Biography
Alena Ivchenko was born in the capital of Belarus into a family of musicians. From an early age, the girl showed interest in creative activities. She studied piano at a music school, did artistic acrobatics, and went to a special school with an English bias. And in the seventh grade I transferred to an educational institution with a theater specialization. The actress says about her future profession: “I didn’t choose - I was born an actress. At the age of 5 I was told that the Shchukin School was the best, and from then on I knew that I would study there. When guests came to our house, I trembled with happiness that now I would sing “Cruiser Aurora” in front of the public or read a poem of my own composition. I could unexpectedly appear in front of the guests in a sheet and my mother’s fox hat and announce: “Now I will perform a number - “Snowflake”! - even if there was no number - and start improvising. But I knew for sure that they wouldn’t put me to bed for another hour.” In 1991, after graduating from high school, the girl went to Leningrad, where she tried to enter LGITMiK, but could not pass the competition. She recalls: “Mom’s friend, who was doing her graduate studies at LGITMiK, went to Elena Kamburova’s concert in St. Petersburg and invited me to join her. I wanted to go to St. Petersburg, since I had never been there. Our friends let us stay, and my friends also gathered. And it so happened that this was just my first trip to St. Petersburg. But I wanted to try and “feel” what admission is like. I reached the competition, but they didn’t take me.” Then Alena got a job as an assistant director in the film “Flight of the Night Butterfly” at Belarusfilm and spent a year preparing for her new role. And in 1992 she was admitted to the Boris Shchukin Theater School. She studied on the course of the famous artist and teacher Yuri Shlykov.
Theater
After receiving a diploma from a theater university, Ivchenko got a job in the Et Cetera theater troupe. The aspiring actress made her debut in the play “Uncle Vanya”, playing Elena Andreevna. Then she was entrusted with the role of Portia in Robert Sturua's production of Shylock. For this work, the actress received her first award - the Seagull Award. Outside the theater, she collaborated with a production company, where she played the heroine Bernadette in the Oscar play.
Theater works
Et Cetera Theater:
- “Uncle Vanya”, Elena Andreevna
- “Competition”, Olga Pukhova
- "The Mystery of Aunt Malkin", Queen
- Shylock, Portia
Producer:
- Oscar, Bernadette
Cinema
In 1991, Alena Ivchenko made her film debut. She had a cameo role in Sergei Nikonenko’s comedy “Brunette for Thirty Kopecks.” Then the artist appeared in such projects as “Prostitute”, “Impostors”, “Tender Age”, “Friendly Family”. Since 2001, the actress has been increasingly invited to play in various films. She starred in the crime film “Gold of Ugra” as Tatyana, in the melodrama “Women’s Intuition” as Julia, in the series “Poor Nastya” as the maid of honor of Empress Nelidova. She took part in the filming of the popular television series “Turkish March-3”, where she played together with Alexander Domogarov. She was entrusted with the heroine Marina. Ivchenko gained wide popularity thanks to the role of the powerful woman Valentina Ilyina in the multi-part telenovela “Doomed to Be a Star,” which was released in 2005. Her partners on the set were Anna Snatkina, Mikhail Dorozhkin, Armands Neilands-Jaunzems, Yulia Pozhidaeva, Alexey Kortnev, Anna Kazyuchits, Konstantin Milovanov, Sergey Mukhin, Anna Isaykina, Olga Spirkina, Anatoly Kotenev, Natalya Gromushkina, Lyanka Gryu. She says: “Initially the series was not planned to be so long - it was supposed to shoot 150 episodes, but television channels are largely guided by the buzzword “ratings”, so there was an offer to continue work, as a result of which the series turned out to be 366! To date, this is the longest series - we have surpassed everyone in terms of volume. And this is the merit of the viewer.” In 2006, Alena Ivchenko played two heroines at once in the drama “You are Me.” A film about sisters Elena and Greta, who were separated by fate during the Stalinist years. Together with her, the stars of Russian cinema appeared on the screen - Dmitry Dyuzhev, Vladislav Galkin, Andrei Gusev. The actress’s next major project was the role of Zhanna Basmanova, a bitchy casino owner, in the crime comedy “Formula Zero” directed by Anatoly Artamonov.
And the historical film “The Empress and the Robber” brought her a prestigious award. She appeared as the main character - Empress Catherine II. For her brilliantly performed work, Ivchenko received a prize at the 12th International Film Festival in Berdyansk. “This is one of the most delicious roles. Here Catherine is the main character, and this story is about her. I'm very glad this happened to me. And this is great happiness. Filming of the full-length film took place in just 14 days,” says Alena.
