Childhood and youth
Sophia has been lucky since childhood. Three generations of the family are scientists; the Lebedevs even lived in Obninsk, the first science city in Russia. But no one forbade the girl to realize herself in other areas. For ten years she studied rhythmic gymnastics, then there was dancing and an experimental theater studio.
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Sofia Lebedeva in childhood
When the question arose about choosing a profession, Sofia passed exams at Moscow State University, at the Faculty of Global Processes, and at the Moscow Art Theater School. I entered both.
Theater works
At the Moscow Art Theater School, Lebedeva played in the productions “At the Lower Depths” and “Gogol the Inspector General”. The performances “Stairway to Heaven” and “Khanuma” were the graduation works of the aspiring artist. On the stage of the CIM, the girl plays in the production “Alma and Brutus” and the choreographic story “MP3. Ravel." In addition, actress Sophia Lebedeva participated in the play “The Seagull” by O. Tabakov’s Moscow studio.
At the theater. V. Mayakovsky, the girl worked on the productions “Black Russian” and “Baby and the Cat”. The character of Emily Webb, played by Sophia in the play “Our Town,” was Fr. Lebedeva also appeared in the production of the Cinderella Theater Studio “Don’t Leave Me.”
Personal life
Every day of the actress is eventful. Sophia is still faithful to gymnastics and dancing, and has added French, tennis, and snowboarding. Lebedeva also communicates with fans and friends through Instagram, Facebook and VKontakte. News and photographs (if you wish, you can find those in which she is in a swimsuit) are also published on her personal website.
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The girl’s personal life is still in the background. Loneliness is brightened up by a beloved poodle named Clooney and travel, movies and books. Sophia is a fan of Russian classics, the works of Ray Bradbury and George Orwell. Having seen a photo of the “pregnant” actress on social networks, fans hoped that some changes had occurred. But that was only a demonstration of the special attachment needed for the role.
Another star is growing up in the Lebedev family - daughter Stefania. The older sister sent photographs of her relative to Kirill Pletnev, the director of the short film “Mama.” The director approved Lebedeva Jr. for the role of the main character without auditioning. The second main role went to Svetlana Khodchenkova. In 2020, the film received the Golden Eagle Award.
Childhood and the beginning of the war
Nikolai Sergeevich is a native Muscovite, he was born on December 15, 1921. His mother worked at the Mossovet Theater as a cashier. The woman often took little Kolya with her. Therefore, the boy spent most of his childhood in the theater. The parents did not have the opportunity to devote much time to raising their son. From time to time the boy was left to his own devices. Because of this, Kolya grew up as a disobedient child, studied poorly, and often skipped school.
Legendary Soviet actor Nikolai Lebedev
In 9th grade, Lebedev was kicked out of school. Fortunately, the young man was not at a loss. He immediately went to submit documents to the theater studio. Nikolai understood that it was necessary to obtain a secondary education, and therefore enrolled in courses. In 1940, he graduated from the studio and decided to continue pursuing an acting career. Lebedev joined the troupe of the Moscow Youth Theater. However, in 1941 he was called to the front.
“As a farewell, one friend gave me an amulet with an image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker with the words that he is the patron saint of the military and leads them out of captivity. But my mother said: “Why do you need this? It’s ridiculous to be afraid of something when the Soviet army is the strongest in the world.” And I left the amulet at home, confident that there would be no war.”
The unit where Nikolai served was sent to Ukraine. In August, the young soldier was captured, from where he was lucky enough to escape. Then Lebedev was caught by the Germans several times, but each time he managed to escape.
When the soldier was caught on the front line, he was sent to a concentration camp. The actor’s biography includes several camps, including even Auschwitz. After the end of the war, Lebedev returned to Moscow.
Theater and films
The actress began to appear on stage while still studying with Igor Zolotovitsky. After completing the course, Lebedeva played with Oleg Tabakov, at the Meyerhold Center, the Mayakovsky Theater and the Theater of Nations. Now he collaborates with Praktika.
