Rimma Markova (actress): biography and filmography

Biography

Theater and film actress, People's Artist of Russia Rimma Markova was born in a small village in the Kuibyshev region. Her brother is the famous Soviet actor and director Leonid Markov.

As a child, Rimma took part in theater productions, where her father worked as an actor.

After the family moved to Vologda, Rimma and Leonid entered the drama studio with teacher Lydia Davydovna Rotbaum, who immediately saw great acting potential in the Markovs.

In 1946, brother and sister went to Moscow, where they were accepted into the drama studio at the Moscow Lenin Komsomol Theater.

Childhood and youth of Rimma Markova

Rimma was born on March 3, 1925 in the village of Churino, Samara province. Parents came from peasants, but creativity was not alien to them. Dad, Vasily Demyanovich, by chance, became an actor at the Saratov Drama Theater, mother, Maria Petrovna, became a make-up artist.

Rimma Markova in her youth

As a child, the girl took part in theater productions where her relatives worked, and later studied at a studio school in Vologda. When she was 19 and her brother Lena was 17, the two of them set off to conquer Moscow. Despite the fact that the course was completed, the Markovs were accepted into the Lenkom studio.

Movie

Rimma Markova actively acted in films starting in 1957. He made his debut in the film “Next to Us” by Adolf Bergunker.

The actress’s filmography includes more than 90 films, including: “Wings”, “Woman’s Kingdom”, “Crane”, “Eternal Call”, “Sweet Woman”, “Vacation at your own expense”, “Relatives”, “Pokrovsky Gate”, “The Last Road”, “Midshipmen, Forward!”

In the early 2000s, the actress played a sorceress in the films Night Watch and Day Watch. Then there were works in the films “The Best Film”, “Veronica Won’t Come”, “Burnt by the Sun 2”.

She was a member of the Union of Cinematographers of Russia, a member of the Council of the Screen Actors Guild.

Rimma Markova in the last years of her life

Among the modern works in the movie star’s creative treasury are the films “Night Watch” and “Day Watch”, as well as “Three and a Snowflake”, “Burnt by the Sun - 2” (2010).
Rimma Markova - Ballad of Mother In addition to her main role, the actress was engaged in social and political work, helped elderly actors from A Just Russia, participated in television projects, and remained active and energetic until the very last days of her life. Having extensive experience and a film career, the star lived in a one-room apartment in the capital. Rimma Markova was the laureate of many diplomas and prizes, awarded the Order of Honor and the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree.

Social activity

Rimma Vasilievna actively participated in the socio-political life of the country. Since 1996, she has been a member of the Russian Party of Pensioners (RPP). In 1999, in the elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation, she entered the top three leaders of the federal list of this party.

In 2004, she became co-chairman of the Russian Party of Pensioners and president of the Narodnoye Dostoyanie charitable foundation.

In 2006, during the elections to the Duma of the Sverdlovsk region, she was a trustee of the regional branch of the RPP.

In October 2007, at the Congress of the party “A Just Russia: Motherland / Pensioners / Life”, Rimma Markova joined the Central Council of the party. At the same time, she headed the All-Russian public organization “Russian Pensioners,” which became the successor to the Russian Party of Pensioners.

Since May 2007, she has been deputy chairman of the Union of A Just Russia Supporters. She was a member of the Bureau of the Presidium of the Central Council of the Political Party “A Just Russia”.

Movies

There were few leading roles in Rimma Vasilievna’s creative biography. But for creating the image of the main character in the film about the war “The Indian Kingdom,” the actress was rightfully awarded a special prize at the film festival in the Italian city of San Sebastian, and was also awarded two awards for best actress at the All-Union Film Festival. The war drama appeared on screens in 1968, and in its first year in the Soviet Union it was watched by more than 50 million viewers. When the film reached Europe, the story of a Russian woman also won the hearts of Western audiences.

In one of her film works, Rimma Markova had the honor of starring with the legend of Soviet cinema, Lyubov Orlova. It was the film “The Starling and Lyra,” in which Markova played a rich Frau, and the prima donna played her housekeeper, a secret Soviet spy. The film was created in Germany, and the actresses, despite the age difference, became close.

