Childhood and youth
Olga Volkova (maiden name Politova) was born in Leningrad in April 1939. The girl had every chance of becoming an artist: her numerous relatives worked in the field of theatrical art and achieved considerable success. First of all, my grandfather became famous - Ivan Aleksandrovich Volsky was at the origins of the creation of two St. Petersburg theaters - “Crooked Jimmy” and “Antique Vaudeville”. The rest of Volkova’s relatives were also closely connected with the theater and the world of cinema.
In the Life Line program, the actress said that the merit of her loved ones was that they taught her to laugh at herself. Subsequently, directors valued Volkova most of all precisely for her sense of humor, which makes her heroines unique and charming.
However, oddly enough, as a child she did not dream of the theater stage or the big screen. Olga grew up as a rowdy teenager and dreamed of becoming an archaeologist. True, already at an early age, relatives, and then teachers and classmates, noted Olga Politova’s talent for parody. The girl showed a subtle sense of humor and amazing powers of observation.
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Olga Volkova in her youth
This talent as a parodist brought Olga to the school drama club. She was invited here by Alisa Freundlich, with whom she studied at the same school. Here the girl was seriously carried away by the scene. Therefore, after graduating from the St. Petersburg school, Olya immediately went to enter the theater institute, but “stumbled” in the 1st round.
Relatives helped - Olga Politova was accepted into the workshop of Leonid Makariev at the Leningrad Youth Theater, but they warned that no one would mess with her. And so it happened - no one paid much attention to the young aspiring actress. Olga Volkova learned the wisdom and secrets of acting on her own. The ability to observe and parody, or rather, copy what was seen from older, experienced colleagues, was very useful.
Soon Volkova not only learned everything that experienced Youth Theater artists could do, but also demonstrated her own style. The roles offered to the young actress became larger and larger.
Personal life
Olga Volkova's first husband was St. Petersburg cinematographer Leonid Volkov. This marriage did not last long; a daughter, Katya, was born.
Olga Vladimirovna’s second husband also had the surname Volkov. Nikolai Nikolaevich also worked as an actor. They did not live together for long. This marriage was unofficial. The union gave birth to a son, Vanya. Today Ivan Volkov is a popular composer and actor. He was married to Chulpan Khamatova. Ekaterina Volkova followed in her mother’s footsteps and also became an actress.
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Nikolai Volkov, son of Olga Volkova
The artist’s third marriage turned out to be the happiest and longest. Olga Volkova’s personal life sparkled with new colors after meeting with St. Petersburg theater artist Vladimir Khovralev. The couple lived together for more than 30 years.
Vladimir Khovralev passed away in 2020. Olga Volkova had a hard time with the loss of her loved one, who became her soul mate. Today, the actress’s consolation is her children and grandchildren.
Biography
In 1960 she graduated from the acting studio at the Leningrad Youth Theater (workshop of Leonid Makariev) Russian Drama Theatre: Encyclopedia / Under the general. ed. M. I. Andreeva, N. E. Zvenigorodskaya, A. V. Martynova and others - M.: Great Russian Encyclopedia, 2001. - 568 pp.: ill. ISBN 5-85270-167-X. In 1957-1970 she played on the stage of the Leningrad Youth Theater, in 1970-1976 she was an actress at the Academic Comedy Theater named after. N. P. Akimova.
In 1976-1992 she was a member of the troupe of the Leningrad Academic Bolshoi Drama Theater named after M. Gorky, in 1992-1996 she was an actress at the Russian State Academic Bolshoi Drama Theater named after G. A. Tovstonogov (the same theater with a changed name).
In 1993 she received the title of People's Artist of Russia.
Personal life
- Father - Vladimir Lvovich Politov (b. 1920-1992)
- Mother - Ksenia Ivanovna Volskaya (b.1916-1989)
- Grandfather - Ivan Volsky, actor (b. 1???)
Olga Vladimirovna was officially married twice. The first husband, from whom the surname is Volkova and the daughter Katya is the cameraman Volkov. The second is the unofficial husband - Nikolai Volkov, People's Artist of the RSFSR; from him there is a son, Ivan. Children are also actors. The third husband is Vladimir Khovralev, Honored Artist, chief artist of the Bolshoi Puppet Theater in St. Petersburg. Daughter-in-law, ex-wife of Ivan's son - Chulpan Khamatova. Granddaughter - Yana Volkova, first-year student at St. Petersburg State Technical University, workshop of Professor L.V. Gracheva.
Theater
Olga Volkova's finest hour as a theater actress struck in the 1970s and 1980s. The actress changed theaters - from the Youth Theater she moved to the Nikolai Akimov Comedy Theater. After 6 years, at the invitation of the legendary Georgy Tovstonogov, Volkova again changed her place of work. Now she worked under the supervision of Georgy Alexandrovich at the Bolshoi Drama Theater of Leningrad. Here the artist felt like a star: her skills not only increased significantly, but also found application.
