Biography
Teona Dolnikova is familiar to Russian TV viewers from the TV series “Gypsy with a Way Out” and “The Last Janissary.” But the girl gained particular popularity on stage, playing various roles in musicals.
Teona Valentinovna Dolnikova, Russian theater and film actress and singer, was born on July 24, 1984 in the capital of Russia. Teona and the girl’s sister Ketevan grew up in Moscow in a family of humanists: her father was the head of the editorial office of the literature of the peoples of Russia at the Sovremennik publishing house, and her mother worked as a French teacher at school.
Singer and actress Teona Dolnikova
Parents paid great attention to the development of their daughters. Teona began studying ballet at the age of three, and at the age of five she already went to music school. The actress notes that such a rich program was the child’s personal choice, and the parents only followed their daughter’s wishes.
As one of the brightest episodes of Theon’s life, she recalls the story of the appearance of her first own instrument: on the night before her birthday, her mother asked what her daughter wanted to receive as a gift. The girl wanted a violin, which she discovered when she woke up on a holiday morning.
At the age of 12, Teona entered the Gnessin College of Music, combining her studies with a regular school. There the girl played the violin, piano and sang. Since childhood, Dolnikova had good vocal abilities, which she consolidated in school productions. But, wanting to get on the big stage, the girl rightly decided that working with teachers would not be superfluous.
Teona studied at college for two years, and then studied at the jazz school on its base. According to the actress, there the future celebrity received knowledge that allowed the girl to maximize her own talent.
Filmography[edit | edit code]
Film roles[edit | edit code]
- 2003-2004 - Poor Nastya - Rada
- 2006 - Who's the boss? — Anna
(minor role in one of the episodes) - 2006 — Did you order the Middle Ages? (Episode 37)
- 2006-2009 - Club - cameo
- 2008 - Gypsy with a way out - Sandra
- 2010 - Sword Without a Name (Russia, Czech Republic, was not completed) - Veronica
- 2011 - Stryker (USA) - bartender
- 2013 - Rhythm of Kansas City (USA) - Demona
- 2014 - Search for evidence - Irina Sitko
(5th episode) - 2014 - Secret City - Lyudochka
- 2014 - Secret City 2 - Lyudochka
- 2014 - The Last Janissary - Zuleika
- 2019 - John Wick 3 - USA
- 2019 – Her smell – USA
Voice acting and dubbing[edit | edit code]
- 2007 - Pocahontas (1995) - Pocahontas
- 2012 - Pocahontas 2: Journey to a New World (1998) - Pocahontas
- 2018 - Ralph Breaks the Internet - Pocahontas
Composer[edit | edit code]
- 2012 - My name is “A” (USA)
Performance of songs[edit | edit code]
- 2005 - Kukotsky's Incident - soundtrack
- 2005-2007 - Doomed to become a star - Zhenya Azarina
(role of Anna Snatkina) - 1995 - Pocahontas
- 1998 - Pocahontas 2: Journey to a New World
Movies and music
Theona got to the big stage thanks to a coincidence of circumstances and her own courage. In 1999, it was decided to stage the Polish musical “Metro” on the Russian stage. The authors of the original musical sought not to use well-known names, but to give new talents a chance to break through, which is why in the Russian version, selection for the musical was open, for the first time in the history of Russian-language productions of this kind.
Singer and actress Teona Dolnikova
Having heard on the radio that there was a casting for roles in a new musical, Dolnikova was not afraid to come and compete with several thousand other ambitious young people. Teona was 15 years old at that time, and Ketevan dissuaded her younger sister from participating in the selection, appealing to the need to have at least minimal popularity or connections in order to interest the director. And the producers, as it later turned out, initially saw a famous actress in the leading role to make the musical easier to promote. But it turned out differently.
After the initial selection of talents, the casting itself began. For several months, the actors learned the appropriate parts so that at the audition the director would decide whether he wants to see this person on stage, and if so, in what role. Having heard Teona perform one of the most difficult arias of the musical, Janusz Yuzefovich insisted that the girl be entrusted with the main role.
Teona Dolnikova, musical "Metro"
The musical "Metro" was an unexpected success. Everyone wanted to see the production - from ordinary people to show business stars. There the troupe met Alla Borisovna Pugacheva, who spoke approvingly of the musical. Separately, the Diva noted Teona’s talent, and in the future, when Alla Borisovna invited the musical’s actors to participate in the “Christmas Meetings” program in 2001, of the entire troupe only Dolnikova performed a solo number. For her role as Anna in Metro, Teona was nominated to receive the State Prize of the Russian Federation.
