Biography
Ivan Yankovsky is a hereditary actor, successor to the famous dynasty. All generations of Russian viewers know his star ancestors. Ivan’s paternal grandfather, Oleg Yankovsky, is a famous theater and film actor who served in the legendary Lenkom and created more than a hundred vivid images on the screen. Grandmother - Lyudmila Zorina - Honored Artist of Russia, worked with her husband in the same theater.
Vanya’s parents are no less talented. Dad, Philip Yankovsky, is a popular actor and is also an original director. And my mother, Oksana Fandera, is also a famous film actress and a favorite of audiences. Ivan has a younger sister Elizaveta, who, in turn, was no exception to the rule, following in the footsteps of her parents.
The boy grew up surrounded by the creative intelligentsia and received an appropriate upbringing. He couldn’t imagine his future outside of art, although as a schoolboy, like many teenagers, he dreamed of space: “I wanted to be a pilot, an astronaut, I liked the unknown. Already at the age of 15-16, reading newspapers, I always wondered why they didn’t write about space. I wanted to do this so that I would have something to tell people about. And then everything flowed so smoothly, and I realized that I really love cinema. I’ve always been interested in different cinema, including American independent cinema.”
After eighth grade, his parents transferred their son from general education to the Moscow International Film School, about which he says: “It’s only called a film school. In fact, the essence of this institution is that the child learns at an early age to understand what life is. You had to go to school like you went to college: learn excerpts of fables and poems and pass an exam.
I went through a lot with this school: I was on the Solovetsky Islands, on an expedition to Armenia and Turkey, in South Africa - there we filmed a documentary about children. All these events were aimed, first of all, at understanding what this means for you personally. The school always created conditions in which you had to define some values for yourself. Wherever you went, whatever you did, you always had to answer the question: why do you need all this? This school put my mind in order.”
Ivan received his higher theater education at GITIS. Yankovsky Jr. wanted to specialize in directing, because he believed that creating pictures was more interesting than acting in them. But on the advice of his mother, he chose the acting and directing department and ended up in the workshop of Sergei Zhenovach. Among his graduation works: Leander - in J. Moliere's play "Scapin" staged by Vladimir Smirnov, Pogodin - in Yegor Ravinsky's play "A.P. Chekhov. Favorites”, participation in Vera Kamyshnikova’s play “The Impossible” based on the stories of A.P. Platonov “Happiness is near a person” and “The Impossible”.
Childhood and family of Ivan Yankovsky
Despite the fact that Vanya was born into an acting family, the desire to become a successor to the glorious traditions of the Yankovskys was not immediately born in his soul. Like many children, the boy dreamed of becoming an astronaut for a long time, and the rest came later. That is, he had fantasy and love for other worlds since childhood. In an interview, he once even admitted that he admitted the existence of otherworldly forces.
Ivan Yankovsky and his grandfather Oleg Yankovsky (2002)
As a child, Ivan managed to try several sports, but did not stay anywhere for long - neither in athletics, nor in swimming, nor in ball games (however, he became interested in boxing and still does). And only in adolescence did he seriously pay attention to cinema - family genes nevertheless made themselves felt.
Ivan inherited his bright appearance from his parents
At the age of 10, Vanya Yankovsky first appeared on the set of Oleg Yankovsky’s sentimental film “Come See Me,” where the boy played the angel of Christmas. It must be said that the casting could not have happened - the grandfather was not going to give Ivan any concessions. He got into the cast on his own.
Parents of Ivan Yankovsky: Oksana Fandera and Philip Yankovsky
At first, Ivan studied at school No. 1840 with a mathematical bias, and after 9th grade he entered the Moscow International Film School. During his studies, he visited Solovki, Armenia, Turkey and even South Africa - where students filmed a documentary.
Elizaveta Yankovskaya, Ivan’s sister, also an actress
Then Ivan continued his studies at the directing and acting department of GITIS, in the workshop of Sergei Zhenovach. There were no concessions here either, but the gifted young man fearlessly undertook the craziest experiments.
Theater
In 2013, after graduating from RATI, the aspiring actor was accepted into the troupe of the Theater Art Studio under the guidance of his institute mentor Sergei Zhenovach.
Here he was immediately offered the main roles. In “Notes of a Dead Man,” based on M. Bulgakov, the artist played the aspiring writer Sergei Leontievich Maksudov, through whose dreams and nightmares the viewer is immersed in the mysterious and enigmatic world of theatrical drama.
