"I affirm that I will be immortal"
— Oksana, have you already planned how you will celebrate your birthday? Do you prefer parties or family gatherings?
— (Laughs.) In general, I love a crazy party. I am a cheerful person, I really like to make friends, make gifts myself and arrange surprises for friends. To be honest, I planned to hold a big concert on February 16 at the Ukraine Palace. I thought that many friends would come to see me, including from Russia. But in connection with the situation in the country and the upcoming elections, I decided: the anniversary is not only February 16, the anniversary can be celebrated the whole year. Therefore, I want to reschedule the concert-meeting closer to the new year.
But! Even if I won’t be in Kyiv on February 16, I’m always available for congratulations (laughs).
—What would you wish for yourself on this day?
— I always think globally. And on this day I would like to wish to myself and everyone that normal life returns to us, without bloodshed, without total lies. The aggression that is now, unfortunately, cultivated in society scares me. I know what I’m talking about, I encountered it personally. True, sometimes the hostility towards me reaches the point of ridiculousness. For example, when I read in our Ukrainian Wikipedia that I am a “prodank”, since 2014 I have emigrated to Russia, where I live and work. Thank God, they wrote that Bayrak still filmed successful TV series in Ukraine. But - in Russian. It seems like it’s a shame to make films in the language in which Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Pushkin wrote... It even got to the point that in the same Wikipedia they write that the film “Aurora”, which the whole country watched, and there were queues at the cinemas, had no success at the box office. Little things like this make me laugh disgustedly.
— Does it hurt you when you are criticized?
— I am for professional healthy criticism, I listen to it. If they write nasty things, let them write. In this way, people are just trying to immortalize themselves, because they live in the era of Oksana Bayrak (laughs). I always quote my beloved Coco Chanel, who said: I don’t care what you think about me, I don’t think about you at all.
— Summing up 2020, you admitted that you haven’t had such a difficult period for 10-12 years: “At some moments it seemed that despair was now my usual state.” How did you cope?
— I wrote this only because I was incredibly tired after the year. The film “Nothing Happens Twice” (currently showing on STB. - Author) was a difficult project! Then my mother became seriously ill. For me, love for my parents is sacred. And for the first time I felt that, God forbid, a loss could happen. I was torn between Kiev, Moscow, Crimea, Kiev again, Spain, Jordan and Crimea again. My mother is a strong woman, together we made it through. And this is such happiness! After all, the greatest reward is when your mother meets you or picks up the phone and says: “Daughter, hello, today I feel good.”
— Do you ever get depressed?
- No, I initially do not allow it to arise. I sometimes have a feeling of insecurity, misunderstanding, but I gather myself and make the necessary decisions. I am an optimist in life, my smile both internally and on my face is my credo. Not the smile of a madman, but the smile of a person who perceives this world with a huge plus sign. Every day I wake up and say: “Lord, it’s cool that you gave us life.” The main thing is to figure out how to live forever. For example, I claim that I will be immortal (laughs).
“The problem with supposedly bad actors is primarily bad directors.”
— Do you watch new Ukrainian films?
- I'm watching. I don’t want to criticize anyone, but there are a lot of problems - I see weak acting, hear incomprehensible music, low-grade jokes. I see incorrect editing - and I look at all this, unfortunately and fortunately, as a professional. Making claims exclusively to directors. No, I'm not saying that everyone is bad, and I'm the only good one. Not on your nelly. But I insist that in your film you need to be responsible for every frame and every word spoken on the screen. Any director must have enormous internal demands on himself both in life and in his work. Sometimes I watch our TV series - an actor came out, talked him out of it in the middle ground, they took him off and didn’t care that nothing was visible, they somehow glued it together and broadcast it, but there’s nothing to watch there, and therefore some kind of rating, but it comes up. So sometimes I sit and think, maybe I need this too, why kill yourself on set, push yourself and the actors? But I can not. That's why I am BAYRAK.
— Evil tongues say that our TV series are so bad because the actors can’t do anything.