Among other notable works of the artist, one can note such as: “Photographer”, House of Exemplary Maintenance”, “Grey Gelding”, “Lavrova Method”, “Fedorov”, “Excursion Girl”, “The Most Important Thing”, “Bhound”, “More” than a doctor”, “Vasilisa”, “The Wrong Berry”, “Hotel Eleon” and many others.
"Good intentions"
In 2020, the actress received an invitation to the melodrama directed by Valery Ibragimov “Good Intentions”.
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions” - this is the saying that Anna (Inga Oboldina) and Dmitry (Dmitry Shevchenko) remember when they find themselves in a whirlpool of events that they created with their own hands.
Anna and Dmitry have been together for almost a quarter of a century. Wonderful happy family. Daughter Dasha (Anna Koshmal), however, is trying to escape from her mother’s care, but her parents are sure that she will someday understand that everything is being done for her good.
And suddenly, like a bolt from the blue, Anna finds out that her beloved and loving husband Dmitry is the father of a seven-year-old boy. And all these years he has been deceiving her!
At the same time, strange events begin to occur at Anna's work. Dmitry suspects that someone wants to kill Anna.
Everyone has to understand and repent of their actions. And some will pay with their lives... The creative ensemble of the film included: Inga Oboldina, Dmitry Shevchenko, Anna Koshmal, Dmitry Blazhko, Ekaterina Semenova, Oleg Maslennikov, Roman Kondratyuk.
Personal life
Everyone who knows Alena Ivchenko knows how interesting and smart a woman she is. There is always something to talk about and discuss with her. The girl's hobbies are quite simple; she loves to travel and read.
The most important friend in her life is her mother, but the problem is that she lives in New Zealand. Almost every evening they call each other and talk about various topics.
Alena Ivchenko: photo
Almost no man can resist the charm and beauty of a young woman. It is known about her personal life that at the very beginning of her professional career, Alena met with Nikita Tatarenkov. In her interviews, the actress does not really like to talk about this and almost always tries to shift the conversation to another topic. Of course, this was a fleeting student hobby that quickly disappeared.
Actress Alena Ivchenko now
Nothing more is known about Alena Ivchenko’s men and it will not be possible to find out anything about her relationships. The actress does not even maintain her own social networks. Thus, keeping her career and personal life separate helps her maintain secrecy about herself. Despite everything, fans are very fond of the talented and professional actress, who delights us with new interesting works and roles every day.
Voice acting
In addition to working in cinema and theater, Alena Vladimirovna is engaged in dubbing various projects on Russian television channels. Actresses spoke in her voice: Sharon Stone, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Salma Hayek. Alena voiced the character Scully in the feature film based on the series “The X-Files.” And in a number of Star Wars episodes she dubbed the main character Leia Organa. She was also the voice of characters from the films “My Best Friend’s Wedding”, “X-Men”, “Love and Other Troubles”, “The King’s Speech!”, “Anna Karenina”, “Wolverine: Immortal”, “Fast and Furious 8”. The artist admits: “I love everything. All these are different facets of my profession, different facets of me. Even cinema and theater are different ways of existing. And dubbing gives you another, third opportunity to express yourself in a new capacity.”
Movies
After graduating from college, Alena Ivchenko was accepted into the troupe of the Et Cetera theater, where the artist made her stage debut in the play Uncle Vanya. Then the aspiring actress was entrusted with the key role of Portia in Robert Sturua's production of Shylock. For this work, the actress received her first theater award - the Seagull Award. Later, Alena began collaborating with the production company, where she played the heroine Bernadette in the Oscar play.
The cinematic biography of Alena Ivchenko began earlier than the theatrical biography. Already in her first year, the student was involved in the film “Brunette for 30 kopecks,” in which Anna Samokhina played the main character. Then there were other roles, but the noticeable one, which brought recognition to the young artist, came only at the age of 28. Ivchenko appeared in the 3rd season of the top-rated “Turkish March”, where, in tandem with Alexander Domogarov, she played the heroine Marina in an episode called “Transfer to the Next World”.
In the early 2000s, the actress’s filmography was replenished mainly with work in top-rated TV series – “Russian Amazons-2”, “Viola Tarakanova. In the world of criminal passions -2.” The actress's repertoire consisted of the roles of young journalists and ordinary girls, but there were also historical characters that Alena could easily pull off. In the film adaptation of “Demons” with Yuri Kolokolnikov and Vladimir Vdovichenkov in the leading roles, the girl played the heroine Virginskaya. In the series “Poor Nastya,” the actress tried on the outfits of a maid of honor of the imperial court.