Sophia’s cinematic biography began with an episode in the detective series “Dusty Work.” In 2012, the girl was invited to play the main role in the short film “Crazy Beautiful” by Alexander Rodnyansky.
Soon the melodramas “Too Beautiful a Wife,” “The Groom” and “Train to the North” appeared on her track record. In the latter, the young actress was lucky enough to play with venerable colleagues Vladimir Gostyukhin, Vladimir Steklov and Yuri Kuznetsov.
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Sofia Lebedeva and Anton Khabarov
A star role awaited Lebedeva in 2020. She received an offer to star in Renat Davletyarov’s film “And the Dawns Here Are Quiet...” in the image of Liza Brichkina. The slender beauty (weight 54 kg, height 171 cm) sacrificed her figure (gained several kilograms) and long hair, overcame her fear of water, endured the cold and leech bites.
The film, criticized at home, unexpectedly received rave reviews in China. For Sophia, her first full-length work didn’t turn out badly - she was noticed.
So the actress appeared in the youth film “Londongrad. Know ours!”, the erotic thriller “Parallel Lines Intersect in Infinity”, played the heroine of Natalia Vdovina in her youth in the melodrama “Love Net”.
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Sofia Lebedeva and Maxim Lagashkin
In the fantasy “Lords of Dreams,” Lebedeva reincarnated as an employee of a corporation for the creation and broadcast of dreams at a distance. Then she appeared in the background of the crime film “The Last Hero: The Elusive Ones” and the detective story “Three Queens”, and tried herself as a director of the short comedy “Blah”.
Another notable project was the sitcom “Olga”, in which Sophia became the girlfriend of Maxim Kostromykin’s character. The director of the film, Alexey Nuzhny, gave the girl a role in the TV series “I’m Losing Weight.” In the detective story “Forgotten Crime” she is the savior of the hero Kirill Zhandarov, in “A Woman with a Past” she is a classmate of Evgenia Dobrovolskaya’s daughter.
In the military drama “The Burning Bush,” Lebedeva tried on the uniform of a conductor in the mid-40s, and in the film “The Former” she appeared as a patient in a psychiatric clinic. Her excellent knowledge of English allowed her to become part of the acting ensemble of the Russian-British project “McMafia”. In addition, Sophia is involved in the comedy “How to Get Married. Instructions”, the mystical thriller “Curse of the Sleepers”, the series “Lights from the Other World”.
Most recently, the British BBC television channel finished airing the series “McMafia” about the family of a Russian businessman who fled to London. On February 26, the film began showing in the United States. In this film project, all Russians are played by Russian actors, including Sofya Lebedeva , whose childhood was spent in Obninsk. We talked with the actress about the Russian mentality, the benefits of English lessons and provocations in the media.
Corr. How did you get involved in the McMafia project?
Lebedeva . I got an agent in England who saw my work in the film “The Dawns Here Are Quiet,” where I played Lisa Brichkina . We met, talked, and decided to cooperate. He suggested me for the project. Testing has begun. They sent me scenes and I recorded them myself. This casting method is called self-tape and is now used all over the world.
Corr. Is it so convenient for an actor?
Lebedeva . There are both pros and cons. On the one hand, you don’t have to go anywhere. On the other hand, you have to direct the scene yourself, organize the space, find a camera and operator, a partner who will deliver lines in English. After the auditions, I had a conversation with the director on Skype - and my level of English was enough to freely discuss my role with him.
Corr. The Russians weren't the only foreigners on the site?
Lebedeva . The cast of McMafia is very diverse. The series stars stars from Israel, India, England, Russia, America, and Poland. This is the position of the film company. This gives great energy and truth in the frame... The English in the series is very diverse. So many accents! That is why I tell everyone and ask everyone: when the series comes out, watch it with the original sound with subtitles!
Corr. Who is your heroine?
