Soulful, airy, charming - one can list for a long time the adjectives that apply to this wonderful woman and magnificent actress. Film works with her participation are included in the golden fund of national culture. There are a lot of really good performers who always remind everyone of someone. They say about people like Evgenia Simonova: “piece goods”; there are simply no other artists like her in nature. She is still acting, and to this day maintains the brand of a true professional. As you guessed, our story is dedicated to the topic: the biography and personal life of Evgenia Simonova.
Childhood and youth
On June 1, 1955, in the city on the Neva, a daughter was born into the family of psychologist Pavel Vasilyevich Simonov and his wife, teacher Olga Sergeevna Vyazemskaya. The girl was named Zhenya. The parents already had their first child - a four-year-old son, Yura - later the famous TV presenter of the program “Clever Men and Clever People” Yuri Vyazemsky, but more on that a little later.
In the same 1955, Pavel Vasilyevich received an offer to become an employee of the military hospital named after Burdenko. In connection with this, the family changed their place of residence from Leningrad to Moscow. In 1962, Simonov Sr. was invited to the new Institute of Neurophysiology, which he later headed, working there for more than two decades. Olga Sergeevna worked for a long time as an English teacher at one of the universities in the capital.
Video: This is why Evgenia Simonova lost many film roles
As Evgenia Pavlovna recalls, as a child she was little aware of how serious work her parents were doing, and for a long time she could not decide for herself what she would devote her adult life to. At school age, the inquisitive girl went through many activities and hobbies: she was interested in equestrian sports, attended a music school and a choreography club, then, following her mother’s example, she became involved in studying foreign languages, and closer to her senior year she was preparing to enter the philology department. However, in the 10th grade everything changed dramatically.
At that time, Pavel Vasilyevich Simonov conducted scientific research in the field of the impact of psychology on creativity. It so happened that the Moscow Art Theater School invited the scientist to share his work on this issue with students and future actors.
Pavel Simonov was not only a talented psychologist, but also a person keenly interested in art. The scientist’s lectures gradually developed into small one-man performances, which young listeners absorbed with great pleasure. Zhenya also attended several of her father’s performances and was inspired by the idea of enrolling in a theater school after school.
Pavel Simonov
In addition, the girl sensibly reasoned that admissions to creative universities were carried out in the first month of summer, while in other, more “serious” ones, in the last month. A misfire with a theater education left a chance for anything else, for example, her previously beloved philological course. Zhenya applied to several educational institutions at once, but only the Shchukin School showed interest in her. Here Simonova's mentor was the outstanding theater teacher and actor Yuri Katin-Yartsev.
At first, everything went very badly for Evgenia. Studying was hard. In her first years, the student caught herself thinking, is she going to do her own thing? And here we must pay tribute to the insight of Katin-Yartsev, who managed to capture phenomenal acting abilities in a timid and fragile girl. For a long time, Zhenya was simply embarrassed to go on stage and could not do anything about her unexpected tightness complex. Well, how can you become an actress if you are afraid of numerous looks from the audience? The mentor's patience and tact helped the shy student overcome her fears and easily perform roles not only in small sketches, but also in long-term productions.
Early years, childhood and family of Evgenia Simonova
The future star of Soviet cinema was born into an ordinary Leningrad family far from the world of art. Her mother worked as a foreign language teacher, and her father was a famous neurophysiologist who was part of the Soviet Academy of Sciences. Apart from her, the only person closest to the world of art was Evgenia Simonova’s older brother, the famous TV presenter and writer Yuri Vyazemsky.
Evgenia Simonova was a beauty in her youth and remains so now
Despite the fact that the parents of our today’s heroine were people of a slightly different type, they always supported their daughter’s desire for art. From an early age, the future actress attended classes at the music school at the Gnessin School, and also practiced choreography and equestrian sports. It is quite remarkable that at an early age the future actress seriously thought about a sports career. She was praised by her teachers, and therefore quite often the name of the young girl appeared among participants in various championships and sports competitions.