In 2002, again thanks to her own perseverance, Theona received the role of Esmeralda in the musical Notre Dame de Paris, in which she played until 2004. To make this happen, the girl recorded a disc with a demo version of the song “Live” from this production and sent it to composer Richard Cociante. The maestro was so shocked by the performance of the composition that he immediately invited Dolnikova to the casting, where it was not difficult for the talented girl to charm the rest of the project leaders.
Teona Dolnikova, song “Live”
Subsequently, for the role of Esmeralda, Teona received the Triumph youth theater award, the highest non-state award in the field of arts, and the Golden Mask award.
In 2004, Dolnikova was invited to the production of “Warriors of the Spirit” and was approved for the main female role. In this musical, Theona played with Dmitry Dyuzhev and Pavel Maikov, but the girl was by no means lost against the background of her famous colleagues.
Teona Dolnikova, musical "The Prophet"
In subsequent years, Theona played in several more musicals: “Viva, Perfume”, “The Prophet”, “Mata Hari”, after which in 2009 she left for the USA to study theater at the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute. In the production of “The Prophet,” Teona, in a duet with Alexander Postolenko, performed the sensual song “Passion.”
After two years of study, Teona Dolnikova returned to Moscow to play the main role in the Russian musical “You Can’t Choose Times.” The production has received many rave reviews as a performance that can easily compete with famous Broadway musicals.
Teona Dolnikova, production of “Count Orlov”
In the same year, the girl played in another successful production called “Count Orlov”. In an interview, the actress said that she was seriously fascinated by the history of the time in which the action took place. Dolnikova became a laureate of the National Award “Musical Heart of the Theater” for the role of Elizaveta Tarakanova.
Another major work in the field of musicals is the 3D production of Pola Negri, which has been running in Moscow and St. Petersburg from 2013 to the present day. Teona Dolnikova plays the main role in the play.
Teona Dolnikova, 3D production of “Pola Negri”
Then in 2020 she played Juliet in the 3D musical Romeo and Juliet. Dolnikova is also involved in the role of Sonechka Marmeladova in the rock opera Crime and Punishment. Since 2016, the girl can be seen in the role of Kitty Shcherbatskaya in the Operetta Theater musical “Anna Karenina”.
In addition to musicals, since the beginning of the 2000s, Theona has been actively involved in films, although mainly either in voice acting or in supporting roles. In particular, as part of the SLOT group, the actress participated in the creation of the soundtrack to the film Boomer.
Teona Dolnikova, rock opera “Crime and Punishment”
Another soundtrack was recorded by Theona for the series “Doomed to Be a Star.” The main character of the serial film, Zhenya Azarina, sings in Dolnikova’s voice.
In addition, the girl performed songs for the films “The Fourth Wish”, “Happy Birthday, Lola”, “The Kukotsky Incident”, “Palm Reader”.
In 2003-2004, the actress played the role of the gypsy Rada in the popular television series “Poor Nastya.” Also in 2003, she participated in the Fort Boyard program. In the team of stars of the musical “Notre Dame de Paris” she won 72,210 rubles. The actress also appeared as a cameo in the TV series “Club”.
Teona Dolnikova in the series “Gypsy with a Way Out”
Until 2008, Teona acted exclusively in episodes, after which she played one of the main roles in the series “Gypsy Girl with an Exit.” In 2009, the girl voiced Pocahontas in the Russian dubbing of the cartoon of the same name.
The further development of the actress’s Russian film career is hampered by her departure to America. In 2012-2014, Theona played in three more TV series, preferring to pay more attention to theatrical productions.
Dolnikova appeared in the role of Lyudochka in the series “The Secret City” and in the continuation of this multi-part fantasy film. The artist’s colleagues on the set were Pavel Priluchny, Igor Zhizhikin, Elena Tashaeva and others.
Trailer for the series “Secret City”
Teona also won several awards as a singer. In 2001, the girl participated in the Slavic Bazaar festival, where she performed “Swan Song”. This composition brought her the Grand Prix, which was presented personally by Alla Pugacheva. The prima donna noted that Teona performed the classic composition in a fresh and interesting way.
Dolnikova received her second vocal award in Los Angeles, it was the Grand Prix of the Golden Voices competition for young performers in 2010.
Trailer for the series “The Last Janissary”
In addition to festivals, the girl showed talent in several Russian vocal shows: “Universal Artist” in 2013, “One to One” in 2014. She did not become a winner, but, of course, was the highlight of both shows.
The following year, Teona Dolnikova played one of the main roles in the television series “The Last Janissary.” The girl's heroine's name was Zuleika.