At over 50 years old, the actress moved to Moscow, deciding that the capital’s rhythm of life suited her better. She has not lost her relevance and still regularly receives offers from directors. The artist entered the Russian Song Theater, where she participates in musical productions based on the works of Russian classics.
Movies
A cinematic biography of Olga Volkova opens with the film “The City Lights Up the Lights.” This was just an episode, after which there was a considerable break. The short (height 162 cm and weight 60 kg) artist with a discreet appearance was not popular with directors. After the collapse of the USSR, Goskino discovered a list of actors not recommended for invitations to leading roles, among which was the name of Olga Volkova. The reason was “lack of social health in person.”
Following on from the theme of the play “Iron Class”.
A photograph was found of the author of the play. From left to right: director Nikolai Chindyaykin, Aldo Nikolai, Nikolai Volkov, Olga Volkova, Sergei Yursky. Published by Ivan Volkov Friday, March 1, 2020
Nikolai Chindyaykin, Aldo Nikolai, Nikolai Volkov, Olga Volkova, Sergei Yursky
For the first time, Volkova’s name appeared in the credits of the film “Grooms and Knives.” The film was released in 1962, but this film did not bring fame and recognition to Olga Vladimirovna. This is not surprising, because she played a young man, but 2 years later Volkova got her first starring role. In the film “I am a driver” she played the central character.
Since the mid-1960s, Olga Volkova began to appear on screen regularly. The most famous films of that period are the black-and-white comedy musical “The Seedy Kingdom” and the drama “The Life of Matvey Kozhemyakin.”
During this period of her creative life, Olga Volkova starred in many sensational films that were included in the golden fund of Russian cinema. In 1982, Eldar Ryazanov’s wonderful film “Station for Two” was released. Volkova here got a small but bright role as a waitress at the station buffet, Violetta. Lyudmila Gurchenko, Oleg Basilashvili, Nikita Mikhalkov, Nonna Mordyukova - this “bouquet” and Ryazanov’s brilliant direction raised all the artists involved in the film several steps in the career hierarchy.
And in 1987, Eldar Ryazanov’s new film masterpiece “Forgotten Melody for Flute” was released. Here Volkova played an official “from culture”. She appeared on the screen with movie stars Valentin Gaft, Alexander Shirvindt, Leonid Filatov and Tatyana Dogileva. Two masterpieces of the master of directing brought Olga Volkova all-Union popularity.
2013 Sherlock Holmes
Published by Aleksander Doronowicz Saturday, April 14, 2018
Olga Volkova in the film “Sherlock Holmes”
Other films also appeared: “Treasure Island”, “Have you called the Snow Maiden?”, “TASS is authorized to declare”, “Kill the Dragon”, which were also liked by millions of viewers. The melodrama “Poor Sasha” also contributed to the popularity of Olga Volkova.
Olga Volkova was lucky to star again with Eldar Ryazanov in 1991. The dramatic comedy “Promised Heaven” again brought together a star cast of artists - Valentin Gaft, Oleg Basilashvili, Liya Akhedzhakova, Vyacheslav Nevinny, Leonid Bronevoy. Each of those who starred in the film is a star of the first magnitude. Olga Volkova played the role of a woman who was kicked out of the house by her own sons and found “relatives” among the beggars at the city dump.
2 years after the release of this picture, Olga Vladimirovna Volkova was awarded the title of People's Artist of Russia.
Of the films made in the 2000s with the participation of Olga Vladimirovna, Eldar Ryazanov’s “Quiet Whirlpools”, “New Year’s Adventures”, “A Man with a Guarantee” and “Moms” stand out as the most striking. Olga Volkova is often invited to appear in TV series. The actress appeared in the sitcoms “Lyuba, children and. In 2001, she played Baba Yaga in the film adaptation of Leonid Filatov’s fairy tale “The Tale of Fedot the Archer.”
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Olga Volkova in the TV series “Daddy’s Daughters”
In 2007, the actress appeared in the popular sitcom “Daddy’s Daughters,” where she played until the finale in 2013. Volkova played the role of Antonina Semyonovna Gordienko, the girls’ grandmother and mother-in-law of the main character (Andrei Leonov). In the program “My Hero,” the actress recalled that in order to match the image of the heroine, she had to wear a wig for 266 episodes. After this, Olga Volkova briefly appears with natural hair, but from the 15th season she again appears in a wig.
The storyline of the grandmother received independent development. Unlike a number of TV series where grandmothers are introduced into the plot to look after their grandchildren, and mothers-in-law to caricaturely argue with their sons-in-law, in “Daddy’s Daughters” the heroine of Olga Volkova received her own love and professional lines. TV viewers met Antonina Semyonovna’s first husband, followed her grandmother’s new romance and saw the wedding. Also, part of the screen time is devoted to the work of the heroine and her graduate students.