Lebedeva . I wouldn't really like to tell you because it's a spoiler. I hope the series will be released in Russia and everyone will watch it. My heroine goes through a huge psychological test, being in captivity for six months under intense pressure.
Corr. Some media say that the McMafia series is offensive to Russians...
Lebedeva . Complete nonsense. The series is about the world as a whole, about the criminal system, about the “undercurrents” of our time. "McMafia" is based on a best-selling book written by the famous English journalist Misha Glenny . He did a lot of research and traveled around the world before writing the book. Some journalists asked me questions like: “Sofia, why did you star in a series that insults Russia?” At that moment I was speechless. I say: “Have you watched the series?” They: “No.” How can they judge if they haven’t looked?
Corr. Where and how long did the filming take place?
Lebedeva . There were 142 shooting days in seven countries. The series was filmed slowly, insinuatingly, in detail... There is incredible camera work! The director's task was to film each episode as a full-length film. And so it happened. My scenes were filmed in Croatia. Within 20 days we traveled almost the entire country.
Corr. What was unusual for you on the set?
Lebedeva . The work system of the film crew is different - there are more people on set, and everyone has their own area of responsibility. This area may be small, but there are no overlaps!
In general, filming is going smoothly, not at all like in Russia. We Russians do not hide our emotions. The director can yell, and the director can be yelled at. Everyone there is very polite, emotions are inside. And the attitude towards a person is different. Whether you are a driver, an actress, a cook, a make-up artist... In Russia, on the set and in life, I often see how if someone is a little lower than you socially or materially, we allow ourselves to talk down to them. But why? We are all equal.
Corr. Is it hard work to act in a series of this level?
Lebedeva . Some scenes were very difficult. In a series with editing, they took 20 seconds, for example, and we filmed all day. 15 takes each. For example, you had to play hysterics 15 times in a row. After some scenes I barely made it to the room, I was emotionally exhausted. But at the same time I was very happy.
Corr. Do people recognize you on the streets of Moscow and Obninsk?
Lebedeva . Differently. In Obninsk they sometimes find out. In Moscow, everyone is running somewhere, so there is no time to look around. Plus, I rarely wear makeup, and my face without makeup looks like I'm 14 years old. And in McMafia, my heroine almost always wears evening makeup. So it's difficult to recognize me on the street.
Corr. What has our city given you?
Lebedeva . In the context of McMafia, I would say that I was infinitely lucky with my English teacher - Natalya Petyukova , to whom I want to thank for my English. I am also grateful to the director of the Obninsk DEMI theater Oleg Demidov , who implanted a creativity chip in me. Back in Obninsk, I did rhythmic gymnastics for 10 years. Thanks to my coach Tatyana Ryazhnova . Sport builds willpower, and in my profession, without willpower, you can’t do anything.
Interviewed by Ekaterina ZADOKHINA
Lebedeva: “I was infinitely lucky in Obninsk to have an English teacher”
Sofia Lebedeva now
In September 2019, the melodrama “Subtle Matters” with Anastasia Talyzina and Anna Bolshova was presented at the “Pilot” TV series festival. In the project of Anario Mamedov, the author of “Let me kiss you,” Lebedeva appeared in a minor role.
In the same year, the detective story “Female Version” was released. Pure Soviet murder”, in which a case from the 80s helps in solving modern crimes. Sofya starred in the company of Anatoly Kotenev and Sofia Ardova.
In season 2 of The Exes, the actress played the pregnant mistress of a wealthy businessman and at the same time the friend of his daughter.
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Lebedeva met the on-screen father of her child, Denis Shvedov, on the set of the drama “Doctor Preobrazhensky.” The film tells about a talented doctor, a pioneer of Soviet plastic surgery. In order to open, if not an institute, then at least a department in a hospital, the doctor makes a deal with the KGB.
The main character of the film “What She’s Silent About” is also a doctor, but, in addition to his direct duties, he is busy searching for the missing son of a patient. The cast of the detective melodrama included Pavel Maikov, Svetlana Smirnova-Martsinkevich, Sofya Lebedeva and Stanislav Tikunov.
