Second attempt: Alexey Batalov and Gitana Leontenko

Biography

Gitana Leontenko was born on August 18, 1935 into a circus family: her mother is a rider and dancer, her father is an aerialist. Beginning in 1944, Gitana began performing in the Gypsy circus group. At first I performed plastic sketches. Then, from 1950, as a horse dancer.

She took part in the performance “Carnival in Cuba” staged in 1962 at the Moscow Circus on Tsvetnoy Boulevard, where she played the role of Conchita[1].

She starred in the films “Arena of the Brave” (1953), “Equestrian Circus”, “Emergency Assignment” and others.

Due to the illness of her daughter Maria, Gitana Arkadyevna was forced to end her circus career.

Batalov's first wife - Irina Rotova

For the first time, Alexey Batalov went to the registry office when he was very young. They had been friends with their wife Irina Rotova since childhood, and as soon as age allowed, they formalized the relationship.

Alexey Batalov and Irina Rotova

A pretty girl from a family of intellectuals seemed to Alexei a suitable candidate for the role of a wife. Her father, the famous Soviet cartoonist and artist Konstantin Rotov, collaborated with the Krokodil magazine and illustrated many famous children's books.

The first wife of Alexei Batalov is Irina Rotova

However, Alexei’s family life was disappointing; he realized that they were connected with Ira by strong friendship rather than love.

Even the daughter Nadezhda, born in 1955, did not save the marriage.

Batalov admits that he was a bad father. During this period, his acting career developed rapidly, he often left for filming, did not pay enough attention to his wife, and practically did not participate in Nadya’s upbringing.

Irina Rotova with her daughter Nadya

The media claim that Irina’s mother also influenced the divorce. When Alexey was filming in Kyiv, rumors began to spread that he had begun an office romance. Batalov considered that it was useless to make excuses.

The couple filed for divorce in 1958.

In an interview, the actor claimed that the accusations then were groundless. Alexei Batalov's first wife remained on friendly terms with his mother, and often left her granddaughter.

Notes

1. ↑ 12
   Circus. Small encyclopedia. — 2nd ed., revised. and additional Compiled by A. Ya. Shneer, R. E. Slavsky, Ch. ed. Yu. A. Dmitriev - M.: “Soviet Encyclopedia”, 1979. - 448 pp., ill., 20 sheets. ill.
2. [www.eg.ru/daily/cadr/3689/ Nadezhda Samsonova-Gurzo: I live with the love of my husband // Express newspaper]
3. [www.chelpress.ru/newspapers/dil/archive/06-09-2001/11/DELO.shtml City stagecoach]. Retrieved January 13, 2013. [www.webcitation.org/6DpPvC13L Archived from the original on January 21, 2013].
4. [people.h15.ru/pub/a15964.php Alexey Batalov photo history, biography Alexey Batalov celebrity photos on People.h15.ru]
5. [7days.ru/article/topnews/aleksey-batalov-rasskazal-o-vospitanii-docheri Alexey Batalov spoke about raising his daughter - 7Dney.ru]

Successful career

The pain of love disappointment was softened by work. In 1953, the actress made her film debut. She was invited to star in the film “Arena of the Brave.” The film was a film adaptation of a circus performance, in which, along with Gitana Leontenko (the biography of her youth is presented above), such stars as Oleg Popov, Boris Vyatkin, Manuela Papyan, Violetta and Alexander Kiss and many others were involved.

Her circus career also developed successfully. The girl toured throughout the Soviet Union and even took part in a long circus tour of France.

Excerpt characterizing Leontenko, Gitana Arkadyevna

Anna Pavlovna's living room began to gradually fill up. The highest nobility of St. Petersburg arrived, people of the most diverse ages and characters, but identical in the society in which they all lived; Prince Vasily's daughter, the beautiful Helen, arrived, picking up her father to go with him to the envoy's holiday. She was wearing a cipher and a ball gown. Also known as la femme la plus seduisante de Petersbourg [the most charming woman in St. Petersburg], the young, little princess Bolkonskaya, who got married last winter and now did not go out into the big world because of her pregnancy, but still went to small evenings, also arrived. Prince Hippolyte, the son of Prince Vasily, arrived with Mortemar, whom he introduced; Abbot Moriot and many others also arrived. -Have you seen it yet? or: – you don’t know ma tante [my aunt]? - Anna Pavlovna said to the arriving guests and very seriously led them to a little old lady in high bows, who floated out from another room, as soon as the guests began to arrive, called them by name, slowly moving her eyes from the guest to ma tante [auntie], and then walked away. All the guests performed the ritual of greeting an unknown, uninteresting and unnecessary aunt. Anna Pavlovna watched their greetings with sad, solemn sympathy, silently approving them. Ma tante spoke to everyone in the same terms about his health, about her health and about the health of Her Majesty, which was now, thank God, better. All those who approached, without showing haste out of decency, with a feeling of relief at the fulfillment of a difficult duty, walked away from the old woman, so as not to approach her once all evening. The young Princess Bolkonskaya arrived with her work in an embroidered gold velvet bag. Her pretty upper lip, with a slightly blackened mustache, was short in teeth, but it opened even more sweetly and sometimes stretched even more sweetly and fell onto the lower one. As is always the case with quite attractive women, her flaw—short lips and half-open mouth—seemed special to her, her actual beauty. Everyone had fun looking at this pretty expectant mother, full of health and vivacity, bearing her situation so easily. It seemed to the old people and bored, gloomy young people who looked at her that they themselves became like her, having been and talked with her for a while. Whoever spoke to her and saw her bright smile and shiny white teeth, which were constantly visible, with every word, thought that he was especially kind today. And that's what everyone thought. The little princess, waddled, walked around the table with small quick steps with her work bag on her arm and, cheerfully straightening her dress, sat down on the sofa, near the silver samovar, as if everything she did was part de plaisir [entertainment] for her and for everyone those around her.

