Biography: childhood and family
Zinaida Sharko (photo above) was born in 1929 (May 14). Its homeland is the beautiful city of Rostov-on-Don. The future film and theater star was raised in an ordinary family. His father worked as a fireman, and his mother was a housewife.
Zina's childhood took place not only in Rostov-on-Don. The girl often visited relatives in Novorossiysk and Tuapse. At the age of 5 she first appeared on stage. At the fire department, where her father worked, amateur activities were organized. Little Zina decided to take part in this event. Our heroine recited the poem “Hedgehog Mittens.” The local audience received the girl's performance very well.
Before the war, the Sharko family moved to the main city of the Chuvash Republic - Cheboksary. There the girl continued to engage in creativity. She attended hobby groups and participated in school literary productions. During the war years, a song and dance ensemble was created in the local House of Pioneers. Zina was one of the first to sign up there. The guys went to hospitals, where they gave concerts for wounded soldiers. This helped boost their morale. Zinaida Sharko participated in 90 such concerts. For this she was awarded the medal “For Valiant Labor.”
Like many children of the war, our heroine wanted to go to the front. In the 7th grade, she even sent a statement to the People's Commissar of Defense in which she asked to be sent to the Kronstadt Torpedo School. The girl’s teachers immediately called her father to school. They tried to get dad to dissuade his daughter from taking this step. But the man supported his little blood. The statement nevertheless caught the eye of the People's Commissar. However, as a sensible person, he ignored Zina’s letter.
Moscow or Leningrad?
Our heroine graduated from high school with a gold medal. She had already decided on her choice of profession a long time ago. She wanted to become a famous artist. 18-year-old Zinaida Sharko announced to her parents her desire to go to Moscow. Father and mother did not want to let their daughter go to the noisy capital. So, with a scandal, the girl packed her bags and left.
A native of Rostov-on-Don dreamed of performing on the stage of the Moscow Art Theater. After all, her idol, actress Alla Tarasova, worked there. One day Zina went to submit documents to the Moscow Art Theater School. The first person she saw within the walls of the university was a secretary gnawing a pickled cucumber. The woman looked up and asked her: “What do you want?” Zina considered this behavior offensive. Is it possible to bite a cucumber in the Temple of Art?! The girl answered the secretary: “I don’t need anything anymore.” After that, she hastily left the building.
Zinaida walked down the street, choking with tears. To calm down a little, she read aloud the poems of Margarita Aliger. And then a thought occurred to her: she urgently needed to go to Leningrad.
In Moscow, a native of Rostov-on-Don lived with her mother’s friend. But in the Northern capital she had neither relatives nor friends. But this does not mean that the girl went nowhere. One manicurist gave her the address of a woman who rents out a room. Zina arrived in Leningrad at 6 o'clock in the morning. And she immediately went to the specified address. A sleepy old woman opened the door for her. To begin with, the girl introduced herself. Then she briefly talked about why she arrived in the Northern capital. They quickly found a common language with the old woman.
Don Juan list
Zinaida lived with Igor Vladimirov for seven stormy years. Igor constantly started some kind of affair, and at the same time he was pathologically jealous. He flared up over any nonsense, and could start a scandal out of nowhere. Once, director Nikolai Akimov invited Zinaida to pose for a portrait (he was not only a brilliant theater director, but also an exquisite portrait painter). Vladimirov immediately lost his temper: everyone knows that Akimov only writes about his mistresses! Zinaida tried to reason with her husband, saying that this was nonsense, that she had no personal relationship with Nikolai Pavlovich, that she was, after all, expecting a child... Vladimirov did not want to hear any arguments, and Zinaida spat and did not pose for Akimov.
They divorced after Zinaida found her husband's notebook with a long list of women's names. And when Igor once again started a showdown about her “past,” she snorted:
“Your girls can create a third-rate brothel, and my men can create the best theater in Europe!”
This was their last quarrel. After that they stopped all relations altogether. Igor went to work at the Leningrad City Council, Zinaida remained at the BDT. Their son communicated with his father without the participation of his mother. At first it seemed to Zinaida that she would die from this separation, but then it turned out that they do not die from this. And that this experience protects like armor: it is much more difficult to hurt a woman who has experienced this. Although she loved Igor very much, despite his affairs and unbearable jealousy. And she often told her son: “you are a child of love.”
Difficult times
In appearance, Zinaida Sharko was much inferior to many actresses. A girl with a body, with thick legs, in a simple dress that her mother sewed. And her preparation was limited only to school amateur performances. But our heroine had no doubt that she would successfully cope with the exams. She entered LGITMiK. One of the members of the selection committee recognized her acting talent and enormous creative potential. However, he advised the girl not to gain weight by even half a kilogram, otherwise she would face incompetence.