Rimma Markova is rightfully considered the queen of the episode. She starred in almost 100 films, where she was mostly given minor roles. But in the few minutes of her presence on the screen, the actress managed to invest so much that the image created by Markova was remembered by the audience for a long time. Among her famous works of the Soviet period, one can recall the films “Wings”, “Crane”, “Eternal Call”, “Sweet Woman” , “Vacation at your own expense”, “The Last Road”, “Midshipmen, forward!”. The phrases of Markova’s heroines went among the people and became popular. “Cut to hell without waiting for peritonitis” - words that are familiar to more than one generation of viewers of the film “Pokrovsky Gates”.

In the mid-90s, when Russian big cinema was in crisis, Rimma Vasilievna refused offers to appear in commercial advertising, but agreed to take part in a social project together with her friend Nonna Mordyukova. The young Denis Evstigneev worked on the “Russian Project”; the videos “God bless you,” “Assembly-1,” “Save and Preserve,” “Assembly-2” remained in the memory of television viewers for a long time.

Actresses Nonna and Rimma were friends in real life. Possessing strong characters and sharp tongues, they often quarreled, but could not be offended at each other for long. At work, each of them was ready to help her friend. Very often Rimma refused the role in favor of Mordyukova, and once Nonna helped Markova get a role in Nikita Mikhalkov’s film “Relatives”.

Personal life

Rimma Markova was married three times. The actress's first husband was a military pilot. They met in Makhachkala, where she came on vacation after graduating. The union lasted only a year. For the second time, Rimma Vasilievna married musician Vladimir Nikitin. Daughter Tatyana was born in this tank.

For the third time, the actress married the Spanish baron Jose Gonzalez Maria Antonio. They met in Italy in the late 60s. The couple lived together for three years, but Rimma refused all of Jose’s entreaties to move to Spain.

Creative path

After graduation, Rimma Markova, an actress with enormous creative potential, began working in the theater. Her very first major role was working in the play “Second Love”. The actress played the role of Frosya. In 1962, Markova left the theater and entered the Mosconcert.

In 1971, Rimma Vasilievna went to work at the Film Actor Studio Theatre. Almost at the same time, her film career began to take shape.

Since 1992, actress Rimma Markova became an official pensioner, but continued to work under employment contracts, working closely with the most famous theaters in Moscow.

In 1994, Markova, beloved by millions of viewers, was awarded the high title of People's Artist of the Russian Federation.

Illness and death

Rimma Markova died on January 15, 2020 after a long illness. She fought cancer for more than three years. “My whole current life consists of continuous struggle,” Rimma Vasilievna admitted shortly before her death. - I'm always in a fight! And I... am already wildly tired. Moreover, I will say, even though I am an optimist by nature, lately I have had moments when I think - oh, I wish death would come sooner... My daughter and grandson Fedenka - these two little people are the only ones who keep me in this world.” .

She was buried at the Nikolo-Arkhangelskoe cemetery near Moscow.

Death

At the beginning of 2020, Rimma Markova was admitted to the hospital with cardiovascular failure. After some time, she became worse and fell into a semi-comatose state. On January 15, 2015, Rimma Vasilievna died in her sleep due to weakness of the heart muscles.

Funeral of Rimma Markova

According to Markova’s will, her funeral took place without unnecessary noise, only her closest people were present. The actress’s grave is located at the Nikolo-Arkhangelskoye cemetery in the Moscow region.

Titles and awards

• People's Artist of Russia (1995)
• Recipient of the orders “Badge of Honor” (2000) and “For Services to the Fatherland”, IV degree (2010).
• Laureate of the Special Diploma of the XVI International Film Festival in San Sebastian “for the high skill of the artist who created an image of great dramatic power” (1968).
• In 1970, she became a diploma holder and laureate of the IV All-Union Film Festival in Minsk for the best performance of a female role (the film “Woman’s Kingdom”)
• In 2001, at the Vivat, Cinema of Russia festival in St. Petersburg, she won the Living Legend of Russian Cinema prize.
• In 2005, at the VI Open Russian Festival “Smile, Russia!” — Crystal Lotus prize “for creating a truly Russian woman on the screen.”

Based on materials from the sites: peoples.ru, vokrug.tv, kino-teatr.ru, Wikipedia, AiF, RIA Novosti

The love power of Rimma Markova

The actress left Mikhail Kokshenov after learning that he cheated on her with Lyudmila Gurchenko

Rimma MARKOVA did not like pretentious holidays in her honor. And when friends decided to organize an evening for her 85th birthday, the actress snapped: “Don’t make things up!” The actress was lured to the Cinema House, where the celebration did take place, by cunning: she was asked to present to the audience the film “Veronica Won’t Come,” where Rimma Vasilievna played the main role.