Director Sergei Zhenovach explains: “This is not an ordinary dramatization of Theatrical Romance.” Our performance is based on the nature of the feelings of dreams, and most importantly, the tragicomic perception of the world. We wanted to focus on the relationship between the author and his characters, the author and the theater, the playwright and the director. It was important to make it clear what a painful and insoluble conflict this is: between what the author wants to do and what happens in the end. How much the author's plan loses as a result of this conflict. Sometimes the most important thing is what everything was started for.”
Another interesting work of the actor is the role of Oleg Leonidovich in the production of Nikolai Erdman’s play “Suicide”. The play became a nominee for the national theater award “Golden Mask”. The permanent head of STI spoke about the project: “Our performance is a statement about what is happening to people now, to reflect on today’s “little man.” The idea of the main character Podsekalnikov that “I want to live,” I want to go to work, I want to love, may seem philistine to some, but for us it is important.”
In 2020, Sergei Zhenovach again returned to the work of Mikhail Bulgakov. This time he took on the imperishable work - “The Master and Margarita”, where Ivan Yankovsky transforms into his namesake. The actor shares: “I play Ivan Bezdomny, a man who came to faith. He was an atheist who wrote anti-religious poems, and seemed to only want notoriety - which suited him at first. And then it all resulted in the fact that he remained the only hero from the entire novel who began to really engage with Pontius Pilate. His life took on meaning after meeting Woland, he changed it.”
Cinema
Despite his young age, Ivan Yankovsky has extensive experience working in the frame. Following the example of his father, who made his film debut in early childhood, he played his first role at the age of ten. This was the Angel in the famous film by Mikhail Agranovich and Oleg Yankovsky “Come See Me” based on Nadezhda Ptushkina’s play “While She Was Dying”. The picture turned out to be the only one where Vanya played with his famous grandfather and under his leadership.
"Indigo"
Ivan Yankovsky first loudly announced himself as an actor in 2008, playing Andrei in the adventure thriller “Indigo” by Roman Prygunov. His hero is a teenager with superpowers.
A group of ordinary-looking young people are hiding from prying eyes on the roof of a Moscow high-rise building. Their chosenness forces them to seek solitude and stay together. They are Indigos, people of the future. They sense danger, understand the language of animals, read minds and remember their past lives. Their uniqueness frightens some and delights others.
He talks about what attracted Ivan to the script of the film: “I really liked the script of the film. I was interested in this story about young guys. They are about my age and live the same ordinary city life. They are friends, experiencing their first love, and are into skateboarding. But several bright elements have been added to this ordinaryness: firstly, their amazing abilities, and secondly, a maniac who hunts for the guys. I decided to play this role because I was interested in becoming a boy with unusual abilities. My hero, Andrei, knows how to foresee events.”
After graduating from GITIS, the actor starred with Mikhail Mestetsky in the tragicomedy “The Rag Union” about reckless teenage dreamers who believe that they will change the whole world. The character that the actor introduced turned out to be very close to him: “I have this thing in me - to gather everyone, and then suddenly say: “That’s it, cancel, nothing will happen.” This character is not to say that he is flighty - he is ideological, gathers everyone and leads him, but when he realizes that all this makes no sense and that it is better to go to college, he decides: “Let's all about.
"Without Borders"
In 2020, the artist took part in the comedy melodrama “Without Borders,” filmed by a team of directors - Roman Prygunov, Karen Oganesyan and Rezo Gigineishvili. A film about true love: bright and passionate, mature and merciless, naive and ridiculous, happy and not so happy. The stories of the characters are woven into one big romantic comedy about how true love knows no borders, no laws, no nationalities. The film stars such celebrities as: Inna Churikova, Oleg Basilashvili, Alexander Adabashyan. And the duet for the actor was composed by the young, talented artist Anna Chipovskaya.
Ivan got to film the film thanks to Rezo Gigineishvili. “Rezo invited me to audition, told me about the story, I became interested,” explains the actor. — The idea of flying to Yerevan, to Armenia, seemed very interesting. In addition, there was a wonderful partner - Anya was in the project from the very beginning, in my opinion. In general, I got excited, tried it out, and everything worked out. This story is quite simple, light, heartfelt. My character is a charming, sensual jerk. Well, charming in places. And any of its unpleasant manifestations - they, in my opinion, should not cause rejection. This can happen to anyone. “Without Borders” is a collective film, there are many characters in it, everyone can recognize themselves.”
In 2020, the actor received leading roles in three major multi-genre projects at once: the action film by Emilis Velivis “Night Guardians”, the melodrama by Nadezhda Vitalskaya “The Source” and the detective story by Pavel Lungin “The Queen of Spades”.