Zina’s studies at the university took place in the post-war years. The country has just begun to recover. Many citizens lived from hand to mouth. Charcot's student's daily diet consisted of a pie and a glass of curdled milk. One day, in the Philharmonic building, she fainted from hunger.
Zinaida Sharko, whose biography is presented in this review, steadfastly endured all the hardships. She still considered herself a happy person. After all, she was allowed to learn the basics of her favorite profession. Already from her third year, the girl performed on the stage of the regional theater.
In 1951 she graduated from LGITMiK. During the graduation ceremony, the professor who advised her to lose weight during the entrance exams simply did not recognize Zina. He did not expect that the modest “plump” would turn into a slender beauty with a flying gait.
Happy years
In appearance, the girl was completely different from the future actress. The dress made by her mother fit her full figure with thick legs. Apart from amateur performances, Zina had no preparation at school. Nevertheless, the girl was not at all afraid of exams. She really wanted to become an artist, and this desire added to her confidence.
And a miracle happened - Sharko entered LGITMiK. During the entrance exams, one of the members of the selection committee noticed that if the girl gained even half a kilogram, she would become unsuitable for the profession.
The study took place in the post-war years, when people had to starve. For the whole day, Zina ate only one pie and washed it down with a glass of yogurt. Such a diet brought her to the point of fainting from hunger at the Philharmonic. Clothing, like food, was also in short supply. One day, a friend invited the future actress to the theater, and she had to hide her hands all the time because of the holes in her gloves.
But despite the hardships of life, Zinaida Sharko, whose biography is presented in this article, was happy. The girl learned the basics of her favorite profession. In her third year, Zinaida was invited to play in the regional theater. Charcot's performance was so good that she was nominated for the casting of young actors.
The girl graduated from the institute in 1951. Upon graduation, she met the professor who took her in the entrance exams. He didn’t recognize that same “chubby” in Charcot. Having looked the thin graduate from head to toe, the professor praised her, but noted that if she lost another half a kilo, she would become unsuitable for the profession.
Theater actress
Sharko Zinaida Maksimovna did not experience problems with employment. Immediately after graduating from LGITMiK, Lidia Artmanake offered her cooperation. This woman created her own group of actors based on the principle of Raikin’s theater of miniatures. Zina gladly took part in the project. As part of this team, she played 8 roles. Lydia Artmanake and her charges toured the entire USSR.
G. Tovstonogov attended one of the performances as a spectator. He immediately drew attention to the talented Zinaida Sharko. At the end of the performance, Georgy Alexandrovich approached her and invited her to work at the BDT. The actress took time to think. In the end, she agreed. But Zina could not immediately leave the team that had become her family.
The girl went on another tour. During this time, Tovstonogov had already taken another artist in her place. Our heroine was very upset. She decided to go to Moscow to start her theatrical career “from scratch.” But her mentor Boris Zon managed to dissuade the native of Rostov from this step. He advised Zina to try to get a job at the New Theater (later the Lensovet Theater). And the actress listened to his words. She was accepted into the main theater troupe. She worked there until 1956. After this, Zinaida Sharko still went to the Bolshoi Drama Theater to G. Tovstonogov. That was her decision.
Favorable work environment
In the creative community, the Bolshoi Drama Theater was jokingly called “a cemetery for actresses.” The fact is that Tovstonogov willingly invited talented girls to his theater. But worthy roles for them were extremely rare. Although in the case of Zina Sharko everything turned out differently. The actress and director were able to find an approach to each other from the very first rehearsals.
Soon, roles rained down on Zinaida as if “from a cornucopia.” In the production of Much Ado About Nothing, she played Beatrice. And in the play “Donbass” she managed to convey the character of her character – Varya.
She called the meeting with G. Tovstonogov a real gift of fate. After all, it was on the stage of the Bolshoi Drama Theater that Zinaida Sharko was able to fully reveal her acting abilities. One of her best theatrical works can be called the role of Tamara in the production of “Five Evenings.” She is a selfless and loving woman. Many spectators recognized themselves in this image.
Zinaida Sharko: films with her participation
Our heroine's film debut took place in 1954. She appeared as an ice cream saleswoman in one of the episodes of the famous film “We Met Somewhere.” The main male role in this film went to Arkady Raikin.
Director Kira Muratova saw great talent and natural charm in Zinaida. She approved the actress for the main role in her film “The Long Farewell” (1971). The plot is based on a dramatic story. Sharko's character is a lonely and defenseless woman, Evgenia Vasilievna. She has a difficult relationship with her son Alexander, who wants to become a free and independent person. Actress Zinaida Sharko approached this role with all responsibility.
The film turned out to be interesting and believable. However, those “at the top” considered the film dangerous and banned its wide display. But there was already a resonance. The directors began vying with each other to offer Charcot mutually beneficial cooperation. Our heroine carefully studied each script she received.