As for acting, Evgenia Simonov began to think seriously about a theatrical career only in high school. Having received a diploma of completion of secondary education, the girl submitted documents to the Moscow Art Theater, but did not pass the competition. A similar disappointment awaited her in another prestigious institution - GITIS. However, the future actress did not even think about being upset. In the same year, she tried her hand for the third time and, in the end, became a student at the Shchukin School (course of Yu. Katin-Yartsev).
In this place, the girl began to comprehend the subtleties and wisdom of theatrical art, and also made many new friends. It is very noteworthy that the actress performed her first bright role while still a third-year student at the Shchukin School. So, during one of the reporting performances, Leonid Bykov noticed her, who immediately offered Evgenia Simonova to play the role of the girl Masha in the war film “Only Old Men Go to Battle.”
Evgenia Simonova reads poetry It is worth noting that this film is often called the debut acting work of the Soviet actress. However, in reality this is not entirely true. The thing is that back in 1969, at the age of fourteen, Zhenya appeared on the screen with a cameo role in the film “Ten Winters in One Summer,” which, in fact, became the first film with the participation of our today’s heroine.
Carier start
That's where it worked out more or less smoothly for Zhenya, on the set. The girl did not feel embarrassed in front of the camera. While still a freshman, she was invited to star in a short episode in a film called “Ten Winters in One Summer.” Well, the second film with Simonova’s participation immediately became iconic not only in the actress’s filmography, but also in the history of our entire cinema. We are talking about the legendary war drama by Leonid Bykov “Only “old men” go into battle.” The TV movie premiered in 1973. The whole country drew attention to the girl who shrilly played the role of pilot Masha Popova. Success in Bykov's film allowed the young actress to continue to receive constant invitations from various directors, and of the first magnitude.
“Only old men go into battle,” 1973
So Zhenya began acting annually until the nineties, before the crisis began in the country and in the film industry. In some years, as many as 3-4 films with her participation were released. Gradually, Simonova became assigned the role of a lyrical heroine. This did not suit the ambitious artist at all. Of course, she liked the intoxication of popularity, bags of letters from grateful fans, declarations of love, she felt gratitude to the directors, thanks to whom she was able to reveal her talent. But she really wanted to overcome the narrow framework of the stereotype that had formed.
A real princess and her miracle. Personal life of Evgenia Simonova
Evgenia was born in Leningrad.
Her dad was a famous neurophysiologist, her mother taught English. Soon after Zhenya's birth, her father was offered a high position in the Soviet Academy of Sciences, and the family moved to Moscow, so the future actress grew up in the capital. From early childhood she studied music at the Gnessin School, attended choreography classes, and she also liked equestrian sports. When the time came to think about her future profession, Zhenya, who was seriously interested in languages, began to prepare for Foreign Languages.
But at the age of fourteen, Simonova first came to the set. In the film “Ten Winters in One Summer,” the girl played a cameo role and even then realized that she liked being an actress.
She didn’t even notice how she became a big fan of the theater, began to attend performances more and more often and, finally, she wanted to try herself as an actress.
Surprisingly, her parents, who had nothing to do with the world of art, did not interfere with her dream and supported the idea. This was followed by entrance exams, first to the Moscow Art Theater, then to GITIS... She failed the exams both there and there, and almost despaired. At the entrance examinations to “Pike”, the girl was so angry with herself that she gave it her all and was finally enrolled in the theater.
Director
film Afonya (1975)
The talented student was noticed by Leonid Bykov, who was looking for actresses for the film “Only Old Men Go to Battle,” which later became a cult film. Simonova attracted him, and then a whole army of Soviet film fans, who considered this role her debut, because they did not notice the episode almost ten years ago in “Ten Winters...”.
But, of course, her role as the charming Katya Snegireva from Afon brought her fame. It was the role of a young and devoted, pure and beautiful girl that was assigned to the generally strong and serious Evgenia Simonova. However, the plasticity of her nature made it easy to transform from simpletons into princesses, which she did with pleasure.
In her last year at Pike, Evgenia was invited to shoot another movie. While working on “The Lost Expedition”, the girl seriously fell in love. It was the actor and director Alexander Kaidanovsky. Evgenia was struck by his talent and charisma, unusual for Soviet cinema.