A notable work that brought the Belarusian actress considerable fame was the role of Valentina Ilyina in the serial melodrama “Doomed to Become a Star.” This modern-day Cinderella fairy tale was released from 2005 to 2007.
Another star role went to the actress when she turned 32 years old. Alena Ivchenko played two heroines at once in the drama “You are Me.” The poignant picture about the sisters Elena and Greta, who were separated by fate during the Stalin years, was remembered by many television viewers. Together with Ivchenko, Russian cinema stars Dmitry Dyuzhev and Vladislav Galkin appeared on the screen.
The actress embodied a negative image on the screen, starring in the crime comedy “Formula Zero.” Alena appeared in the role of a bitchy casino owner who, without a twinge of conscience, evicts young scientists and their mentor from the laboratory building they occupy onto the street. To regain the premises, scientists decide to go all-in and ruin the casino. These desperate heroes were played by Igor Yasulovich, Vladimir Zherebtsov and Svetlana Ivanova.
The project that gave Alena Ivchenko another prestigious award was the historical series “The Empress and the Robber,” released in 2009. Here the artist appeared in the image of Empress Catherine II. For her brilliantly performed work, Ivchenko received a prize at the 12th International Film Festival in Berdyansk.
Among Alena Ivchenko’s memorable works are roles in the films “House of Exemplary Maintenance”, “Lavrova’s Method”, “Excursion Girl”, “Bhound”. The actress masterfully transforms herself into a criminal thief, a police captain, a speech therapist and the wife of a general.
In 2020, the films “More Than a Doctor” and “Vasilisa” were released with the participation of the artist. In the melodrama “Berry of the Wrong Field,” Alena played the main role of Elena Shevtsova, and in the comedy “Hotel Eleon” she played the heroine Zhanna.
The actress is often involved in dubbing and dubbing various projects on the STS, TV-6, TVC and Channel One channels. Actresses Sharon Stone, Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Salma Hayek spoke in the voice of Alena Ivchenko. Alena voiced the heroine Scully in the feature film based on the X-Files series, and in a number of episodes of the Star Wars franchise Leia Organa speaks in the voice of Ivchenko. The actress also voiced characters from the top-rated films “X-Men”, “Love and Other Troubles”, “The King’s Speech!”, “Anna Karenina”, “Wolverine: The Immortal”.
Interview
About the acting profession
“Our profession is such a lottery that sometimes I don’t know what to advise myself. An actor is a very dependent profession, and this is its main drawback. An artist can always draw, a musician needs only an instrument to do what he loves, a writer can write on a table...
And the actor? An actor cannot play “on the table”! The actor burns out from lack of demand, he is burned by his own internal energy. As a result, many break, unable to withstand the load. Actors are not just public people, they are people without skin. We just have to believe in ourselves, believe so much that this energy fills all the space around us and supports us. After all, people without ambitions do not go into the acting profession. Everyone is ambitious, everyone is ambitious. And anyone who says he doesn’t care about fame will be lying.”
About working on the radio
“The offer to broadcast live on Echo was very exciting.” I have great respect for this radio station and had a good understanding of the audience I was working for. We hosted the program together with Yakov Beniaminovich Brandt, a very educated and witty man (not to mention the fact that he is a first-class surgeon and generally a darling), who helped me out and supported me a lot.
This was a test of an American format broadcast, when listeners call live and set the topic of conversation themselves, and it becomes clear what events are troubling the city. But two months later, the radio station abandoned this project, admitting that it did not really take root in our soil.”
About things with history
“I just take very good care of the things that I got from my grandparents. There are few of them, but each one is precious. Grandma left behind handbags that you can still go out with today, and ceramic figurines that used to decorate every home. And I really love and cherish these things. I got a tablet and a flask from my grandfather - he went through the whole war with them. And the order book - the Order of the Red Star itself, unfortunately, was lost. When I hold them in my hands, I cry. By the way, I enjoy spending time at flea markets, but I buy something very rarely: only if I feel comfortable with the energy of a particular thing.”
Based on materials from Wikipedia and websites: , vokrug.tv, kino-teatr.ru, starstory.ru, kinopoisk.ru, 24smi.org.
