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Natalya Krachkovskaya is a Soviet comedian actress whom every viewer knows and loves. Her biography included a happy marriage and years of acting fame, which were replaced by loneliness, disappointment and serious illness.
Natalya Leonidovna Belogortseva was born in Moscow on November 24, 1938 in a family of theater actors - Leonid Yuryevich Belogortsev and Maria Zotovna Fonina. My father went to the front in 1941 and met victory with the rank of major, but never returned home - he died when he was blown up by a mine in the German city of Weimar a few months after the end of the war.
Natasha Belogortseva. Photo stars-biography.ru
Since childhood, Natasha was equally interested in theater and history, so after graduating from school, she first applied to the Historical and Archival Institute. But at the last moment, acting genes won, and she entered VGIK on the course of Vladimir Belokurov . However, the girl was not destined to receive an education - in her first year she had an accident and received a severe head injury. My eyesight was seriously damaged, so I had to say goodbye to my studies.
Having regained her health, Natasha got a job as a laboratory assistant at the Institute of Metallurgy, but did not give up her dream of cinema: in 1959 she began acting in Mosfilm as an extra, then in episodic roles, the most notable of which was the role of Verunka in the film directed by Vladimir Basov “Battle on the way” (1961).
Natalya Krachkovskaya is on the right. “Battle on the Road” 1961
On the set of the next film, “Flood” (1962), where the future star also played in an episode, she met successful sound engineer Vladimir Krachkovsky. This meeting will change her destiny both as a woman and as an actress.
Thanks to Krachkovsky, Natasha met the legendary director Leonid Gaidai . He remembered the colorful fat woman when he began recruiting actors for his film “12 Chairs” . Such famous actresses as Nonna Mordyukova and Galina Volchek , but the director liked Natalia’s (then Krachkovskaya) auditions more. But the aspiring actress was outraged by the description in the script of the appearance of her future heroine - “a lady of immense size with watermelon breasts.” She had no complexes about her weight, so she was terribly offended and even wanted to refuse the role, but common sense prevailed.
Leonid Gaidai had long dreamed of filming “12 Chairs,” so he chose the actors with particular care. There were a huge number of candidates for the role of Ostap Bender. Even after a strict screening, more than 20 people remained, among whom were Vladimir Vysotsky , Nikolai Rybnikov , Alexey Batalov , Vladimir Basov , Mikhail Kozakov, Alexander Belyavsky , etc.
Natalya Krachkovskaya and Vladimir Vysotsky. “12 chairs”, sample. Photo liveinternet.ru
The director settled on Belyavsky's candidacy, but he didn't like how he looked in tandem with Sergei Filippov (Leonid Iovich had no doubts about Filippov, who played Kisa Vorobyaninov, from the very beginning). Compared to him, Alexander Belyavsky looked too pale.
Alexander Belyavsky. Photo imena.pomnivsegda.ru
Ostap Bender and Kisa Vorobyaninov. “12 chairs” 1971
The director had to part with him and continue the search for Bender. Then someone told Gaidai that there is such a little-known Georgian actor - Archil Gomiashvili , who is touring provincial cities with a play based on “The Golden Calf”. The director invited Gomiashvili to audition and immediately accepted, unlike the management of Mosfilm, which was perplexed why Gaidai chose to take a “dark horse” for this role, and, moreover, a bald Georgian. But Leonid Iovich managed to defend his choice (and Archila hid his bald head under a wig). The film was released in 1971 and glorified previously unknown actors - Gomiashvili and Krachkovskaya (by the way, they disliked each other: Natalya considered her partner “an arrogant, noisy poser” and tried not to cross paths with him again, but he treated “ wife”, as to an empty place).
Madame Gritsatsueva and Ostap Bender. “12 chairs” 1971
Until now, the viewer compares two versions of “12 chairs” - Leonid Gaidai and Mark Zakharov .
Vorobyaninov (Anatoly Papanov) and Bender (Andrey Mironov). 1976
Both have their fans and opponents (personally, I prefer Andrei Mironov and Anatoly Papanov in the roles of Ostap and Vorobyaninov), but in Madame Gritsatsueva’s assessment, the majority of audience sympathy is on the side of Natalya Krachkovskaya. By the way, the actress acted in all takes herself (it was not possible to find a body double of the appropriate size). For two weeks she rushed up the 5-story long staircase behind “Comrade Bender” - that’s exactly how long it took the film crew to film the scene in the editorial office of the Stanok newspaper. And she had to ride on the conveyor belt several times (and at the end of the journey fall onto a small mattress), and hang on a clock at a height of several meters from the floor...