Her most interesting film works for 1975-1990 are listed below:
- “Retired Colonel” (1975) - Anastasia Petrovna.
- “Autumn Story” (1979) – city police inspector.
- “Formula of Love” (1982) - Vera Svetlova.
- “The Flight of a Bird” (1988) – Iraida Stepanovna.
- “Short Game” (1990) - Valera Dyakov’s mother.
In 1980, Zinaida Sharko was awarded the title People's Artist of the RSFSR. At that time, she already had more than 100 roles played in theater and films.
Cinema
But Zinaida Sharko’s cinematography was not so good at first. The artist made her debut in 1954, playing in an episode of the film “We Met Somewhere.” Then there were several more small roles, but soon they stopped filming her altogether. The directors considered Zinaida unphotogenic.
Kira Muratova was the first to take the risk. She offered Charcot the main role in her film “The Long Farewell.” This dramatic story revealed the relationship of a lonely and defenseless woman, Evgenia Vasilievna, with her son Alexander, who was trying to become independent. Zinaida Sharko, whose filmography is known to all her fans, played at the level of world standards, embodying her role on the screen as realistically as possible. But those “at the top” considered this film dangerous and froze the project for many years. But this greatly helped Zinaida Maksimovna “advance” in cinema. Directors began vying with each other to offer her different roles.
1990-2000
Zinaida Sharko also did not part with cinema. Her filmography continued to be replenished with new works. At the beginning of this century, the actress played the role of the elderly cleaning lady Dusya in the TV series “Gangster Petersburg.” In “Mechanical Suite” (2001) she played Plyuganovsky’s mother. This was followed by filming in “Theatrical Romance”. It is impossible not to mention another work of Charcot. We are talking about the film “The Garden Was Full of the Moon” (2000). For the role of Vera Andreevna, she was awarded the prestigious Nika Award.
In 2004, director A. Malyukov contacted Zinaida Maksimovna. He offered the actress the main role in his film “Bad Habit.” She really liked the script. But our heroine set one condition for the director - she will not film without Ada Rogovtseva. And Malyukov went to meet her. The acting duet turned out to be amazing. Zinaida successfully got used to the image of Aunt Klava.
Film roles
Zinaida Sharko devoted most of her time to the theater.
Film directors often called her “non-cinematic.” And it’s not surprising: in her youth, Charcot was overweight, her facial features were harsh. But nevertheless, she was regularly invited to act. True, they offered mainly minor roles. “You and I met somewhere,” “Old Man Hottabych,” “Dog in the Manger” - in these, as in many other films, Charcot’s roles were so insignificant that the artist’s name was not always mentioned in the credits.
We recommend: Natalya Selezneva: creativity and family of the actress
But there were also several significant films. For example, the main female role in the film “Long Farewell”, “Faryatyev’s Fantasy”. It was after these films that she became a truly great film actress. And participation in the film “The Garden Was Full of the Moon” brought a significant number of awards. In total, Zinaida Sharko's filmography includes more than 45 films.
Personal life
In 1953, the actress married director Igor Vladimirov. They were connected not only by great love, but also by joint work. Sharko performed on the stage of the BDT. And Vladimirov staged performances in which she participated.
In 1956, the couple had their first child, a tiny son. The boy was named by a common Russian name - Ivan. From an early age, his father and mother instilled in him a love of art.
One day, Igor Vladimirov announced to Zinaida that he had fallen in love with another woman. As a result, he went to actress Alisa Freindlich. Our heroine did not stop or dissuade her husband. At that time, their common son was 7 years old.
Zinaida Sharko was able to survive this betrayal. The artist’s personal life soon improved. She married a second time. Her new chosen one was actor Sergei Yursky. However, this marriage also turned out to be fragile and lasted 7 years.
In recent years, Sharko Zinaida Maksimovna lived alone. Son Ivan often came to visit her with his children. Our heroine spoiled them with fresh pastries and aromatic jam.
Interesting Facts
- Sharko Zinaida had an amazing voice. She also had unusual facial features and a unique style of playing.
- Many of her characters were unsettled in their personal lives. Jealousy, the pain of betrayal and loneliness - the actress was able to convey all this through facial expressions, gestures and words. After all, she experienced first-hand what it means to endure her husband’s infidelity. One day our heroine found the notebook of her first husband (Igor Vladimirov) in the apartment. There he kept a list of the girls he slept with. Waitress, train conductor, typist and so on.
- Zinaida Maksimovna was glad that her son and grandchildren did not choose the acting profession.
- Until the age of 40, Charcot was considered unphotogenic. But this did not stop her from becoming a sought-after actress and acquiring a huge army of fans.