Very soon she was supposed to turn 90. But the beautiful actress died before a month and a half before this date.

her friend, the famous singer of romances Leonid Serebrennikov after Markova’s .
— As a thank you for her last anniversary, my wife and I bought Rimma Vasilievna a mink shawl, which she loved very much. Rimma did not allow anyone to mope or be lethargic in her presence. Instilled strength in any person who was in a bad mood. And it worked no worse than extrasensory perception. However, despite her unusual abilities, Markova refused to play the famous Bulgarian soothsayer in the series “Vangelia”, losing the role to Elena Yakovleva .

“I was the first to be approached with an offer to play Vanga in old age,” she shared a year and a half ago with one of the authors of these lines. “But I immediately answered: “Under any circumstances!” In short: then I was only operated on for a very bad reason (the actress had a tumor removed. - L.K., G.U. ). I didn't want to tempt fate. I am an Orthodox person, but Vanga is not canonized, all this looks like something otherworldly. I consulted with my priest, and he strongly advised me not to agree... And I’m also undergoing major renovations - and this, you know, is a disaster!

Brother seducer

— Rimma Vasilievna was then doing renovations in the apartment, which she had recently bought for her adored daughter and grandson. I understood that I would soon leave, and I wanted to make their life easier,” says lawyer and philanthropist Mikhail Tsivin . — She got into debt (according to her close circle, her daughter Tatyana almost never worked, and her 20-year-old grandson Fyodor is just getting on his feet. — L.K., G.U. ). I was going to sell my old one-room apartment. And then more problems arose: there was a conflict with the upstairs neighbor, a lieutenant colonel, who was changing the flooring and was making a lot of noise. Tanya didn’t like this, and she dragged her mother around the authorities, intending to punish the officer who was constantly thundering over her head. Rimma Vasilievna complained to my wife and me about this when we came to visit her. But later, on the phone, she said: “To hell with everything! I don’t want to do this anymore!” Then she lost a lot of weight due to oncology, which she heroically fought.

Almost all of her friends and comrades note that Rimma Vasilievna was a strong-willed woman with a strong character. For example, businessman and “butter king” Boris Volnov :

- Of course, she lived a difficult life - she experienced hunger and cold, she knew the value of a penny. She was unpretentious in everyday life and never asked for anything. In theory, Markova’s daughter was supposed to help her retired mother, but it turned out exactly the opposite. Needless to say, she exploited Rimma! It's good that there were friends nearby. For example Stas Sadalsky , who at one time procured that same “one-room apartment” for the actress. When Rimma Vasilievna’s mother died, Stas knocked out all the doorsteps in the mayor’s office, but knocked out a good place at the Nikolo-Arkhangelsk cemetery. Then I helped expand the site, and now Rimma herself was buried right there...

According to Volnov, once upon a time Sadalsky reconciled his girlfriend with his brother, also a famous artist ( Leonid Markov died in 1991). And the singer Serebrennikov clarified that his namesake once seduced a young, inexperienced girl, which aroused the incredible anger of his older sister, who strongly urged him not to do this. (By the way, Markov also had a whirlwind romance with actress Valentina Talyzina - read about it here .)

“Once again, brother and sister Markov had a strong quarrel,” Volnov continues.
“Lenya was again outraged that Rimma was telling him who he should meet and who he shouldn’t.” And so Sadalsky allegedly accidentally called both of them to the WTO restaurant and convinced them to think: they say, how many years of life are left, stop fooling around, we need to be friends. Lenya, I remember, gave my sister pearls, which, by the way, should not be done - they say it will lead to tears... Stas found himself next to Rimma Vasilievna when she recently rehabilitated after a serious operation at the Oncology Center. Markova was incredibly happy about his arrival and drew her friend’s attention to the terrible conditions: cracks in the old windows, drafts, peeling plaster, complete unsanitary conditions. She asked: “Stas, be sure to look into the women’s restroom, see what horror is going on there.” The report on his blog had an effect. Commissions visited the clinic frequently and renovations were done. Rimma, for unknown reasons, backed down. Like, she didn’t complain about anything, and even appeared on TV about this for a large fee. It is clear that Stas was very offended. I know that now he is very worried about her passing - after all, they were close for decades.