Krachkovskaya became one of the best comedic actresses of Soviet cinema. And it doesn’t matter that there are no leading roles in her filmography - even her small works adorned any film. Natalia's partners were the most famous actors of that time - Yuri Yakovlev , Leonid Kuravlev , Mikhail Pugovkin, Georgy Vitsin , Leonid Bronevoy , etc. with whom she starred in such cult films as “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes Profession” (1973), “It Can’t Be” (1975), “Pokrovsky Gates” (1982) and many others.
Ulyana Andreevna. “Ivan Vasilyevich is changing his profession”
Soev (Evgeny Morgunov) with his wife. "The Pokrovsky Gate"
Throughout the 80s, Krachkovskaya remained a sought-after comedian actress. The situation did not change for her in the 90s, when domestic cinema was experiencing a deep crisis. Natalya still remained talented and bright, which, unfortunately, cannot be said about the films in which she played during this period. In my opinion, the only two adventure comedies by Leonid Gaidai that are worthy of mention are “Private Detective, or Operation Cooperation” (1989) and “The weather is good on Deribasovskaya, or it’s raining again on Brighton Beach” (1992), but is it possible to compare them with at least one previous work of this director? Krachkovskaya also performed in concert programs and played in enterprise performances.
Fyodor Sokolov (Dmitry Kharatyan) and wife Monya. “The weather is good on Deribasovskaya”
Childhood and youth of the actress
As a child, Natalya Leonidovna was the leader of the yard boys. Under her leadership, a gang of urchins raided neighbors' gardens. “Prey” saved children from the constantly haunting feeling of hunger. The parents disappeared almost all the time at rehearsals and tours, and the grandmother was in charge of raising the girls.
In her youth, Natasha settled down and spent almost all her free time behind the scenes at her mother’s theater: the Belogolovtsevs were given an apartment in the same building. When the girl graduated from school, Maria Zotovna persistently advised her daughter to enter the Institute of History and Archives to become an archivist. The daughter did not dare to contradict, but since childhood she decided for herself that she would become an actress.
Therefore, Natalya began to prepare for entering a university, and secretly from her mother, she took the documents to VGIK. That year, 256 applicants applied for 1st place at the Institute of Cinematography. In addition, the girl’s figure was far from beauty standards. The future actress captivated the examiners with the monologue of Ivanushka the Fool from the fairy tale “The Little Humpbacked Horse,” and she was accepted into Vladimir Belokurov’s course.
At the beginning of the semester, the girl was in a car accident and temporarily lost her sight. I couldn’t study or work for some time. She patiently followed the doctors’ recommendations, which helped her recover quickly. Doctors forbade Natalya Leonidovna to continue her studies.
The girl got a job at the Institute of Metallurgy as a laboratory assistant, but the dream of becoming an actress grew stronger in her soul. In 1959, Natasha went to Mosfilm, she was lucky - she began acting in crowd scenes. Then directors began to entrust him with episodic roles, but did not indicate his last name in the credits.
Personal life and family
Krachkovskaya never had any complexes about her appearance and was always the center of male attention. Fans called her a dream, weighing 100 kg. The actress’s personal life was successful.
During the filming of the film "Flood" Natalya Leonidovna met Vladimir Krachkovsky. He worked as a sound engineer at Mosfilm. The courtship of a man who was almost 20 years older, armfuls of roses, did not help, the girl did not pay attention to him. Then Vladimir decided to come from the other side and brought her breakfast to her room. He managed to win the actress’s favor with fresh rolls and a plate of cottage cheese with sour cream. Natasha could not resist, and they soon got married.
Nina Krachkovskaya and Natalya Krachkovskaya are relatives. The actress took her husband’s last name, but in the credits asked to indicate her second last name, Belogortseva-Krachkovskaya. Her husband’s sister also acted in films.
She lived with her husband Vladimir Vasilyevich Krachkovsky for more than a quarter of a century. According to relatives, they didn’t even quarrel. They were separated by the death of Krachkovsky in 1988. Since then, when he died, the actress lived alone.
The son of Natalia Krachkovskaya, Vasily Vladimirovich Krachkovsky, was born in 1963. He followed in his father’s footsteps and works as a sound engineer at Mosfilm. In 1991, the actress became a grandmother.