"Source"
The creators themselves define the genre of the film as “modern legend.” The hero of Ivan Yankovsky is his namesake, a resident of the metropolis, who, thanks to his older brother, the owner of a large construction company, can live comfortably and waste his life. Fate pits him against Alena, a girl living in the forest, in harmony with herself and nature, untouched by civilization.
Alena was played by Valentina Koleva, and the film also starred: Rosa Khairullina, Alexander Rapoport, Pavel Delong.
“The film appeared in my life unexpectedly,” the actor admits, “just at the moment when I had the same thoughts as my character, also Ivan. I didn’t really understand what I wanted to do, what was really important in life. And “The Source” appeared, which, it seems to me, helped and even inspired me.”
“We tried to show a closed person who lives in a dark world, rides with a driver, looks at everything through glasses, and no longer feels real life at all. Ivan closed himself off after breaking up with his girlfriend Alena, and he is under pressure. It seems that he began to do the things that he and his brother agreed to do. But through aloofness and coldness, glasses and an office, we tried to convey that he is doing what he supposedly should, but at the same time his feelings and heart are in a completely different place,” the artist clarified.
"Queen of Spades"
In Pavel Lungin's film adaptation of Pushkin's The Queen of Spades, Ivan Yankovsky played the opera singer Andrei, who passionately dreams of getting the role of Herman in Tchaikovsky's production. The young man begins to fight for his dream job, which will ultimately drive him crazy.
The actor lifts the curtain on the film’s creation: “Pavel Semenovich wrote this complex script for many years. The action of the picture is transferred to our time. And my hero tastes life in all its manifestations - performs at the Bolshoi Theater, is eager to sing the main role in the production of the legendary opera diva Sofia Mayer (Ksenia Rappoport), plays in a casino, interacts with Caucasian wrestlers. He is everywhere where there is an opportunity to realize oneself.”
The film is distinguished not only by its interesting plot and the director’s original interpretation of the classics. Pavel Lungin brought to the screen erotic scenes played by young Yankovsky and 42-year-old Ksenia Rappoport, in which the actor appears completely naked.
The artist says about the project and his work in it: “In our script there is the following idea: a person is alive while he is at the forefront of life and feels the nightmare of what is happening to him. You're not you when you're not on fire! A normal person would refuse such a life. But my hero is ready to do anything to prove to others his right to success. As for the script’s proximity to a literary source, there are echoes of Pushkin’s “The Queen of Spades.” But we cannot say that we are filming according to the plot of Pushkin’s plot. Pavel Semenovich came up with a separate reality, a free-breathing work in which we exist.
The opera block is one of the most memorable moments. My colleagues and I studied vocals at the Bolshoi Theater with Dmitry Yuryevich Vdovin (professor at the Academy of Choral Art). We were taught to draw out vowel sounds and be sure to emphasize consonants. It was very interesting. We were waiting for these rehearsals and filming. We tried to combine opera and cinema. We studied choreography with the famous Alla Sigalova.”
“For a beginning artist, working with a director of this caliber is a tremendous experience,” emphasizes Ivan. “He is a very sensitive artist and has a great feel for the actors and the theme that he wants to convey to the audience and the artists on set. When we were filming the first block of scenes, I suddenly realized: this story is about me! It's as if it was written about my life. Not literally about Ivan Yankovsky, of course, but very close to me in spirit - I understand on an intuitive level what and how to play. Pavel Semenovich’s work is built, first of all, from the heart and soul, and not from thoughts and ideas.”
"Night Guardians"
In the new film by Emilis Velivis “Night Guardians” (working title “Wings”) about the fight against the other world represented by werewolves and witches, the main roles were played by: Ivan Yankovsky, Leonid Yarmolnik, Lyubov Aksenova, Sabina Akhmedova, Mikhail Evlanov. In one of the interviews, the actor explained why he was interested in this work: “First of all, a new genre. During my short career, I have not tried my hand at action fantasy, and after Pavel Semenovich Lungin’s “Queen of Spades,” where the structure of the film is completely different, the role and genre are radically different, I was interested in taking on “Wings.” Besides, it’s every guy’s dream to find himself in a movie where you save the world!
We are, in fact, making a comic book movie, this is what my generation grew up with, watching foreign films about seemingly ordinary guys who, as the story progresses, turn into real heroes. And in this “Wings” is somewhat similar to them - our film is also about the formation of a hero. In general, superhero films from strong directors, such as Christopher Nolan, are always so good and infectious that you put yourself in the shoes of the main character, and this brings a certain joy. And I, of course, wanted to try my hand at something like that, where there is action, humor, history, and a director with Western, European thinking. It so happened that all this is present in “Wings.”