And he - the beauty and airiness of the actress, her unearthly glow and easy disposition, quickly giving way to an explosive reaction to acute situations. While courting Simonova, Kaidanovsky kissed her hands, gave her flowers, and said interesting compliments. Enchanted, Evgenia lost her head, and her romantic courtship ended in marriage.
Zoya
film “Under the Roofs of Montmartre” (1975)
The actress always put her family in the foreground, mercilessly refusing the most eminent directors who wanted to get Simonova in their new projects when she did not want to act - due to family circumstances.
So Evgenia Pavlovna refused to participate in Mikhalkov’s “Unfinished Piece for Mechanical Piano” because she was pregnant with her first daughter, Zoya. She chose to take care of herself and keep her unborn child healthy.
But even after the birth of the baby, Evgenia continued to refuse filming, preferring her family. When her daughter grew up, she even tried to accompany her husband on the set and went with him to Tallinn, where Kaidanovsky was filming Stalker with Andrei Tarkovsky.
But the talented and temperamental actors managed to live in love and harmony for only four years. Life is always difficult with a genius. Kaidanovsky’s temperament was difficult, frequent changes of mood unsettled Simonova, she was simply tired of such a family life, and they divorced. Evgenia again began to combine work at her favorite theater. Mayakovsky, where she was a prima singer, with work in cinema.
Eshpay
film “The Case of the Grocery Store No. 1” (2011)
Little Zoya experienced the divorce from the “stalker” who was unadapted to life and family the most painfully of all. She hated her last name, which was different from her mother’s, and literally slid under her desk when the teacher said it.
When, four years after the divorce, a new man appeared in the life of Evgenia Simonova - director Andrei Eshpai, the son of the famous composer, Zoya became such friends with him that she wanted him to be her dad.
The acquaintance with Eshpai took place on the set of his film “When Bach Played”. Evgenia Pavlovna got married for the second time and gave birth to a second daughter, Masha. Here Zoya is completely lost: her stepfather and sister are Eshpai, her mother is Simonova, and she bears a completely different, third surname! It's not that she has bad memories of her real father - no, let him have it too. But she so wanted unity with her family, she also wanted to become Eshpai!
Mom shamed her daughter, saying that she should be proud of a dad like Kaidanovsky! Simonova considered her ex-husband a great actor, one of the most talented and charismatic men. But very little Zoechka only cried and felt out of place in the family.
Evgenia understood her daughter and went to meet her. When the time came for the girl to receive a passport, she gave her her last name, agreeing that when she became an actress (Zoya was already preparing to enter the theater school), she would be Kaidanovskaya on stage and in films. So they decided. Now the actress is known by her father’s last name, but then permission to wear her mother’s name reconciled the girl with herself.
After meeting Eshpai, Evgenia Simonova began to feel like the happiest woman on earth, and her personal life - completely fulfilled. They have been married for more than thirty years. Their joint daughter Masha became a famous pianist.
Today Evgenia is already a grandmother. The eldest daughter, Zoya Kaidanovskaya, gave her two grandchildren - Alexei and Varvara, whom the actress dearly loves.
Only old men go into battle (1973).
Flight Delayed (1974)
The wedding day will have to be specified (1979)
We came to the chef competition (1977)
Bright roles in films
Evgenia Pavlovna more than once recalled how, even in her student years, she tried to reveal artistic diversity in herself and the ability to perform an episode on any topic. One day, students in her course were given the task of putting on an excerpt from a work of their choice. Simonova, unexpectedly for everyone, decided to act out a fragment of one rather depressing composition by Vsevolod Garshin and play the role of a fallen woman in it. On stage, she gesticulated so zealously and naturally portrayed the behavior of a prostitute that the then head of the school, Boris Zakhava, who was present at the show, could not stand the nightmare of the spectacle and ordered the curtain to be lowered...
And this was, perhaps, the artist’s only experience of embodying a so-called “negative” image on stage. For as long as we have known actress Simonova, these are always lyrical characters, including examples from a later time. Many admirers of Evgenia Pavlovna’s work believe that the role of nurse Katya Snegireva in the film “Afonya” is her best work.