— The answer is in continuation of the above. . I believe that the problem with supposedly bad actors is primarily bad directors. The director shouldn’t think that he’s like, oh yes, I’ll come out and make a movie without sound or with off-scale special effects, and I’ll break this cinema. Yes, break it all you want, but only the actors inside the film should receive a task from the director, and the director should come from the inside of the actor. As a model of what I'm talking about, my desire is to recruit a director-actor-cameraman workshop in one of the Kyiv institutes. I want my students to understand how a director should work with an actor, with a cameraman, how a cameraman should work with an actor, so that it is a symbiosis, these are the three pillars on which cinema rests. And we have completely forgotten the word cinema, we say TV series, that’s why we sometimes film such, excuse me, slag.
DiCaprio bought the rights to the film in which he will play a maniac
— Is it true that director Oksana Bayrak wants to give herself Javier Bardem for her birthday?
- Yes, why? I don’t think that my anniversary is only on February 16th. This is an anniversary year and it should be significant for me. That is, we are already starting the production of a biographical film about the legendary actress Nonna Mordyukova. And then, yes, I plan to enter into an agreement with the wonderful actor Javier Bardem to film my new feature film “Test”. And Bardem will be mine! I will do it because if I want to, then I can.
— And what should attract this actor to the OB project?
— I’m currently finishing the script for the drama. It talks about serious things, about AIDS and about love, which is destroyed by the issue of HIV infection. But this is not a repetition of existing stories in films - this is an original idea. This is a real story that the woman who survived it told the Polish writer Janusz Leon Wisniewski on Facebook. He wrote a story and my co-producer, general producer of Film.Ua Viktor Mirsky and I bought the rights to it. In general, thank you very much to Viktor Vladimirovich for everything!!!! Now all that’s left to do is finish the script.
— Is the script difficult to follow?
- No, I just don’t have enough time. I just finished watching the movie “Nothing Happens Twice ,” and now I’m finishing renovations in my favorite apartment. Repair is such a complicated thing, it lives its own life and does not even obey Oksana Bayrak. But I’m sure that in April I will invite my friends to visit me for the presentation of the new interior.
— Is the apartment tiny?
- Me and a tiny apartment? This is not compatible. But I allocated most of the considerable space to the guest area, where one day a white grand piano will appear and music will sound in the house, as in my childhood. I dream of holding wonderful creative evenings, where Ira Bilyk will sing, and Asiya Akhat will perform magical compositions on the violin, and velvetly enchant with Valentin Stepov’s arias. In general, all my talented friends and acquaintances will give creativity.
"Unfortunately, I'm straight"
— You once said: all that matters is love. Are you still as romantic as you are?
- This is not romance. I affirmed and affirm: love is the main postulate of infinity. Love must exist between parents and children, between men and women, between men and men, between women and women. If they want it (laughs). Love must exist between peoples. We must all live in the common territory of love. Only in this way will we invent the elixir of an endless happy life.
— We know, your favorite person is George?
- Yes. But I don't really like to talk about my personal life. Not because it doesn't exist. She is. But happiness loves silence and can collapse, like a house made of sand and fog, even from awkward breathing.
- Can you talk frankly with your loved one about everything that worries you?
- Certainly. But sometimes there are times when I shouldn’t talk to my loved one about what’s inside me (smiles).
—Are you officially married?
- No I'm not married. And I’m not in a hurry to go to the registration authorities. But not because I belong to sexual minorities (laughs).
— Are there such rumors about you?
- Of course I have! Chronic! They even identify me as an active lesbian. So I’m thinking - why active? I have such a subtle mental organization, I could be passive, in principle (laughs). But I always say, unfortunately, I’m straight. Unfortunately, because a creative person probably has to try everything. And there were and continue to be attempts towards me.
And one could, of course, light it up (laughs), but... Not my thing! I never go against myself. I hear myself and understand what I can do and what will make me uncomfortable later. Agree, if you feel uncomfortable with yourself, then what should you do in this life?