In 2013, the actress released an autobiographical book, “Crossroads of Fate: About My Home, About My Theater,” in which she talked about her work and colleagues.
Published by Alena Shemionko-Volkova Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Volkov family
In 2020, Olga Volkova appeared in the mystical drama “Life After Life.” The actress played the role of Margarita Stepanovna, the mother of the failed suicide Khorkov, into whose body the main character ends up, who after death agreed with the heavenly office about a second chance at life on earth. The main character uses his new body to protect his pregnant wife and find the killer - a former friend who covets a share in the business.
Also in 2020, Olga Vladimirovna starred in the science fiction film “Sorcerers”, or “Paradox”. The plot of the film revolves around two friends who end up in an abandoned research institute and find there the wonders of the thoughts of Soviet engineers - a perpetual motion machine, a time machine, the philosopher's stone and indelible shoe heels. The picture was not completed and was not released.
Also in 2020, the actress appeared in the retro film “Glee,” which takes place in 1972. The main characters of the film are children who want to sing and their music group.
Biography of Olga Volkova
Olga was born several years before the war and the siege of Leningrad.
Most of her relatives had one way or another to do with the theater. Therefore, the girl absorbed the smell of the wings with her mother’s milk and felt like a fish in water on stage. She showed artistry and a sense of humor from an early age, but she liked to play more with the boys in the yard. At school, Olya Politova was a C student and was not distinguished by good behavior, but she periodically shone on the stage of the local drama club. Immediately after receiving her matriculation certificate and graduation, the girl applied to a theater university. She was accepted into the course of the legendary actor and teacher Leonid Makariev at the St. Petersburg Youth Theater, in which she later served from 1957 to 1970, playing more than a dozen roles. Then the actress worked for several seasons at the Comedy Theater, and then, at the invitation of Georgy Tovstonogov himself, for ten years at the Bolshoi Drama Theater.
Sometimes in interviews Volkova admitted that she had not yet fully revealed herself in the profession. She hinted that not much was happening in St. Petersburg. Life is in full swing only in Moscow.
In the 90s, the actress began to be invited to enterprise performances, which allowed her to travel all over the country. And thanks to his third marriage in 1997, he completely moved to Moscow. In the capital, as she said, there was much more work, and the projects were many times larger and more interesting. Thus, the already middle-aged actress received a second round of career growth. Having begun her cinematic biography in 1962 with the role of a boy at a booth in the film “Grooms and Knives,” Volkova performed more than 150 film roles. Among them are many stellar ones, which mostly took place in the capital. Here she collaborates with a number of theaters, periodically starring in feature films and TV series. The films of Eldar Ryazanov and the popular sitcoms “Lyuba, Children and “Daddy’s Daughters” allowed the actress to reveal herself to the fullest professionally. Several more premieres are on the way with the participation of the actress, who will celebrate her eightieth birthday in the spring of 2020.
Olga Volkova now
In 2019, the artist celebrated her 80th birthday. She expanded her filmography with the series “Belovodye. The Mystery of the Lost Country."
Now the celebrity does little filming, devoting most of his time to performances. In 2020, Olga Volkova shines on the stage of the Theater of Nations in the production of “The Taming of the Shrew”, conducts creative evenings and master classes. Announcements of performances with the participation of the actress can also be found on the official website and Instagram account of the Russian Song Theater.
Movie
Olga Volkova has been in cinema since 1965. Initially, she acted little and mostly in episodic roles. The most notable work was the role of Lotte in the operetta film “The Bat”.
In the early 80s, director Eldar Ryazanov drew attention to Volkova. He saw the actress in the play “Colleagues” (authors Braginsky and Ryazanov) in the role of Kalugina. Then the idea came to him to invite her to his film “Station for Two,” where she played the waitress Violetta, a small but memorable role.
After this film, Volkova began acting a lot, including with Ryazanov. In films, the actress plays strange, sometimes eccentric women, very temperamental and eccentric.
Among the other most notable films with the participation of the actress: “Treasure Island” (Mrs. Hawkins), “TASS is authorized to declare” (Emma Chance), “Applause, applause” (Polina), “Have you called the Snow Maiden?” (Svetlana Ivanovna), “Sorry” (Svirskaya), “The Extraordinary Adventures of Karik and Valya” (grandmother), “Gypsy Baron” (Mirabella), “Forgotten Melody for Flute” (Surova), “Poor Sasha”, etc.
In 1991, Volkova played one of her best roles - the beggar Katya Ivanova in Eldar Ryazanov’s social tragicomedy “Promised Heaven”. They say that this role was written by Ryazanov specifically for Olga Volkova.
After successful roles in the films “Hello, Fools!” and “Promised Heaven” Eldar Ryazanov calls the actress his talisman.
In recent years, Olga Volkova has been actively acting in various TV series (Emma Markovna - “Evlampia Romanova. The investigation is being conducted by an amateur”, etc.).