To create the image of his hero - an express delivery courier who fights vampires - Ivan mastered several complex tricks.
“I do sports and martial arts, so I didn’t really need to prepare physically for the role,” said the actor. “I had an understudy in the picture, but I always ask permission to fall, jump, and fight myself. But some things were still handed over to professionals - this concerns flying on cables, strong impacts against walls. Although, of course, I would like to be like Tom Cruise, who flies on a plane and climbs skyscrapers. But I did the fights, fights and falls myself.”
In total, the young actor has about a dozen leading roles in feature films.
Movies
The actor's second appearance on screen took place eight years after his film debut. It was the film “Indigo”, directed by Roman Prygunov. He was friends with the father of a high school student and therefore invited the young man to the shooting. Film critics crushed the fantasy thriller to smithereens, but actor Ivan Yankovsky analyzed his mistakes and continued filming.
In 2020, Mikhail Mestetsky invited the artist to the youth comedy-drama “The Rag Union”. Together with colleagues Vasily Butkevich, Pavel Chinarev and Alexander Pal, Yankovsky received a prize for this film at Kinotavr. This was followed by filming in the documentary “Yankovsky” and the comedy “Without Borders”.
2016 was a turning point in the artist’s career. Ivan starred in several box office films at once. In the science-fiction film “Night Watch,” the young man got the role of a young man who encounters evil spirits every day in real life. And in the melodrama “The Source” Yankovsky played the capital’s rake.
In 2020, the actor received the main role in the thriller “Queen of Spades”, directed by Pavel Lungin. Ivan looked very harmonious in tandem with Ksenia Rappoport. Especially for filming, the young man had to undress for a sex scene and improve his choreography.
In 2020, the following films with Ivan Yankovsky are planned to be released: “and “Ikaria”. In the last film, the producer was Yevgeny Mironov himself.
Personal life
There has always been a special interest in the personal life of the scion of a famous acting dynasty. Many media included Ivan in the list of the most eligible bachelors. There were various rumors about his romantic relationships with celebrity daughters and co-stars on the set.
They wrote about the actor’s romances: with Camilla, whose dad is the famous Russian businessman Ruslan Baysarov; with classmate Vera Panfilova, the daughter of popular rock musician Konstantin Kinchev. They also attributed a connection with artist Anna Chipovskaya, but the actor denied these assumptions, saying that they were just friends and colleagues.
Ivan himself prefers not to talk about his heartfelt affairs. What is known for certain is that the actor is not currently married to anyone.
Ivan Yankovsky: biography of personal life
Tall and stately, young and talented - such a man cannot help but be popular with the opposite sex. A large number of people have always been interested in the personal life of the Yankovsky dynasty. Likewise, Ivan’s fans are watching with curiosity about possible romantic relationships, making guesses about affairs with his filming partners and daughters of celebrities. The media recognized Vanya as an eligible bachelor, and it is also known that he was in a relationship with the daughter of businessman Baysarov Camilla, with the daughter of rocker K. Kinchev Vera Panfilova, and with the artist Anna Chipovskaya.
Note . They say that Camilla got married immediately after breaking up with Vanya, the relationship with Anna, her partner on the set of the film “Without Borders,” is a guess from fans.
However, the actor himself denies many data about his personal life, and is in no hurry to reveal the truth, although it is known that he is definitely not married. It is known that Yankovsky Jr. dated Vera for about 3 years, they were already talking about marriage, but they soon broke up, and photos of them together were deleted from social networks. And in winter, the public at the Golden Eagle film festival saw Vanya and Sasha Novikova (the daughter of a popular Moscow restaurateur) come as a couple, then the actor received a prize for filming in “The Queen of Spades.”
Ivan Yankovsky is the grandson of Yankovsky, a famous Soviet actor who played many roles in film and theater. Ivan’s grandparents, Oleg Yankovsky and Lyudmila Zorina, served in the famous Lenkom Theater. Parents are no less famous: father is Philip Yankovsky, director, famous actor, mother is Oksana Fandera, a popular film and TV series actress. Even her younger sister Lisa continues her hereditary acting career.
Interview
About family
“I am grateful to fate that I was born into such a family. You can always discuss any working moment with dad or mom. It is clear that at the table we will always find something to talk about, besides filming. But it’s nice to discuss the profession, get advice and learn in a special sense - we are the Yankovsky family.”