Other shores

During these five years, Gitana experienced another romance, and also with a film actor, with Sergei Gurzo. He was just at the peak of fame after the role of Seryozha Tyulenin in The Young Guard. To play the role of a herdmaster in the film “Brave People,” he took riding lessons at the circus and, of course, was fascinated by the beauty and grace of Gitana. The romance was stormy, the young people became very close.

They were not only in love with each other, they were true friends, and they were interested in each other every minute.

At this time, Gitana simply shone in the arena, no one could get around her, her magnificent performances became famous throughout Europe. She toured the world a lot, and when she returned to Moscow, she lived with Sergei, in a modest hostel. And she even gave up her career to accompany her boyfriend on the set.

But then this love ended. It happens: suddenly you don’t want to see each other so often, talk so much, hug so much... Everything just passes. Gitana returned to her profession. She was free again.

Batalov at this time starred in the film “The Cranes Are Flying.” He divorced his wife and began a relationship with the ballerina Olga Zabotkina - she is better understood by her role as Katya Tatarinova in the film “Two Captains”. Everything was fine, but Batalov was not ready for a new marriage, and Olga expected decisive action from him... And one day he simply left, without explanation or scene. It was cruel, but he couldn't do it any other way. She just wasn't the one.

Other shores

Over these five years, Gitana experienced another romance, and also with a film actor, with Sergei Gurzo. She was just at the peak of fame after the role of Seryozha Tyulenin in The Young Guard. To play the role of a herdsman in the film “Brave People,” he took horse riding lessons at the circus and, of course, was fascinated by the beauty and grace of Gitana. The romance was stormy, the young people became very close.

They were not only in love with each other, they were real friends, and every minute they were interested in each other.

At this time, Gitana simply shone in the arena, no one could get around her, and her magnificent numbers spread fame throughout Europe. She toured the world a lot, and when she returned to Moscow, she lived with Sergei, in a modest hostel. And she even gave up her career to accompany her boyfriend on the set.

But then this love ended. This is how it happens: suddenly you don’t want to see each other so often, talk so much, hug... Everything just passes. Gitana returned to her profession. She was free again.

Batalov at this time starred in the film “The Cranes Are Flying.” He divorced his wife and began a relationship with ballerina Olga Zabotkina - she is better known for her role as Katya Tatarinova in the film “Two Captains”. Everything was fine, but Batalov was not ready for a new marriage, and Olga expected decisive action from him... And one day he simply left, without explanation or scene. It was cruel, but he couldn’t do it any other way. She just wasn't the one.

An offer of marriage

This happened in 1963 in Georgia, 10 years after their first meeting. At that time they were already close people, it was obvious that they could form a strong family. Returning to the capital, Alexey and Gitana rented a tiny room and got married. The newlyweds did not have a magnificent celebration, but the actors of the Sovremennik Theater, with whom Alexey was friends, came to congratulate them.

After the wedding, Gitana dreamed of children. Her wish came true only five years later.

Joyful children, excited parents: the Swiss return to school

To make pizza I need an ice tray

May 16 - the day of Timothy and Mavra is the time to start seedlings. Signs and beliefs

Personal life

The meeting between Alexey and Gitana took place in Leningrad in 1953. The actor was starring in the film “The Rumyantsev Case” at that time. Once after filming, his colleague Sergei Lukyanov, who played the role of a police colonel in the film, suggested that Alexei go to the circus, where gypsies were to perform that evening. Then Batalov first saw a fragile, black-eyed girl performing a complex circus act on a horse.

Gitana Arkadyevna recalled this meeting as a priceless and unexpected gift of fate. A cult actor, a wonderful master of artistic expression, Alexey Batalov was the face of his era. Like himself, all his film characters were pure and sincere people. He was always characterized by incredible inner strength along with restraint and intelligence.

However, Gitana Leontenko’s relatives were not happy with her acquaintance with the actor. Therefore, young people wandered around Leningrad in secret from them and could not talk enough. Alexei’s confession came like a bolt from the blue before leaving - he is married and has a daughter. The girl told Alexei that she no longer wanted to see him.

Don't catch up - it's useless!

And then Batalov completely lost his head. The circus family decided that the aspiring artist was not a match for their Gitana, and they even threatened him:

boy, stay away from our girl!

But Batalov was not one of the timid, and immediately made an appointment with Gitana.

And she came.

They walked for ten nights in a row. The white nights made my head spin. A friend told Gitana: get a fashionable haircut, you’re hanging out with a guy like that! And she just laughed:

Alyosha likes it that way.

Gitana already saw a wedding, children and their entire future happy life in the future. But on the eleventh night, Batalov admitted that he was married.

Gitana looked at him and saw how her dreams and her naive faith in love were crumbling. She ran away, saying goodbye:

- Don’t catch up - it’s useless!

And they didn’t see each other again - for several long years.