- So, the stamp in the passport is completely unimportant?
- It’s not that I don’t... I always follow my feelings. Now, if suddenly such a click happens in my head or soul and my inner voice says, “Ksyusha, you haven’t had a holiday in your life for a long time,” I will arrange a luxurious holiday for myself - a wedding. Although I would like it not to be me, but for me.
— You called yourself a dreamer who goes through life with a smile. What helps you smile?
- The fact that I was born into a magnificent family! I was conceived in love, in the beautiful city of Odessa. I grew up in love, I am a woman from the planet Love. What helps me smile is that I am doing something that I love and that brings pleasure and joy to people. I know that my film “Cardiogram of Love” saved one man from suicide. This movie turned his whole world upside down. Such things are expensive.
And yet! What motivates me to walk through life with a smile is the beautiful weather, the bright sun, and the friendly faces of passers-by. And, of course, the Black Sea. Whenever I see an ocean or sea in this or that country, I go to the water’s edge, laugh and shout with all my might: “Hello, say hello to my dear Black Sea.” I was born in Crimea, I call myself Dolphin! The water element is my space. From the outside I may seem crazy to people who walk along the beach, but at this time I am swimming and laughing with happiness.
— Do you consider yourself a little crazy?
- Certainly! (Laughs.) I am shi-zo-zo, a beautiful and magnificent shi-zo-zo, and I don’t hide it! Moreover, I am a gorgeous shi-zo-zo, I have a brilliant sense of humor, wonderful irony, self-irony, I have the most magnificent diamond faucet of bile, and my intelligence is excellent - IQ 200.
Late Remorse (2013) mini-series
- Genre: melodrama
- Rating: KinoPoisk – 6.3; IMDb – 5.3
- Regina Myannik took part in the TV series “Yesenin” (2005).
"Late Repentance" is an excellent series with a high rating. The family relationship of Kostya and Mila is bursting at the seams. The only thing that still keeps them together is caring for their daughters, Lika and Kira. The girl believes that her husband is a weak, insolvent person who is unable to provide for his family. Increasingly, she spends her free time with her lover Tomas, a successful doctor. But the life of Anna and her son Sergei is subordinated to the expectation of a miracle - they hope that the missing father and husband will return from Afghanistan. The already difficult fates of the heroes become even more complicated when it becomes known that Kira will have a child with Sergei, although they are only 16 years old...
“I forbid swearing on the playground”
— Do you like it when they call you the queen of melodrama?
“I can’t say whether I like it or not, I’m just used to this treatment.” Although now I say that I’m just a movie queen.
— You once admitted that you don’t know profanity. Do you never quarrel?
“I categorically do not accept her.” I forbid swearing on set when I’m making a movie. I'm not being sarcastic a priori. This is unacceptable to the world of Oksana Bayrak. I would introduce criminal liability for the use of profanity, since we are turning into a society that does not know intelligent norms of behavior. And it's scary.
— Is it possible to be friends with stars by filming them in films? Doesn't this interfere with your work?
- How can this bother me? I come to the set and say: “There is only one star here - Oksana Bayrak. We listen and obey” (laughs). And after 10 minutes everyone believes in it, because they see how I work, how I feel about the profession, how I treat people. I'm genius!
— Do you maintain relations with Dmitry Kharatyan?
— Mitya and I haven’t had much contact for about 7 years now. Although we write each other congratulations for the holidays. Internally we still remain friends. There are circumstances of indefinable force that separated us. But there's nothing personal here.
— How long have you seen Igor Vernik?
— Two months ago I was just in Moscow. Even 15-20 minutes of communication brings us pleasure. This is one of the few men who pleases me with an amazing symbiosis: a brilliant sense of humor and brilliant intellect.
— Admit it, do you have a favorite actor?
— I have loved Eric Roberts since childhood and continue to love him now. I love Al Pacino.
— Tell us how you lured Eric Roberts into your network?
“I didn’t even have to lure him.” We simply sent him the script for the film “Aurora”, and he canceled filming in China and came right away. With one wording: “This movie will outlive us.”