While preparing to meet you, I read what they write about you on the Internet. Many viewers think that you are a great actress, but, unfortunately, you spend less time on real cinema - more and more on TV series. What do you think? Over the past year, I starred in nine films, two of which were feature films. Some films are ready to go on air soon, others are in post-production. At the same time, I have continued to play plays at the Et Cetera Theater for 11 years. But, given that the series “Doomed to Be a Star” was on the air for two years, the viewer might get the impression that I had no time left for other work. Initially, the series was not planned to be so long - it was supposed to shoot 150 episodes, but today television channels are largely guided by the fashionable word “rating”, so an offer was made to continue working, as a result of which the series turned out to be 366! To date, this is the longest series - we have surpassed everyone in terms of volume. And this is the merit of the viewer. How do you like this comparison: Alena Ivchenko is very similar to Gwen Stefani? Oh yes, I read about it ( smiles ). But at that moment I only knew that she was a singer, and I became interested in who this woman was and what she looked like. And if someone thinks that we are similar, well, a comparison is quite possible! What do you think, who else are you similar to? I don’t think about it, but from time to time I hear very different versions: from Barbara Brylski to Tatyana Drubich, depending on the color of my hair. It's nice that both of these women are beautiful and talented, and I prefer not to argue. Do you try to learn something from other actors in your work? Of course, spying is part of our profession. But everything that I once spied on an artist, I will definitely remake in my own way: completely copying a person is, rather, the task of a parodist. You act in films, play in the theater, and do voice-overs for films. In addition, you work for the Ekho Moskvy radio. What is more difficult for you, what is closer to you? Alena, you played two main roles in one film: two sisters. Women with opposite characters. Was it difficult to transform? Every day life puts us in different situations. And every day she offers us a choice. Our decisions make up our path. My heroines are twins, who were connected by fate in the womb. There was always love and a struggle for primacy between them. And at some point the struggle ended with a 15-year gap. From that moment on, the sisters lived in different conditions and even different countries. And their characters differed more and more over the years. Two women, two truths, two positions. Both of them are close and understandable to me. And what you called reincarnation was a difficult task, but rather a technical one. It was important, after changing your costume, to understand exactly whose truth you were now defending. Do you change easily in life? I know you love antiques... Are you collecting a rare collection? Alena, what else are you interested in? I really love the car, I love the speed. In general, I love the road. I even love traffic jams sometimes, if you imagine it’s an obstacle race or slalom. I love autobahns, where you can drive along to good music. I love the road in all its manifestations: morning, night, day, winter, summer. In general, I love moving forward! I love to read, which my mother still can’t believe, because... As a child, it was impossible to force me to read. I love to sew. Previously, I sewed almost everything myself, but now more often I come up with an idea and leave the execution in the hands of professionals. I love to travel. There are so many more places I want to visit... Relationships between people are a huge job. How do you build relationships with colleagues, family and friends? What is your relationship with your parents? Wonderful! Mom is my best friend. She now lives in New Zealand. But we communicate every day via Skype, and in this regard, the computer has become another hobby of mine. Just three years ago I didn’t understand anything about him, I looked at him like a wild animal and thought that I would never marry him in my life. And I will never allow my children, I will not buy it, so that it is not even in the house! But the time has come, I got myself a mailbox and more. Now he is also part of my life, my freedom. It’s really a very convenient thing, I recommend it to everyone! Many actors believe that the most important thing for them is to make a career, and the family can wait. Do you agree with this? I have never lived only by my profession. There are still so many interesting things in life! No, of course, when the play is on release, you can’t think about anything else, and at home they forget what you look like... Or when you receive a new script, all the books fade into the background. But giving up everything for the sake of a career is not about me. Not having a baby because you were offered a role? The role of a mother is forever, but the movie may remain on the shelf. How did you choose your profession? Do you often get together with your family? Do you miss the warmth of home? Breaks are always necessary in work, and when they appear, it is a great joy: you can devote all your time to your loved ones without a trace. Someone is going crazy with excitement because they haven’t been filming anywhere for a week or rehearsing anything. I really appreciate these moments, because I know for sure that there will always be work, and this time was given to me so that I could spend it with loved ones. And I don’t miss the warmth of home, because I’m always there, regardless of work. Are you in love? Most likely yes. I always fall in love with talent, no matter what field it comes from. Whether human, creative or otherwise. Talent always attracts, delights, and is difficult to resist. What is your ideal man? Alena, are you a romantic by nature? More of a romantic realist. Do you remember your first dream? I propose another option - the first flash of memory. I absolutely remember how, at the age of five, I was first carried across the threshold of our apartment. Mom doesn’t really believe in this (although scientists and psychologists have long recognized this as possible) - even when I tell her in detail where each painting hung. It was a short flash: they brought me in, I looked to the left, saw the room, and that’s it. And it is true. If you could turn back time, would you change anything in your life? Yes, a lot. I would talk less, study better. But I wouldn’t change my homeland, my parents, or my profession. What are your goals now? You are very beautiful woman. What do you see for yourself when you look in the mirror? It depends on your mood and time of day. But every time I see something new there ( smiles ). At one time, Julia Roberts, when presenting the Oscar to the best cinematographer, said: “I believe that the cameraman is the most important person on the set, because I know what I look like at 6 in the morning when I start work.” Beauty is not an end in itself. I saw myself differently. But I am aware that I have expressive facial features. And if I didn’t love myself (and I know all my shortcomings better than others), then all the efforts of the make-up artists would be worthless. Only love for oneself and others makes a person beautiful. What do you think a talented actor needs to achieve success without connections and financial support? What are your wishes to the readers of StarStory.ru?