“Of course, now is such a time, if Oleg Ivanovich were around, there would be much more topics for discussion and reasons for conversation - whether about life or profession. Those moments that were there, I caught them, but still not at a conscious age. But the main thing I remember is the intimate silence that arose between us, and in which a lot was hidden.”
About the acting profession
“I once read that the profession of an artist is like climbing a mountain that has no top. If at some point you realized that you can do anything, then you have stopped developing as an artist. Acting is such an abyss where you can always discover something new. We need to try to develop."
“For me it has always been one profession; I have never divided it into “film actor” and “theater actor.” Most likely, there is a difference between these two types of art, but for me this was nothing unexpected or new. It always depends on the story being offered and the people involved in that story. If she interests you, if you want to take on her, then everything goes where it needs to go. And when there is no personal involvement and interest in the material, then... the work finds another person who is more interested and needs it.”
“In general, I like it when the theme of a project, regardless of whether it is cinema or theater, concerns a person’s relationship with God. This attracts me because I ask such questions - why am I here, for what, what is my purpose? Therefore, I try to grab hold of projects with a designated theme and, through the hero’s story, figure out what is important to me.”
“As for comedy, I’m afraid it’s not my genre. Gradually in your profession you try yourself in different genres, you want to play both action and thriller. But talented comedy is hard to find. In Soviet times, it was funny because comedies were warm, ironic, and life-like. Unfortunately, we don’t have this yet. Everything always depends on the specific material, but for now I’m on good terms with modern comedy.”
About Me
“I recently discovered a new sport that I’m interested in doing - boxing. I didn’t expect this from myself at all. I was quite athletic even before boxing; since childhood I swam, jumped, played tennis, football, and basketball. Boxing appeared in my life about a year ago, and when I started doing it, I realized that with its help I could develop and understand my body. It’s useful for me as an artist.”
Oksana Fandera about her son
Fandera herself claims that her son reminds her of Oleg Yankovsky: “They are similar to each other - expressions, eyes, hands, glances, poses. It happens that suddenly, as if through the asphalt, Vanya’s something like grandfather’s breaks through - just some kind of mysticism, it brings me to tears!”
Leonid Yarmolnik about the actor
“It makes me happy to work with Vanya. Oleg Ivanovich was one of the most amazing and closest people to me. We communicated closely for many years. It happens that children look like their fathers: how Vanya Makarevich looks like Andrei. But not like that! This one is so similar that it takes one's breath away. He speaks the same way, adapts to the conversation the same way, moves his feet the same way, jokes the same way, makes the same pauses as his grandfather. This is not deja vu. It’s like reincarnation, and I found myself in the childhood of Oleg Ivanovich Yankovsky, where we act in a movie with him. But the most important thing that Vanya has left from his grandfather and father is talent.”
Based on materials from the Rossiya TV channel, Wikipedia, websites: rusactors.ru, kinopoisk.ru, 24smi.org, ruskino.ru, lady.mail.ru, kino-teatr.ru, life.ru, ryazan.kp.ru, interviewrussia .ru, kinospace.ru, filmz.ru, fb.ru, rg.ru, tass.ru, sti.ru, peoples.ru
Ivan Yankovsky: I am where I want to be
Astrakhan coat, Gucci Photo: Ivan Kaidash He plays “The Queen of Spades” as if he was walking barefoot on broken glass. He walks around and doesn't notice. But we see that he is covered in abrasions and cuts. There is this desperate frenzy in him, which suits Hermann so well and does not fit with him himself, at least with what I know about him. A prosperous metropolitan boy, the son of famous parents, the grandson of the legendary Oleg Ivanovich Yankovsky, the successor of the acting dynasty... When Ivan hears these words, it becomes noticeable how his cheekbones tremble, and his mouth shrinks into a narrow angry gap. He hates this kind of talk. And he tolerates them only out of respect for the memory of his grandfather and good upbringing. He is sharp, explosive, prickly. He has instant reactions. You have to fall on your back - you'll collapse like someone shot, you have to burst into tears - there'll be a hail of tears, you'll have to strip naked in the frame - not a second of pressure. And in his theater he plays Maksudov in “Theatrical Romance” as if he would never be released on stage again. This is no longer even the acting courage that honored luminaries so love to brag about, this is some kind of final acting despair of the new generation. This happens when a person is kept locked up in a dark room or in a broken elevator for a long, long time. And so he finally broke out and can’t breathe enough, shout, or enjoy his freedom. And he didn’t care how he looked, what they would think about him and how they would look at him. He breathes, he lives, he is alive! This is how Ivan Yankovsky plays today. Infectious and passionate. He still does not know how to dose emotions, check winning angles and facial expressions. Short and fragile, he every time strives to fill the entire frame and stage, reminiscent of David at such moments, challenging Goliath and the whole world. For him, this is the most familiar situation and his favorite mise-en-scène. No wonder he loves boxing so much.