— After filming, did you maintain a relationship with him?
- Certainly! But for some reason I am persona non grata for the Odessa Film Festival. This summer Eric was in Odessa and was very surprised why I wasn’t there! By the way, to many scribblers who can’t stand me, when they asked “How was it working with Oksana Bayrak,” he simply said: “Oksana is a fantastic director.” They ignored this phrase. Thank you, “KP” in Ukraine” quoted it verbatim. It's nice when Bob Fosse's favorite actor gives you that kind of appreciation. It's an honor for me.
— Mikhail Efremov starred in “Villa of Discord.” Tell a story that would show this person from another unfamiliar side.
— For some reason, everyone loves to savor how he abuses alcohol. And Misha is truly a wonderful actor, a wonderful person, an intellectual. I remember we were sitting at the Princess Acapulco Hotel in Mexico. It was evening, an incredibly beautiful sunset, flamingos were wandering around us, we were just chatting. Suddenly, an incorrect phrase was heard from one of the actresses who was sitting with us regarding Misha’s separation from his wife. His wife allegedly cheated on him, I don’t know for sure, I never delve into such details. It was clear how Efremov was in pain. It seemed that Misha was about to lose his temper. But he turned to this actress and brilliantly read an excerpt from Shakespeare about what happens to the soul when it is broken. It was something! A man sat in front of us with crazy pain in his eyes, he was not talking to himself, not to us, he was talking to space. Then Misha smiled as if nothing had happened, and we continued our conversation. But the actress then shamefully retreated.
The creative path of director Oksana Bayrak
Pay attention to the photo. Here Oksana Bayrak is depicted during the filming of her first film, “The Cruise, or the Voyage of Divorce” (1991). She not only produced it, but also starred in one of the main roles. “The Cruise, or the Voyage of Divorce” became significant in Bayrak’s biography not only because it was her first work as a director, but also because the celebrity’s first husband was involved in the filming. Bayrak’s personal life with him did not work out. You will learn about this a little later.
Oksana Bayrak shot a new film “Cruise” (1991)
Around this time, Bayrak created Studio Bayrak. This is a production center. Currently it is one of the largest in Ukraine. Films for domestic channels (both Ukrainian and Russian) are shot at the center.
A year after “The Cruise, or the Voyage of Divorce,” the second film, produced by Bayrak, was released. The drama “Paid in Advance” was liked by viewers.
In 2006, Oksana fulfilled her old dream. She directed a film with one of her favorite Hollywood actors, Eric Roberts. The film “Aurora” brought Oksana several awards. The film stars some of the most sought-after actors in Russian and Ukrainian cinema. Oksana was credited with having an affair with one of the actors. It was Dmitry Kharatyan.
The budget for filming Aurora was limited. Roberts understood this. For all film critics it was very surprising that he agreed to filming at all.
Filming of the film "Aurora"
Bayrak’s “track record” includes more than 20 paintings. In addition to films, Oksana takes an active part in the filming of TV shows. She was the host of the program “Sentimental Ballads of Serious Men”, “Let’s Get Married” and others.
“Blacklists are idiotic”
— Now many of our studios are trying not to invite big Russian stars to our films, and if they do, it’s one of the young ones. One of the reasons is blacklists, due to which the film may be banned. Do you pay attention to this when casting your actors?
- The so-called blacklists! This is idiocy! And it seems to me that it was precisely such individuals who passed the law on them. Smart people can't do this. I suffered, the country suffered because the film “Aurora” was not shown. Due to the fact that Dmitry Kharatyan starred there, who in one of the stories about Crimea said that “Crimea is mine, and I filmed here.” Dishonest people are in power; they do not understand what culture is and what cultural heritage is. How does a middle-aged actor, who for many years has been urging everyone not to hang their noses, threaten the national security of Ukraine?
— Besides Aurora, what else of yours was banned?