"Afonya", 1975
Indeed, the girl completed her “mission” perfectly. However, another part of the fans claims that the most valuable thing in the actress’s work is the role of the princess in Mark Zakharov’s film fairy tale “An Ordinary Miracle” (1974). Well, this opinion has a right to exist. The film itself turned out wonderful (however, like everything that the director of Lenkom has in his baggage, it’s a pity he’s not filming it now!). Together with the young talent, a whole galaxy of Soviet cinema stars appeared in Zakharov’s film: Oleg Yankovsky, Evgeny Leonov, Andrei Mironov, Alexander Abdulov, Irina Kupchenko and many others.
"An Ordinary Miracle", 1987
It is also worth noting the wonderful film about the times of the Civil War, “The Lost Expedition” and its sequel, “Golden River,” where Evgenia convincingly played the romantic daughter of a geology professor, Tasya.
"The Lost Expedition", 1975
Zhenya did an interesting job in the drama “School Waltz”. Perhaps the audience has never seen Simonova like this - ambiguous and contradictory, in some ways arousing pity for a girl in love.
"School Waltz", 1977
The role of the wife of the great writer in Alexander Zarkhi’s film “Twenty-six days in the life of Dostoevsky” turned out to be successful. Anatoly Solonitsyn starred in a duet with Simonova in the role of Fyodor Mikhailovich.
"Twenty-six days in the life of Dostoevsky", 1980
One of Simonova’s most striking roles can be confidently included Jill Hart, the heroine of the film “Rafferty,” the unhappy mistress of the main character played by the brilliant Oleg Borisov.
"Rafferty", 1980
Simonova had another “contact” with Dostoevsky in 1983, when she played Alfonsina in Yevgeny Tashkov’s film “The Teenager” based on the novel of the same name by the classic of Russian literature.
"Teenager", 1983
During perestroika and in the nineties, Evgenia Pavlovna also acted a lot, but the viewer never saw any revelations. The “return” of the legend took place at the beginning of the two thousandth with the release of the serial film “Children of the Arbat” directed by Andrei Eshpai, the then and current husband of the actress.
"Children of Arbat", 2004
Eshpai in the series “Adult Daughters” filmed three representatives of three generations of relatives at once. In the multi-part film by Sergei Ashkenazy, “The Deli Case No. 1,” the real story of Soviet times is artistically embodied - the investigation of a criminal crime in an elite metropolitan store. Evgenia Simonova reincarnated as the first wife of the director of the Eliseevsky grocery store, Berkutov, accused of bribery and sentenced to death.
Several other works in the actress’s filmography:
- "The flight is delayed"
- "Balamut"
- "The Story of an Unknown Man"
- "Quarantine",
- "Children of the Sun",
- "Russian Ragtime"
- "Ellipsis"
- "Ivan groznyj",
- "Kuprin"
- "Method".
Movies
Already from the first year of college, Evgenia Simonova began acting in films. The actress’s first serious work was participation in Leonid Bykov’s film “Only Old Men Go to Battle,” which was released in 1973. Notable was her appearance in the film “Afonya” directed by Georgy Danelia, where Simonova played the role of nurse Katya.
In the film industry of that time, Evgenia Simonova was firmly assigned the role of a lyrical heroine. It was a great success: the girl began to be recognized on the streets, her mailbox was filled with letters from fans. The naive girlish characters performed by Evgenia Simonova were sure to find a lively response in the audience.
On the other hand, this fame turned into strict limits for young Evgenia. The actress, of course, was deeply grateful to Danelia and Bykov for revealing her talent, but, nevertheless, she was firmly convinced that she would definitely overcome the limitations of her role. The actress recalls how, during her student years, she desperately struggled with this established stereotype: once, when students were given the task of staging any excerpt of a work of their own choice, she took a fragment of a rather gloomy story by Vsevolod Garshin, where she played a prostitute. On stage, she tried so hard to embody all the gestures and manners inherent, in her opinion, to a “fallen woman” that the director of the school, Boris Evgenievich Zakhava, could not stand it and ordered the curtain to close.