ABOUT! I love everything ( smiles ). All these are different facets of my profession, different facets of me. Even cinema and theater are different ways of existing. And dubbing gives you another, third opportunity to express yourself in a new capacity. The offer to broadcast live on Echo was very exciting. I have a lot of respect for this radio station, and I had a good idea of the audience I was working for. We hosted the program together with Yakov Beniaminovich Brandt, a very educated and witty man (not to mention the fact that he is a first-class surgeon and generally a darling), who helped me out and supported me a lot. This was a test of an American format broadcast, when listeners call live and set the topic of conversation themselves, and it becomes clear what events are troubling the city. But two months later, the radio station abandoned this project, admitting that it did not really take root in our soil.
In life, on the contrary, I remain myself. But I convey to each of my heroines some of my qualities.
I just take great care of the things that I inherited from my grandparents. There are few of them, but each one is precious. Grandma left behind handbags that you can still go out with today, and ceramic figurines that used to decorate every home. And I really love and cherish these things. I got a tablet and a flask from my grandfather - he went through the whole war with them. And the order book - the Order of the Red Star itself, unfortunately, was lost. When I hold them in my hands, I cry. By the way, I enjoy spending time at flea markets, but I buy something very rarely: only if I am comfortable with the energy of a particular thing.
When I not only heard, but understood that relationships are work, firstly, it became much easier for me to live with myself, and as a result, it became much easier for people to live, be friends and work with me. Personal life is also a daily compromise, even if there is peace, tranquility and love in the family. Just as any hearth needs firewood, so relationships need daily support. This means you need to get up, in any frost, go into the forest, chop wood. And this is work.
I didn’t choose - I was born an actress. At the age of 5 I was told that the Shchukin School was the best, and from then on I knew that I would study there. When guests came to our house, I trembled with happiness that now I would sing “Cruiser Aurora” in front of the public or read a poem of my own composition. I could unexpectedly appear in front of the guests in a sheet and my mother’s fox hat and announce: “Now I will perform a number - “Snowflake”! - even if there was no number - and start improvising. But I knew for sure that they wouldn’t put me to bed for another hour ( laughs ).
I recently heard about a sociological survey conducted by the British: men and women were asked about the main qualities that they value in the opposite sex. And the majority of English women chose intelligence, a sense of humor and fortitude - and I agree with them. Maybe in a past life I was English ( smiles )?
Previously, it was very convenient to answer such questions - “We have one goal - communism!” But seriously, now there is a stage in my life when a lot of things are changing places, which I am terribly happy about. And in order not to disrupt the course of events, can I not answer this question out loud ( smiles )?
You know, our profession is such a lottery that sometimes I don’t know what to advise myself. An actor is a very dependent profession, and this is its main drawback. An artist can always draw, a musician needs only an instrument to do what he loves, a writer can write on a table... What about an actor? An actor cannot play “on the table”! The actor burns out from lack of demand, he is burned by his own internal energy. As a result, many break, unable to withstand the load. Actors are not just public people, they are people without skin. We just have to believe in ourselves, believe so much that this energy fills all the space around us and supports us. After all, people without ambitions do not go into the acting profession. Everyone is ambitious, everyone is ambitious. And anyone who says that he doesn’t care about fame will be lying.
I wish everyone that spring comes soon, and that the mood changes for the better, so that we begin to smile more often. So that girls would put on short skirts and men would perk up and remember that we always need their attention. I wish everyone that the overall temperature in Moscow will rise by 5-6 degrees, and that this will in no way affect global warming. I wish everyone more sun and more joy!