Who is he fighting there? What demons does he fight? For what? Why? Unclear. Light as a rooster's feather. Skin and bones. Moreover, unruly curls that cannot be varnished. It would be a pity if all this energy was wasted and wasted on second-rate films and advertising photography. How many times have we seen his senior colleagues lose their shine, their beauty fade, their talent, which had recently promised so much, decline. But for some reason it seems to me that this should not happen to Ivan Yankovsky. He is from a persistent breed of “bad guys” who are not so easy to tame, integrate into the mainstream, or subordinate to the laws of gloss and mass market. Besides the breed. He is very photogenic. This is a hereditary gift. There are faces that the camera immediately and forever falls in love with. Wrinkles are not wrinkles, age is not age. Doesn't matter! His grandfather had such a face. “Isn’t he too handsome for us?” – Tonino Guerra doubts after Oleg Yankovsky’s first screen tests for “Nostalgia”. I involuntarily asked myself the same question when I watched how close-ups of Ivan, taken by his namesake photographer Ivan Kaidash, appeared and froze on the computer screen in the rhythm of a slide show.
We don't like beautiful people. Beauty, especially for a man, is always a compromise. A certain margin that is not forgiven, seeing behind it a deal with the devil himself or some other dark force. Beauty presupposes a lack of brains or a distinct lack of other virtues. And then there’s this last name! That's why the Yankovskys don't like to be photographed together. That’s why Philip Yankovsky, Ivan’s father, once flatly refused to give me family photos when “Snob” was preparing the project “All About My Father.” In art, everyone must be on their own and answer for themselves - an unwritten law of the clan, a clear rule that both senior and junior Yankovskys follow. And not because they don’t love each other or don’t value their family nature. They just don’t think that it must necessarily be put on display, making a brand for sale out of family relationships and affections.
Astrakhan coat, Gucci Photo: Ivan Kaidash
“Family history lives in each of us,” Ivan tells me. – We value it very much, but we try not to exploit it. We don’t have to sit hugging each other in front of photo and television cameras all the time, demonstrating a friendly family. All we really need is to practice our profession, each time proving that we are not in it by chance, not by acquaintance or by virtue of connections. I know how important this is for my father, my mother and my sister Lisa. This is who the actress is from God. She collected talents from everyone. Just kind of incredible. But she also wants to be on her own. And not necessarily someone’s granddaughter or daughter. Otherwise, you risk becoming the hero of an endless family series. In addition, I have noticed many times how in such cases some very important intimacy, genuine intimacy, not intended for prying eyes, leaves the relationship.
Filming has ended. We went to a nearby cafe to warm up and drink tea. He funnyly talks about how he was a binge movie fan since childhood. I watched everything - classics, arthouse, mainstream, and absolute trash. He knew by heart, literally from the frames, all the films of Welles and Godard, Billy Wilder and Charlie Chaplin. I watched many films at night. I stole VHS tapes from my father and played them on VCR at one percent volume until the morning.
“At some point I realized that I wanted nothing more than to do just this.
- To watch movie?
– No, to make a movie, to become a part of it, or rather, of the great cinematic process. Act, act, film yourself.
The film that turned him around, or rather “destroyed” him (Ivan’s favorite word!) was “There Will Be Blood” with Daniel Day-Lewis. He had never seen such incredible dedication on screen. “This is how I want it,” he thought to himself. He did not have and does not have any other desires. And the parents accepted this with understanding. “What about Oleg Ivanovich?” – I’m interested.
“So he was the first to cast me in his film “Come See Me.”
I knew Oleg Ivanovich a little. I did several interviews with him. For an actor, he was not only too handsome, but also even too smart. He kept his distance, lit his pipe for a long time when he couldn’t find a resourceful answer, and smiled radiantly with all his signature wrinkles. He knew everything about this profession and invariably acted according to the main postulate of Stanislavsky’s system “I am in the given circumstances.” But his main acting secret was that he didn’t need anything special. He took life as it came. He could have entered acting, or he could not have entered. He could move to Moscow, or he could stay in Saratov. He didn’t have that indispensable thirst for revenge, that acting ambition that would burn from the inside. He played like he was breathing. Absolutely natural. And you can feel it when you watch old films with his participation. Everyone around is playing and fussing with their faces, but he lives. He had a special organic quality that cannot be duplicated.