— “Snowy Love, or A Winter Night’s Dream” is banned because Valentin Gaft starred in it. The film “To You, the Real One,” which beat, beats and will beat all the ratings, because Dmitry Kharatyan and Olga Kabo, who went on tour to Crimea, play there. Evelina Bledans, whom I adore, who was born in Yalta and cannot help but go there, even though her mother’s grave is there. Why should she come from Moscow to the territory of Ukraine, cross the territory of Ukraine and thus end up in her native Crimea? If my mother says, “I urgently need you,” I won’t care from which point or on which plane I fly to her.
— Has your mother thought about moving in with you?
“When they tell me, “Why don’t you take your mother?”, I am perplexed. First of all, mom is not some kind of clutch. Secondly, my mother has lived in Crimea for 50 years. Thirdly, she lives in Alushta, and this is the only climate that suits her. Because of some kind of fantasy, I have to risk the health and life of my mother? Disturb her peace, including psychological? That's funny. I suggest everyone who passes such laws, starting with the President of Ukraine, try to get to Crimea to see their family and friends not on private planes, but like all Ukrainians travel! To Novoalekseevka on a terrifying train, then another two kilometers on foot, after which you have to stand in terrible queues at the borders...
Personal life of a star
Oksana Bayrak is known only for her directorial works, but also for her stormy personal life.
In the biography of Oksana Bayrak, there was a legal marriage. She met her first husband while studying at the Karpenko-Kary University of Theatre, Film and Television. Alexander Kopeikin became her lover. Oksana studied with someone in the same group. Alexander became Bayrak's first true love.
The couple spent more than 10 years together. After this, the marriage broke up. The union of Bayrak and Kopeikin is also interesting because it was in tandem with her now ex-husband that Oksana made her first film.
It is not known why the lovers broke up. One of the reasons is that Oksana did not want to have children. While there was an opportunity, Bayrak wanted to realize herself as a director. Her personal life took a back seat.
Oksana herself does not comment on why she divorced Alexander. Unlike his star wife, Kopeikin is not so famous. On the Internet, all articles where his name is mentioned are somehow connected with Bayrak. Marriage in Oksana’s biography is a dark spot.
Another possible reason for the divorce is that Kopeikin could not bear the popularity that fell on his wife. She managed to realize herself in life, but Alexander could not. It is possible that feelings of envy played an important role here.
Then there were fleeting romances, none of which were successful. Oksana was constantly “married off” to her stage partners. In an interview, Bayrak says that she had an affair with almost every actor who starred in her films. It is possible that with such a statement the celebrity wants to further stir up interest in his person.
Indeed, every new film directed by Bayrak is accompanied by news in the press about her new novel. This would be the case now if Oksana had not met her second great love after Kopeikin.
In 2011, she met fitness trainer Georgy Moskaluk. A pumped-up young man with a handsome face immediately attracted Oksana’s attention. Their acquaintance occurred on the set of the program “Let's Get Married” (the Ukrainian analogue of the Russian television program). After this, the couple began to live in a civil marriage. Despite the fact that the relationship between Bayrak and Moskaluk has not been formalized, Oksana considers him her second husband.
Common-law husband of Oksana Bayrak
Oksana now hardly remembers Alexander Kopeikin.
About fashion
— In the media you often fall under the heading “funny outfits of stars.” How do you feel about this?
- It doesn’t offend me. Those who wrote about funny outfits did not understand the trends. Once I went out to some fashion show in boots and a cape from Gucci, it was the trend for the next year, and someone wrote that I dressed tastelessly. And during the show, one Spanish designer told me that I was just a diva. I look at fashion with my own eyes. I have a style, I think it’s impeccable. And I’m not the only one who thinks so.
— Back in 2020, I remember how you published a photo in a yellow shirt-dress near a police car in Beverly Hills and captioned it: “Arrested for beauty. But, without a waist! Have you ever been embarrassed to talk about yourself openly?
- This is a joke. I can boast of a waist and abs on my stomach too. Everything happened to my waist, hips, chest, and legs. And everything is mine. The only surgery I had was to reshape my nose after a terrible car accident.
