.

In spite of the devotion to the profession, actress for many years remained without roles in theater and cinema. This happened due to the uncompromising nature Bystritskaya that is not afraid to speak the truth in the face of the directors, he refused to act if the script seemed to her weak, and never agreed to indecent proposals senior officials. Due to such a categorical refusal, she even began to travel abroad for several years. Aware of its selectivity and irreconcilable, directors ceased to offer her new role. A break in her film career was delayed by more than 20 years.

She returned to the set only in 1991, playing a detective "Seven days after the murder," and then in the melodrama "farewell tour" and the comedy "Brave guys." She did not regret that the election was over and in the movies, and in his personal life - after 27 years of marriage, she left her husband because of his infidelities. "That has been my life, that I'm alone ... The choice is what might be someone to be, but for this, in my view, must be present certain qualities in the relationship. I prefer the wisdom of Omar Khayyam: "It is better to be alone than with just anyone." What does the proud independence? I need heartfelt passion. And all the joy of communication - it is quite another, "- she explains.

Elina Bystritskaya also played about 30 leading roles in the theater, though here its creative potential was not implemented in full. Among her recent works - Hlestova role in the play "Woe from Wit", after which she stopped appearing on stage, although like this, even in small roles. And this need has not been dictated by the desire for fame and recognition: "The fate of the actress - no flowers and applause, not short-term success, which can be dissolved in a rapidly changing time. It's hard work, moral tests, doubt, hesitation, to overcome such obstacles, which I did not expect. And it is impossible not to mention fall, but even to bend down on their knees. And if it happened - Arise, and go! ".

It is the ability to go out of any situation with your head held high, her talent to maintain grace and femininity with sufficiently stringent, finally, her enduring beauty, and today we can only admire.