Natalya Krachkovskaya spoke about the death of her husband and the main mistakes of life
A few minutes of her presence on the screen are enough for the role, as she says, to shoot into the very heart of the viewer. Since supporting roles fell to her lot, she should have glorified them, and not they her, the talented and colorful Natalya Krachkovskaya.
She made it famous. So much so that, looking at her, many women gave up losing weight, realizing that extra pounds are not a hindrance either in their careers or in their personal lives.
– Natalya Leonidovna, you have dozens of roles in films. Which one is your favorite?
– Of course, Madame Gritsatsueva! In my opinion, I just got used to this role, played it very naturally and correctly, so the director and I myself were simply delighted. I think the audience remembered it too.
– Is it true that Gaidai did not allow you to lose weight?
“He always said: “Natasha, don’t even try to do this while we’re working with you!”
– In the film “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession” you appear bald. How did the director manage to persuade you to do this?
- What do you! They didn't shave my head, I just had two wigs on. With my character, I would shave the entire crew!
– What kind of extreme incident happened on the set?
“On the first day we filmed a scene where I had to climb from one balcony to another on the fifth floor. Although the cradle protected me below, I was still afraid. Moreover, the cradle suddenly caught on something and began to spin. But the command “Motor!” had already sounded, and I had no choice but to climb over the balcony - to the groans and cries of Yuri Yakovlev, who performed the role of Bunsha. Fortunately, everything worked out fine.
– What happened on the set of the film “Business in Russian”?
– Savely Kramarov refused to fall into the pool, saying that he would let the understudy do it. But when this understudy came, I grabbed Slava by the hair and pushed him into the water. That's how this episode was filmed.
– Have you ever envied skinny people?
– I once shared with Leonid Yuryevich that I would like to become graceful. To which he replied: “Let's open the door and take a look. Do you see how many long-legged, graceful, slender beauties are walking along the studio corridor?
But they all walk past my office, and you are here.” Once I played a soldier for director Grigory Alexandrov, and his wife, actress Lyubov Orlova, told me: “You have your own charm, your own individuality, please don’t lose them, you don’t have to be like anyone else, you have to remain yourself.”
– What advice would you give to girls who want to lose weight?
- Don't do stupid things. Of course, it’s probably still not worth having a body like mine, but you also don’t need to go against your nature. It is worth remembering that men like not only the outer shell, but also the inner essence. By the way, when I was in America, I went into a store for plus-size women. And the black saleswoman, looking at me, said: “Madam, you don’t need to come here, but to an ordinary store.” In England, I also bought large-sized items in regular stores, which I cannot do in Moscow.
– However, you tried to lose weight using Thai pills.
“And she made a huge mistake, ruining her health, and spent a lot of time in the hospital because of this. Now I don’t trust any pills.
– Have you quit smoking?
- I'm quitting. I try to smoke no more than one cigarette a day.
– What personal qualities do you reproach yourself for?
“Yes, I blame you for the chatter, the lack of restraint, the excessive gullibility, the fact that I don’t know how to pretend.” I am always frank about everything, I just don’t know how to do it any other way.
– Natalya Leonidovna, remember the best compliment you were ever given?
– One man said that for him I am a hundred kilograms of a dream.
– Natalya Leonidovna, what does love mean in your life?
- All. Love is a loved one, children, home, friends, health, work. This is really everything, because everything in life is based on love. And I am still very sad, so much so that it takes my breath away, because my husband, with whom we lived together for 26 years, died so early... He was a real person and friend. Very cheerful, friendly, open and at the same time completely unobtrusive. When my girlfriends came to see me and womanish chatter began, he calmly, without offense, went into another room so as not to disturb. My husband loved to make things, solder, nail, and repair.
– You got married so early.
- At 21 years old. Soon our son Vasya was born. Now he is a sound engineer, and, I dare say, one of the best in his profession. He is married. Natalya is a teacher. They also have a son, my grandson Volodya, who studies at the university.
– Have curvy figures bothered you in life?
– I’ve never had a complex about this. My husband conquered me with food. It was on the set. We lived in a hotel, and he began to look after me. One day he knocked on our room with cottage cheese, sour cream and soft buns on a tray. I was still sleeping, and the girls shouted: “Natasha, your Volodya brought you breakfast!” Putting on a robe, I went downstairs to the lobby, where he was waiting for me, and said: “Volodya, such delicious buns, I just adore them.” And never, in all the years of our marriage, have I heard any reproach about my figure from my husband.