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Sofya Lebedeva in 2020
“City of Secrets” is a Russian adaptation of the famous Korean drama “Secret Forest”. The plot centers on a policeman, deprived of emotions due to a head injury. The actress received a small role in the film, and the main roles went to Ksenia Lukyanchikova and Ilya Lyubimov.
A young team is working on the youth comedy “Queen,” including Sophia, although long-established Maxim Vitorgan and Ivan Grishanov are also involved. The creators promise a fashionable movie using digital technologies, an unconventional view of what is happening and an unexpected ending.
Actor career
Lebedeva took a course with Igor Zolotovitsky. By coincidence, Mark Bogatyrev, practically her fellow countryman, who grew up in Obninsk and also played on the stage of the theater-studio “D.E.M.I.”, also studied there.
Sofia Lebedeva graduated from the Moscow Art Theater
Among her debut educational performances were “At the Lower Depths” (Arkady Kats) and “The Inspector General” (Vladimir Ryzhakov). Well, Sophia demonstrated the skills she acquired over 4 years of study in her diploma productions of “Stairway to Heaven” and “Khanuma” (Igor Zolotovitsky).
After receiving her diploma, Sophia received a place in the theater and regularly appeared on the stage of the Moscow Art Theater, and also took part in productions of the Meyerhold Center, the Mayakovsky Theater and others.
Sofia Lebedeva on the stage of the theater
Short films, episodic roles in TV series and participation in performances - this is how the first years of his career passed. In 2013, she managed to get one of the key roles in the mini-series “The Groom” by Karine Foliyants, but it remained little noticed by viewers. In the same year, the series “Too Beautiful a Wife” was released, in which Lebedeva played the modest daughter of the main characters (Maria Kulikova and Vitaly Kudryavtsev).
Sofya Lebedeva in the series “Groom”
Everything changed in 2014, when director Renat Davletyarov seriously began to implement the idea of filming a new version of “The Dawns Here Are Quiet...”. Sofya, who dreamed of playing Lisa Brichkina, heard about the casting from an actress she knew and asked if she could try, but was surprised: “Well, what kind of heroine are you?” Of course, the previous Liza Brichkina (Elena Drapeko) set a high bar, and yet Sonya managed to pass a thorough casting and play one of the key characters along with Kristina Asmus, Ekaterina Vilkova, Agnia Kuznetsova and other colleagues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bju-43InE1M
For the girl herself, the shooting meant a lot: this was her debut in a big movie and victory over her fears: in one of the scenes, Lisa drowns in a swamp, and Sophia almost drowned as a child, so 20 takes of this scene became real torture for her. In addition, Sonya, with her aristocratic features, was supposed to fit into the image of a simple provincial girl. To do this, she had to gain weight, she also traveled to villages, communicated with local residents and recorded them on a voice recorder in order to master the dialect
Sofia Lebedeva as Lisa Brichkina
The film was released a year later and received mixed reviews, but Sophia was remembered and loved by the audience. Subsequently, Lebedeva appeared in the following projects: “Walk, Vasya!” (2016) by Roman Karimov, “Olga” (2016) with Yana Troyanova in the title role, the series co-produced by the USA and Great Britain “McMafia” (2018), etc.
Still from the series “Three Queens”
Filmography
- 2011 – “Dusty Work”
- 2013 – “Too Beautiful Wife”
- 2013 – “Fifth Watch”
- 2013 – “Train to the North”
- 2013 – “Lie if you love”
- 2013 – “Groom”
- 2014 – “Courage”
- 2015 – “Parallel lines intersect at infinity”
- 2015 – “And the dawns here are quiet...”
- 2016 – “Three Queens”
- 2016-2018 – “Olga”
- 2017 – “Curse of the Sleepers”
- 2018 – “A Woman with a Past”
- 2019 – “Ex 2”
- 2019 – “What is she silent about”