However, despite the fact that the roles of negative heroines were not included in the actress’s creative heritage, her lyrical characters were remembered by the viewer and entered the “golden fund” of Russian cinema.
Another outstanding role for Simonova was the portrayal of the princess’s character in the fairy tale film “An Ordinary Miracle,” which was filmed in 1974. In the film by Mark Zakharov based on the play of the same name by Evgeniy Shvarts, Simonova had the opportunity to play together with such stars of Soviet cinema as Andrei Mironov, Alexander Abdulov, Evgeniy Leonov, Yuri Solomin, Irina Kupchenko, Oleg Yankovsky.
To date, the actress’s filmography includes about sixty films and four television performances. Simonova's most memorable roles for the general public are far in the past. After significant success at a young age, Simonova retired from the big screen to focus on her theater career.
The actress’s real return took place in the early 2000s, when she starred in the acclaimed series “Children of the Arbat” by Andrei Eshpai. Then Evgenia Pavlovna starred with her husband in the film “Ellipses”, as well as in the film “The Event” based on the work of Vladimir Nabokov, where she played the mother of the heroine Chulpan Khamatova.
Of the large number of roles, the actress herself singles out two that are not the most popular among the general public. This is participation in the film “The Story of an Unknown Man” by Vytautas Žalakevičius, which did not have popular love, but visited the Venice Film Festival. And also the role of Anna Snitkina, the second wife of Fyodor Dostoevsky, in the film “Twenty-six days in the life of Dostoevsky.”
Just in time for the actress’s 60th birthday, her husband’s series “Adult Daughters” was released. Three representatives of the Simonov-Kaidanovsky family played in it. And if Evgenia Pavlovna and Zoya Kaidanovskaya got small roles, then the actress’s grandson Alexey played the only son of the main characters of the television story.
Simonova’s latest work today is the main role in the series “The Hornet’s Nest,” which was released in 2020.
Work in the theater
The inexperienced girl was helped to adapt to the theater stage by her senior colleague Svetlana Nemolyaeva, who became a mentor and guardian.
Svetlana Nemolyaeva
Zhenya learned a lot from communicating with another stage partner, Igor Kostolevsky. They simply became friends with the latter, although there is a controversial statement that there is no friendship between a man and a woman...
Igor Kostolevsky
We can safely say and write that Evgenia Simonova is one of those on whom the repertoire of the Mayakovsky Theater rests. During her forty years of service to this enterprise, she performed countless performances. In addition to the stage of her native theater, Simonova has become quite accustomed to other stages.
Evgenia participated in productions of Sovremennik, at the Sphere theater venue, at the Yablochkina Central House of Artists, the Malaya Bronnaya Theater, and at the School of Dramatic Art. Among the most significant works we name the following:
- "Dollhouse",
- "Victim of the Century"
- "Patron's Joke"
- "Love Potion"
- "Gull",
- "Marriage",
- "Five Evenings"
- "Moscow Choir".
Daughter of Evgenia Simonova - Maria Eshpay-Simonova
The second Daughter of Evgenia Simonova, Maria Eshpay-Simonova, is better known as a talented pianist. But she also periodically acts in films; she already has 4 works to her credit. The girl is now 31 years old and has already received several awards in the field of music. Maria graduated from the Moscow Music Conservatory in piano.
Daughter of Evgenia Simonova - Maria Eshpay-Simonova photo
Laureate of international competitions. She has participated in various concerts, festivals and master classes, both in Russia and abroad. Maria conquers the whole world with her musical talent and has repeatedly shown what she is capable of. As it turns out, truly talented children grow up in a creative family.
Recognition and awards
For her fruitful creative activity, Evgenia Pavlovna received many awards, including various awards - State, Lenin Komsomol, Stanislavsky, Nika, Crystal Turandot, Golden Eagle. Among the awards are the Order of Honor, “For Services to the Fatherland”, IV degree. In 1995, she was awarded the title of People's Artist of the Russian Federation.
Personal life
Evgenia Pavlovna remembers her parental home with gratitude and tenderness. My father survived my mother by 11 years. The actress has a brother, part-time TV presenter Yuri Vyazemsky. According to his passport, he is also Simonov, but he took his mother’s last name as a pseudonym.