– Can you share the secrets of a happy marriage?
– The main thing in marriage is to be able to give in. After all, each of us has our own weaknesses, and they must be taken into account. I am very impulsive by nature, but quick-witted. My husband, on the contrary, could hide everything to himself for a long time, and we adjusted to each other. I am also against women's emancipation; I think it is a great evil.
– Do you approve of the fact that the son devoted himself to his father’s craft - sound engineering?
- I approve. After all, he had someone to learn from; his father was a real professional. Actually, I did not interfere in my son’s life; I considered the main thing to raise him to be honest, and my husband to be hardworking. We completed our tasks.
- Do you get along with your daughter-in-law?
– Thank God, my son and his family live separately, so we don’t meet often. I believe that adult children should live independently; each family has its own rules and laws. I don’t want my interests to be infringed upon, and I myself also try not to interfere in their family life.
– When your husband passed away, you were still a young woman. Why didn't you get married again?
– Because I haven’t met a person with whom I would like to connect my life. Although, I won’t lie, I have always been successful with men. And now, at my age, when I’m already 75, I need to think about God, about the eternal.
– But it's hard to live alone.
- Not easy. Sometimes you really want to talk to someone, but there is no such opportunity. Of course, my son often calls, asking how I’m feeling, maybe I need something. I usually answer that I don’t need anything, the main thing is to hear his voice, to know that everything is fine with him...
Leonid Gurevich
Filmography
Krachkovskaya’s first relatively large role was entrusted to her in 1961 in the film “The Battle on the Way.” Until 1967, the actress periodically starred in small roles in the films: “Colleagues”, “Flood”, “The Marriage of Balzaminov”, “Operation Trust”.
Then there was a break in Krachkovskaya’s filmography; she even got a job at Moscow State University in the department of geology.
It is unknown how Natalya Leonidovna’s acting career would have developed if her husband had not brought her to the set to director Leonid Gaidai. The comedian was just looking for an actress to play the role of Madame Gritsatsueva. The casting was carried out by Nonna Mordyukova and Galina Volchek, but these candidates did not suit him. Having seen Krachkovskaya, the director decided to conduct tests without delay.
The actress did not immediately agree to filming. At first, she played along during the auditions. Natalya coped with the role excellently, although she had no professional education. In the scene of the chase after Bender, the artist filmed herself, without the help of a stunt double.
Gaidai discovered a new comedic actress for Soviet cinema, who became in demand after her role in the film “12 Chairs.”
The second star role is the wife of Ivan Vasilyevich Bunshi in the comedy “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession.” The quotes that came from Ulyana Andreevna’s lips are known and remembered by everyone. When filming was in full swing, Natalya Leonidovna fell ill and lost 20 kg. Gaidai, seeing the thinner actress, sent her home so that she could get back into shape within a week. The actress did not disappoint the director.
Krachkovskaya has filmed with Leonid Iovich more than once. Joint films with the actress: “It can’t be!”, “Incognito from St. Petersburg”, “Private detective, or Operation Cooperation”, “The weather is good on Deribasovskaya, or It’s raining again on Brighton Beach.”
After roles in Gaidai’s comedies, Krachkovskaya vying with each other began to be filmed. The actress knew how to laugh at herself, the directors appreciated her talent.
Film critics called Natalya Leonidovna “the queen of the comic episode.” She sometimes played supporting roles better than other leading actors. She inimitably transformed into grumpy, bitchy aunts, wives and mothers-in-law: “Pokrovsky Gate”, “The Man from Capuchin Boulevard”.
Also in Krachkovskaya’s filmography is the role in Vasily Shukshin’s dramatic film “Kalina Krasnaya”, the war film “Foretells Trouble”, and the detective story “The Investigation is Conducted by Experts”.
In 1987, a film with the actress in the title role, “The Circus Has Arrived,” was released. With the advent of the 90s, when most artists did not know how to feed their families, Krachkovskaya actively continued to act, but in comedies of a new format: “Vitka Shushera and the Car”, “Russian Business”, “Alphonse”, “Moscow Holidays”, “ Monday's children."
In the new millennium, the actress plays in the TV series: “Doctors”, “The Ideal Couple”, “My Fair Nanny”. In 2013, the STS channel aired a program with the participation of Krachkovskaya “Caution, Children!”