Astrakhan coat, Gucci Photo: Ivan Kaidash
Ivan is different. He hands me his iPhone with an inscription written in permanent marker.
– Do you see what is written there?
I read: “If you want, you will.”
- This is my motto. First of all, I need to really want it. And then everything will be fine. So I wanted to enroll in the course of Sergei Vasilyevich Zhenovach - and I did. But by that time I had already studied for a year at the acting department at GITIS. And I had to take the entrance exams again. And there was no turning back for me, only the army loomed ahead. Nobody would excuse me. This is not accepted in our family. Or this story with the Queen of Spades. She's all about me.
He accidentally learned that preparations for the filming of “The Queen of Spades” were in full swing from his partner Masha Kurdenevich, an actress at the Sergei Zhenovach Theater Studio. By that time, she had been approved for the role of Lisa. But Lungin did not have a main character. A day later, Ivan received the script by mail, and then he thought it was mysticism. The cards align. We urgently need to go to the audition. When he was called, in one breath he acted out the scene where Hermann demands Lisa to give him a diamond necklace. After filming, I approached Lungin with a direct text, saying that Hermann is me. Either he believed it too much, or it really was so. So many things came together, but he was approved after the first tests.
In Pushkin, and in Lungin’s film as well, the driving force of history is money. I don’t really believe that you ever have to worry so much about their lack or absence.
But this is on the surface. In fact, I had a very tough upbringing, for which I am eternally grateful to my mom and dad. There was a period when I didn’t leave my room for a year at all. After school, go straight home. No parties, no friends. Only lessons, homework, and lights out at nine in the evening. All! My only outlet was the Sport Express newspaper. I was entitled to it as compensation for my sad life. It must be understood that these extreme educational measures were due to very specific reasons. I was completely out of control. He could have skipped classes, he could have cheated. For me life was a game. I had to put my brains in place. First, my parents did this, and then the Film School, where I was sent at the age of twelve, to which I am very grateful for everything.
We told you that the acting profession is very dependent. Films like Queen of Spades come quite rarely. What to do when there are no interesting offers or worthy roles?
I'm twenty-six, and I've already learned something. For example, saying “no”. I don't believe that a person has no choice. He is. This is the right of refusal. I cannot be forced to do what I don’t want or what I don’t feel like doing. I don’t have to be filming all the time to be visible, so as not to “fall out of the picture,” as they say now. I can have a great time at the dacha alone in the company of good books and a fireplace. And I won’t be at all upset if someone gets a good role or someone stars in a great film. Moreover, I will be sincerely happy for my friends and colleagues. Those who know me can confirm that these are not just words. Now a whole generation of new wonderful actors has come forward. I like to go to their premieres, and then call them, praise them, and discuss their work. I don’t have this actor’s jealousy, envy, which so poisons life. After all, this profession is by nature very selfish, self-centered. But you can’t help but notice anyone nearby and think only about what kind of star you are, to whom everyone around you owes and owes. I know that life will quickly put you in your place. Besides, I believe too much in my destiny and that the roles and films that are destined for me will not pass by. This does not mean that you can lie on the couch waiting for your finest hour. You need to be as prepared and mobilized as possible to meet fate. So I knew that I should be in the Queen of Spades. That's why this happened.
Photo: Ivan Kaydash
Now new technologies are radically changing the fate of cinema. Large halls and magnificent premieres are becoming a thing of the past. Any movie today can be easily downloaded on torrents and watched on an iPhone. Plus the absolute triumph of various “Christmas trees” and “Grooms”, which alone make box office receipts. What do you think about this?
I'm here to change that. So that “Yolki 2 and 3” do not take over our cinema completely and irrevocably. I just can't let this happen. Of course, the easiest way is to leave, forget and forget about it all, becoming part of some other story, another life. But I want to be here, to try to rebuild people's consciousness.
Do you think anyone needs this? What will they hear you?
I am sure that there is such a need. Another question is that a whole generation has already lived here (tapping his finger on his iPhone). This became possible because these things literally enslaved us. We even express our emotions with emoticons and hearts. We are losing communication skills, preferring to correspond with tongue-tied text messages. I started a Facebook page only because my clone was there, who negotiated with directors and agents on my behalf. And someone steals my Instagram photos all the time. So my relationship with new technologies is tense.
Lately there has been a lot of talk about the fact that the classic theater-house model has exhausted itself. You play in the theater under the direction of Sergei Zhenovach, who staunchly professes this principle. When you come to the building on Stanislavsky Street, the atmosphere of the house is instantly felt. What does your theater mean to you?