Yuri Vyazemsky
As Yuri Pavlovich recalls, when Zhenya learned the basics of acting in “Pike,” almost her entire course was spent in their house. Leonid Yarmolnik and Yuri Vasiliev came more often than others. Evgenia was in love with the latter and almost married him. But then the girl crossed paths with Alexander Kaidanovsky, and, as they say, lost her head.
Alexander Kaidanovsky and Evgenia Simonova
They met on the set of The Lost Expedition. After working together, the young people got married and lived together for five years.
The second husband was the actor, dubbing master Dmitry Polonsky. Evgenia met him while dubbing the film “Quarantine”; their relationship did not last very long.
Dmitry Polonsky
The third husband is director Andrei Eshpai.
Andrey Eshpai and Ekaterina Simonova
Children of Evgenia Simonova The actress has two daughters. The eldest Zoya was born in a marriage with Kaidanovsky. Subsequently, she also became an actress and took her father’s surname.
Zoya Kaidanovskaya
The younger Maria appeared in alliance with Andrei Eshpai.
Evgenia Simonova with her daughter Maria
Professional career of Evgenia Simonova in cinema and theater, filmography
The film “Only Old Men Go to Battle” instantly made Evgenia Simonova a popular and successful actress.
People recognized her on the streets and gave her flowers. Soviet directors also began to notice the pretty young girl more often. The actress began to act more often, and soon several new films with her participation were released. Thus, in the period from 1974 to 1976, the films “Flight Delayed”, “Under the Roofs of Montmartre”, “The Lost Expedition”, “Golden River” were released on the screens of cinemas in the Soviet Union. The comedy “Afonya” became especially popular, in which the actress played one of the main roles. In 1976, Evgenia Simonova graduated from theater school and, having received a diploma, began playing on the stage of the Moscow Academic Theater. Mayakovsky. Here the young actress immediately took on the leading roles and became a real “prima” of the local stage. It is very noteworthy that the actress often appears on this stage even today.
In parallel with her roles in the theater, Evgenia Simonova was also widely involved in various cinematic projects. In the period from 1977 to 1979, the actress starred in ten different films, among which the most famous were her roles in films such as “An Ordinary Miracle”, “School Waltz”, “Balamut”, “Wedding Day will have to be clarified”.
Meetings on Mokhovaya. Evgenia Simonova It is worth noting that there could have been more roles, but in 1976 the actress had a daughter, and therefore for a long time Evgenia Simonova refused directors who offered her to work together.
Having sorted out household chores, in the eighties the actress again began to combine work in the theater with frequent filming. During this period, Evgenia Simonova appeared in such famous Soviet films as “Twenty-six days in the life of Dostoevsky”, “Rafferty”, “The Long Road to Myself”, “Tales of the Old Wizard”, “Children of the Sun” and many others. Separately, it is worth mentioning the Yugoslav film “Strong Wind,” which became Evgenia Simonova’s first work outside of Soviet cinema.
In the nineties, a clear crisis emerged in cinema. During this period, the actress almost did not act in films and mostly focused her attention on theatrical roles. The actress was helped to return to big cinema by her second husband, director Andrei Eshpai, who invited her to the mini-series “Children of the Arbat”.
Evgenia Simonova now
In 2017, the actress’s name was listed first in the credits of the melodrama “Hornet’s Nest.” Here Simonova portrayed the head of the family without men. One day the lady decides to leave her home, and leaves a will, according to which all the property goes not to her daughter and granddaughters, but to a stranger. In addition, the house has an original painting by Van Gogh, which is being donated to the art museum...
In the fall of 2018, filming of the second season of the detective story “Method” ended; Simonova again plays the role of a teacher in it.
The series “The Secrets of Mrs. Kirsanova” demonstrates the situation in Russia in the 19th century. The plot revolves around the incidents that happen to one girl. She arrives to stay in the province with two goals - to visit her aunt, whose role was played by Simonova, and to find her runaway fiancé. The film became the prehistory of the film “Anna the Detective”, and it reveals some details of the transformation of a mathematics teacher into a detective.