- She didn't like Moscow. I considered this city to be beautiful, but vain and cold (in terms of human relationships).
- Many Soviet citizens thought that artists were swimming in money and staying in foreign resorts. But that was not the case. On foreign tours, the actors saved on everything and ate canned food. Although Zinaida managed to have lunch and dinner in restaurants on meager fees. At the same time, she had some money left over, which she spent on purchasing gifts for her family.
Zinaida Sharko. In proud loneliness
This film is about the fate of a wonderful Russian actress who devoted her entire life to the theater. Many of Zinaida Sharko's heroines suffocated without love. And she herself spent many years in search of happiness. Beautiful and talented men sought her favor, but she never decided to tie the knot. What stood in the way: dedication to the profession? Fear of losing personal freedom? Character traits?
She played her first big film role when she was already over forty. She had only two leading roles in her entire life - in Kira Muratova’s film “The Long Farewell” and in “Faryatyev’s Fantasies.” However, public interest in her has always been enormous and has only increased over the years. The theater brought real fame to the actress. Her surname, loud as a shot, unusual facial features, timbre of her voice, and most importantly, her style of acting, unlike anyone else, attracted and made any role, even the smallest one, memorable. Zinaida Sharko has always had her own inimitable style. And not only on stage. On foreign tours, the actors saved on everything, subsisted on canned goods, and only she, with meager fees, ate delicious food in restaurants, and spent the rest of the money on gifts. Zinaida Sharko served at the BDT under the leadership of Tovstonogov for half a century and always pronounced the name of her teacher with reverence. “The Great Goga” – that was Tovstonogov’s name in the theater – highly valued her, despite her complex character. And Zina had a fighting character since childhood. During the war, as a girl, she performed in hospitals in front of the seriously wounded. After school, in defiance of my parents, I became an artist.
The authors of the documentary film “Zinaida Sharko. In Splendid Solitude” they carefully, step by step, explore the stages of her creative biography. Why, having arrived to enter the Moscow Art Theater, did the girl suddenly change her decision and leave Moscow overnight? How did her artistic career develop after graduating from the Leningrad Theater Institute? Is it true that the young and promising actress refused to work with the outstanding theater director Nikolai Akimov? In the early 60s, theatergoers from all over the country specially came to Leningrad to watch the play “Five Evenings” with Charcot and Kopelyan. This role of hers was included in theater history textbooks and is still considered unsurpassed. The actress was not a fatal beauty in her, although behind the scenes she was called “Miss the best legs of Leningrad.” Many of the characters played by Charcot were not settled in their personal lives. Almost always they were on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She understood her heroines. The actress also did not find the usual quiet happiness in her own life. Why did Charcot never officially get married? – the film’s authors ask themselves. Both of her common-law spouses were talented and handsome men. The bright, large, confident actor and director Igor Vladimirov was the object of admiration for many Leningrad beauties. Sharko and Vladimirov had a son, Ivan, but the union turned out to be fragile. The common-law husband was pathologically jealous and held Zinaida with a tight rein. But, as it turned out, he himself was a walker. One day Zina found a notebook with a list of his Don Juan victories: conductor, waitress, typist... Then her famous phrase was born: your girls could make a third-rate brothel, and my men could make the best theater in Europe! They separated when Ivan was 7 years old. Vladimirov went to Alice Freundlich, with whom he secretly met, and they officially got married. Zinaida Sharko's second husband was her stage partner Sergei Yursky. They lived in a civil marriage for the same 7 years. After which Yursky became the official husband of actress Natalya Tenyakova. And Zinaida Sharko, having parted with Yursky, chose loneliness. What happened between them? Why did they break up? Why, without even crossing the forty-year mark, did she promise herself not to connect her life with anyone else? For more than 40 years, the actress lived alone in a one-room apartment on the quiet outskirts of St. Petersburg. Zinaida Maksimovna refused to move into her son’s house even after a serious cancer operation. Living by your own rules - was this one of those habits that Charcot was not going to give up for the sake of age and health? Or a sign of a corporate style that reflected her personality?
Zinaida Sharko: causes of death
Our heroine made big plans for creativity and future life. But they were not destined to come true. The artist left this world on August 4, 2020. For many colleagues and fans, the death of Zinaida Sharko was a real blow. She was 87 years old. Shortly before her death, she became a great-grandmother.
It is known that several years ago the actress was diagnosed with cancer. A major operation was performed. There were no improvements. The woman was sent home, where she lived out her days. All this time, her only son was next to her. Ivan left his job at the O. Tabakov Theater to move to St. Petersburg to live with his sick mother and take care of her.
The great actress found her final refuge at the Bolsheokhtinsky cemetery in the Northern capital. There are always fresh flowers on her grave, brought by devoted fans, colleagues and her beloved son Vanya.