Of course, this is a home first and foremost. I can't imagine my life without him. In the theater you literally throw yourself into an unknown space. You constantly study yourself, search, put experiments on yourself. But I always knew that theater is a collective endeavor. There should be no stupid ambitions or resentments here. Today you go on stage in a small episode or even as an extra, and tomorrow you have the main role. Thank God, I have such a role - this is Maksudov in Bulgakov’s Notes of a Dead Man, whom I have been playing with pleasure for the fourth season. We feel like one team. And every performance is like a match that we must definitely win. For me, the sports analogies here are not accidental. I love sports. What have I not done! And tennis, and swimming, and diving. To this day, my friends and I regularly rent a hall to play basketball. Without sport and drive, it’s easy to wither away.
One of the greats said: “Be afraid of your desires. They tend to come true”...
I live exactly by this principle. Only I am not afraid of my desires. I cherish them and I know that they will come true. Ɔ.
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Interviewed by Sergei Nikolaevich
~ grooming: Olga Glazunova
~ style: Elisey Kostsov
~ assistant stylist: Vladimir Frolochkin
Prizes and awards:
- XIX Theater Award of the newspaper "Moskovsky Komsomolets" in the category "Beginners" for "Best Actor" in Sergei Zhenovach's play "Notes of a Dead Man" (2014)
- Prize for “Best Actor” (shared with Vasily Butkevich, Alexander Pal and Pavel Chinarev) in the film “The Rag Union” (dir. Mikhail Mestetsky) at the XXVI Open Russian Film Festival “Kinotavr” (2015)
- Golden Eagle Award in the category “Best Actor in a Film” for the film “Queen of Spades” (2016)
Actor career
In 2008, his father’s friend, director Roman Prygunov, invited Ivan to take part in the filming of the science fiction film “Indigo”. In the story, his hero led a group of young guys with unique abilities. His character's gift was an intuitive prediction of misfortune. The first pancake came out lumpy, the critics categorically did not like the picture, as well as the acting. However, the grandfather was still proud of his grandson.
Young Ivan Yankovsky in the film “Indigo”
After an unsuccessful debut, the guy decided to focus solely on his studies. He took part in educational performances based on the works of Chekhov, Moliere, Platonov; After receiving his diploma in 2013, he was enrolled in the Zhenovach theater studio.
“Notes of a Dead Man”: Ivan Yankovsky as Maksudov
In 2014, Yankovsky Jr. decided to appear on screen again. His attention was attracted by the debut film of Mikhail Mestetsky called “The Rag Union”, where again it was about representatives of the misunderstood youth. The premiere of the author’s film took place much later, in May 2020, and at the Kinotavr film festival it received the prize “For”, which raised the self-esteem of the young actor. Best Actor."
Still from the film "The Rag Union"
This was followed by participation in the comedy project “Without Borders”, on which three directors worked. Ivan was cast for the role of the prodigal son by director Karen Oganesyan.
Ivan Yankovsky in the film “Without Borders”
In 2020, he starred in three box-office projects. Firstly, this is the film “The Source” by Nadezhda Vitalskaya, adapted to modern times “Olesya” by Kuprin, where in the story the character Ivan, a Moscow rake, meets a girl in the forest, and this meeting radically changes his outlook on life. During the filming, the actor had the opportunity to work with wild animals and also swim in icy water.
Ivan Yankovsky played the main role in “The Source”
The fantasy thriller “Night Watchmen” became a large-scale film, in which the young Yankovsky played the role of a young man who suddenly learns that in his everyday life he encountered vampires, werewolves and other evil spirits every day. And soon he himself joined a detachment shooting otherworldly “illegals” hunting people. Together with Ivan, Lyubov Aksenova and Leonid Yarmolnik starred in the film.
The next ambitious project for the young actor was an intriguing film by Pavel Lungin called “The Queen of Spades”, where the younger Yankovsky had the opportunity to work with Ksenia Rappoport. She played the opera diva Sofia Mayer, and he played the young singer Andrei, ready to do anything for a profitable role. During filming, the actor had to undress in the frame for a sex scene, take up choreography in the theater and even improve his diction.
For the sake of the role of Herman, the hero of Ivan Yankovsky was ready to do anything
But, apparently, fantastic stories are still more attractive to Ivan, because after “Queen of Spades”, he appeared in the dystopia “Ikaria”, the general producer of which was People’s Artist Yevgeny Mironov. The film takes place in the near future: scientists are close to the solution to immortality, and a group of teenagers find themselves in a deadly experiment in the format of a reality show.
Ivan Yankovsky on the set of “Ikaria”