Over her half-century creative biography, Natalya Leonidovna starred in 152 films.
In 1974, Krachkovskaya worked at the Ivanovo Regional Philharmonic. From 1975 to 1977 - actress of the Mosconcert. Later she was involved in enterprise performances. The artist’s theatrical works: “My Grandmother is Younger than Me,” “Follies of Love,” “Furious Anastasia,” “Bride for a Banker.”
In 2001, headed by Natalya Leonidovna, the Natalya Krachkovskaya School of Acting was created in Moscow. In 2003, the school was accused of fraud to extract money from students' parents and false advertising. The actress denied all accusations, stated that she had nothing to do with the school and that she herself, shamelessly hiding behind a well-known surname, was deceived.
Yeralash
Boris Grachevsky, the artistic director of the film magazine, said in one of his interviews that Krachkovskaya did not contract star fever. When the queen of the comedy episode was called for some role in the film magazine “Jumble,” she happily agreed. Her appearance in the frame became an event for the audience. The directors respected the actress because she easily agreed to any adventure for the sake of a good shot.
Natalya Leonidovna played the role of an ice cream saleswoman in the Intermission series, a mother in Tourist-89, a saleswoman in a store in Orange, and a doctor in Overkill.
Family and children of Natalia Krachkovskaya
After marriage, the actress started her own family. Her husband, sound engineer Vladimir Krachkovsky, played a big role in the career growth of his wife. Natalya Krachkovskaya considered their marriage ideal, and is grateful to fate that she was lucky enough to meet such a man. In their marriage they had a son, Vasily, who followed in his father’s footsteps and chose the profession of sound engineer. In 1991, the actress became a grandmother; her only grandson is 27 years old today.
As the actress herself has repeatedly admitted, they have a very friendly and strong family. The family and children of Natalya Krachkovskaya are her rear.
Voice acting
In 1974, a puppet cartoon based on the Russian folk tale “Burenushka” was released on the Soviet screen. Krachkovskaya voiced one of the roles in it.
In the animated film about a bunny “Who will come for the New Year?!”, Natalya Leonidovna dubbed the role of the mother of a bunny who dreamed that as many of his friends as possible would come to his holiday.
The actress worked on the dubbing of the cartoon “Ivan and Mitrofan” from 1994 to 2011. Viewers of different age categories watch it with pleasure.
To the 200th anniversary of the birth of A.S. Pushkin released a hand-drawn film “Lukomorye. Nanny". Krachkovskaya voiced Arina Rodionovna.
The cause of death of Natalya Krachkovskaya - the funeral of the actress
The famous actress passed away on March 3, 2020. Long before her death, she had a serious heart condition. In 2000, Natalya Krachkovskaya suffered a severe stroke, from which she was unable to fully recover, and spent the remaining 16 years using a wheelchair.
After 10 years, the actress has a heart attack, and three years later it happens again. Thus, having survived a stroke and two heart attacks, Natalya Krachkovskaya undergoes heart surgery and walks with a pacemaker for another three years.
At the end of February 2020, the woman was hospitalized with a heart attack, and a few days later she died. This is precisely the reason for the death of Natalya Krachkovskaya. The actress’s grave is located at the Troekurovsky cemetery, where Natalya Krachkovskaya was buried on March 5, 2020.
Bibliography and clips
Krachkovskaya always loved to eat delicious food. In the actress’s bibliography, the only book is “Shchi, Potatoes and Okroshka. Homemade recipes of Russian cuisine." It presents simple recipes from Natalya Leonidovna, borrowed from her grandmother, and methods of rational nutrition.
The actress, beloved by the people, was often invited to appear in music videos. In 1993, Natalya Leonidovna performed the role of a barmaid in the song “Moscow Beat” by the group “Bravo”. The film crew was led by famous music video director Alexander Fayfman.
In 1995, a video was released for the song “Fairytale Taiga” by Agatha Christie. Together with Natalya Krachkovskaya, Alexander Demyanenko, Leonid Kuravlev, Natalya Selezneva, Yuri Yakovlev starred in the video.
In 1996, Krachkovskaya appeared in Andrei Derzhavin’s video “Natasha”. Her colleagues on the set were two more Natalyas - Egorova and Gvozdikova. The video was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of cinema.
In the video for the song “Papa Captain” by Gregory Spector, viewers saw the actress in the guise of Bosun. The fans did not like the composition itself, as well as the performance.