About the child
- You once said that you dreamed of a girl...
“I want to have a baby this year.” I'm already determined. In my new apartment, where renovations are now being completed, there is a children's room and a children's bathroom. I pray to the Lord that this year I will have my Lisa.
—Have you already chosen a name?
“I chose my name when I was 3 years old, when my dad brought me a doll from the GDR, which I named Lisa. This childhood feeling of motherhood remains to this day.
Biography
Before we find out everything about Oksana Bayrak’s personal life, let’s delve into the biography of a well-known TV presenter, screenwriter and director in Russia and Ukraine. Look at the photo. Despite the fact that Oksana turned 53 this year, the woman looks young. Bayrak strongly denies that she had any plastic surgery other than to correct the shape of her nose after a car accident. However, fans don't really believe her. Indeed, despite her age, Bayrak is really very attractive. Not every woman succeeds in this.
Oksana Bayrak: photo
Oksana was born in Simferopol in 1964 in February. It’s not clear where a woman has so much creativity and imagination to write scripts for her films. After all, no one in the film director’s family was associated with creativity. Oksana's parents are doctors of science and economist. The specialties of Bayrak’s father and mother are more than serious.
Bayrak has 2 higher educations. The first is not related to the film industry. Immediately after school, Bayrak entered the Kiev State Pedagogical University named after. M. Dragomanova. In 1984, the girl graduated from university. Bayrak's specialty is speech therapist. Immediately after graduation, Oksana got a job. A few years later, Bayrak realized that teaching was not for her. The girl wanted to connect her life with creativity.
Next, Bayrak entered the Karpenko-Kary University of Theatre, Film and Television. Having received a second higher education, Oksana realized what she really wanted to do in life.
By the way, Bayrak entered the university on the first try. For several years, the directing department became her home. In the creative workshops of A. Serebrenikov and A. Marchenko, I learned how to create high-quality cinema.
In addition to the basics of filmmaking, Bayrak studied theater and filmmaking.
How Meicher was made into an actress
— Currently on STB there is the drama “Nothing Happens Twice” with the participation of Nadia Meikher. How did you make Nadia an actress?
- Is it okay if I now rub a star on my forehead and say that, in principle, I can make actors out of everyone?! Nadya, of course, is brilliant. She is a talented and deep person. One of the heroines of this series turned out to be very bright, defiant, but at the same time very unhappy. When I was writing the script, I had an image of Nadya Meikher, but when I called her and we met, Nadya was scared at first, because she is not a professional actress. But I felt her in this role.
Nadya turned out to be an excellent student, she listened, heard, and then I only had to make a little adjustment, because as a professional actress she already fulfilled all the director’s requirements and added something, of course, from herself.
— The title sounds somewhat categorical: “Nothing happens twice”... Has nothing important happened twice in your life?
— I wouldn’t say that this is categorical. On the contrary, it’s a decoy. This is the kind of slogan that makes people think: nothing really happens twice or you can give yourself a chance to correct some things and start life from scratch. In my life, probably nothing has happened twice, if we are talking about some kind of relationship. I am very categorical, unfortunately. I give a chance to the people who surround me, or to circumstances, and if I see that they don’t hear me, there is no dialogue, I don’t get offended, I don’t swear, but I’m surprised and step aside.
My New Life (2012) mini-series
- Genre: melodrama
- Rating: KinoPoisk – 6.0
- Oksana Bayrak acted not only as a director, but also as a screenwriter.
It is best to watch the mini-series “My New Life” with your family. The world of 40-year-old Slava has been turned upside down: her husband leaves for a young mistress, and her daughter accuses her mother of ruining her life. In addition to this, her friend also sweetened the pill by admitting to betrayal. For the last 15 years, the heroine has been creating home comfort and was sure that her loved ones would appreciate her efforts. But even her closest relatives do not see anything worthy of respect in her. Suddenly, a charming man appears in Slava’s life, who will give her sincere love and become the most reliable person on Earth.