Television projects[ | ]
- On February 26, 2003, she participated in the television game “Russian Roulette” along with other participants in the musical “Notre Dame de Paris”.
- On January 25, 2004, she took part in the television game “Guess the Melody” along with colleagues Victoria Morozova and Anton Makarsky.
- In 2004, she took part in the TV game “One Hundred to One” in the team of Poor Nastya and the Nikitsky Choir.
- From June to August 2013 she participated in the Channel One television project “Universal Artist”.
- Since March 2014 - participation in the television project of the Rossiya channel “One to One!”
- In December 2014, she appeared in the 14th episode of the 15th season of the “Battle of Psychics” program (TNT).
- She was a judge on the “Slaughter League” project on TNT.
Personal life
The affairs of the heart of the beautiful actress have long been a secret behind seven locks. In one interview, she mentioned her ex-husband, but it is unknown who the actress had in mind. She herself admitted that she was very amorous, but when communicating with the press she preferred to change the subject.
Teona Dolnikova and Nikita Bychenkov
Teona’s only relationship that she has stopped hiding is her affair with actor Nikita Bychenkov. The couple’s relationship became known at the very end of 2013, and already in June 2014 the actress suffered a terrible blow: her lover died on tour of the Et Cétéra theater. Dolnikova, as she herself admitted, for a long time could not recover from what happened, trying to moderate the pain by investing in work.
Colleague Gosha Kutsenko helped the girl cope with grief. The artist has been singing for a long time and in the fall of 2014 he presented a new album “Music”. Gosha himself wrote the songs for the collection. Kutsenko dedicated one of the compositions, “Heart,” to Teona Dolnikova. The actor wanted the artist to throw out the accumulated pain through this song. And the girl agreed. She accepted Gosha's gift. On the day of the premiere of the new album, Teona's name was on the guest list. But Dolnikova never came. I just couldn't.
Teona Dolnikova and Maxim Shchegolev
In September 2020, the artist posted a photo of Nikita on Instagram, thus honoring the memory of the guy who had passed away. Teona said that she will always remember Bychenkov. In the same post, the girl thanked her new lover for his understanding.
At the end of 2020, it became known about the novel between Teona Dolnikova and actor Maxim Shchegolev. As acquaintances of the couple told reporters, the young couple had been dating for about a year; they hid the relationship for a long time. In December, the media reported that Teona Dolnikova and Maxim Shchegolev were preparing to become parents in March 2020. If in Teona’s case it turned out to be the long-awaited first pregnancy, then Maxim is already raising three children from his previous chosen ones.
Teona Dolnikova and Maxim Shchegolev with their son
Contrary to the doctors' expectations, the baby was born in February 2020. Teona Dolnikova gave her lover a son. According to other information, Theona gave birth on January 16. The couple named the child Luka. The parents feared for the newborn, but the baby was born healthy and quickly gained the missing weight.
Dolnikova gets along well with Nikita Bychenkov’s mother. The woman joyfully accepted the news about the girl’s pregnancy and treated Luka like a grandson.
In the summer of the same year, Teona and Maxim baptized their son in Tbilisi. Shchegolev promised that he would become for Luka the kind of dad that his own father was for him. The actor himself announced the sacrament, posting a corresponding photo on Instagram.
Singer and actress Teona Dolnikova
After Luca was born, the couple gave a candid interview. From it it became clear who Theona called her “ex-husband.” It turns out that the girl is married to an American whose name is Josh. But these relationships are in the past. However, the marriage has not yet been officially dissolved. To complete this process, you need to overcome many formalities.
The couple got married in Kansas, which complicates the divorce case. The artist admitted that she didn’t care, just like Max. But at the first opportunity the girl will officially divorce. At the same time, Theona has an excellent relationship with her “husband” and Josh’s parents. And the man has had another woman for a long time.
Teona Dolnikova
Today the young artist lives in two cities - Moscow and New York.
Teona Dolnikova now
After the birth of the baby, Theona did not drop out of the work process. Already on February 25, 2017, the girl performed at a concert dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the SLOT group.
Then a project called “Workshop” appeared in Dolnikova’s career biography. According to the plot, five years after leaving the walls of the acting academy, graduates organize a meeting. During the event, unknown incidents that occurred during school come to light. But, despite the dramatic ups and downs, in the lives of the guys there is something that unites the artists - a love of art.
Teona Dolnikova, “Workshop”
The film was directed by Vladimir Alenikov. The interesting thing is that the film was shot in one shot.
In May 2020, Theona informed fans via the social network Instagram that she had received the role of a bird in New York.