“I’m a man myself!”

“I remember I called Rimma once. And, hearing a man’s voice on the phone, she asked: “Please call Rimma Vasilievna.” And in response: “Zina, it’s me!” Didn’t you recognize it?” Since then, she jokingly asked to call her “Rimm Vasilyevich.” But I shortened it to Vasilich,” recalls Markova’s neighbor and friend, actress Zinaida Kiriyenko . “She never lost her presence of mind, even when she was seriously ill. For example, a few years ago she had an operation on her throat, but she did not complain. She remained energetic, did not let go of her cigarette, and laughed constantly. When we were driving somewhere by car, I sat in front and tarred out the window, although I knew that I couldn’t stand the smoke. Or with a sly smile she turned to my husband, who was driving the car: “Valera, you know how much I love you! Aren't you tired of Zinaida? If anything, I’m always waiting for you, my doors are open for you!” That’s the kind of humor she had, but I wasn’t offended. She knew that in fact Rimma did not envy other people’s happiness. I was wondering: “When will you find yourself a man?” “Fuck you,” she waved it off, “I’m a man myself!” Now I understand her. Time is moving quickly. I’ve been a widow for almost 11 years, and thoughts of another marriage do not arise. It’s understandable - age!

Not much is known about Rimma Vasilievna’s gentlemen. She lived with her first husband, a pilot whose name no one remembers, for only about a year. The second, accordion player Vladimir Nikitin , the father of Tatyana’s only daughter, was kicked out by the actress for cheating and drinking. with the third, a hot Spaniard and, according to her, a passionate lover, Antonio Jose Garcia Gonzales , because he wanted to take Markova to his homeland, and she was not going to interrupt her film career in Russia.
“In principle, I was not deprived of male attention,” Rimma Vasilievna admitted in one of the interviews, hinting that many people tried to hit on her.

Now, remembering the actress, the famous comedian Mikhail Kokshenov was taken aback:

“Rimma and I once had an affair a long time ago!” We went to the same company. She was free at that time, and we started dating.

But this love did not last long, because, according to Kokshenov, Markova was jealous of him... Lyudmila Gurchenko . Once, in the restaurant of the House of Cinema, Rimma saw how her companion suddenly began to show unambiguous signs of attention to the graceful Lyudochka, and she became seriously angry. Kokshenov, making amends, even knelt before Rimma, but was not forgiven. Gurchenko, commenting on Mikhail Mikhailovich’s affair with Markova, only said:

- Rimma is shooting at some sparrows!

- Yes, women! - Kokshenov reflects today. “They picked on each other all the time.” And yet there were wonderful women - talented, cheerful, loved to receive guests, and treated well. And most importantly - loving! In general, God did not ignore them in anything. It’s a pity that both Lucy and now Rimma have passed away. I often say to myself: “Well, Mishanya, the shells are getting closer and closer...” I don’t forget anyone. Whenever I visit the Novodevichy Cemetery (my mother and grandmother are buried there), I always stop by to see Lyusya. But I didn’t have time to say goodbye to Rimma - I had just arrived from Spain, where I spent a month with my current wife, Tusya. But I’ll definitely go to Rimma’s grave and remember the past...

22 ACCIDENTS

Actress friends remembered funny stories about Rimma Vasilievna.

Tatiana KONYUKHOVA:

— Rimma and I performed together in concerts many times. I remember we were working at a wine and vodka factory, I got on the bus, I was waiting for the others, but they still didn’t come. I left my fur coat and bag and went to look for my friends. And when I arrived home, I discovered that instead of the fee of 300 dollars paid to me, there was only 200 in my bag. I immediately dialed Rimma and cried into the phone. After listening, Markova was terribly upset for me: “Well, you and Epikhodov!” Chekhov's character , whom everyone called twenty-two misfortunes. Rimma often nagged me for my absent-mindedness, emphasizing that if someone’s money was stolen, that “someone” was Tanya Konyukhova.

Natalya GVOZDIKOVA:
— On tour in America, Rimma Vasilievna, after she was paid her fee, decided to go out to the public again and read poems about cinema, ignoring the requests of her colleagues not to do this. Dashingly began to recite and suddenly... forgot the text. There was a ringing silence in the hall and on the stage. “Well, I crap myself,” Markova remarked sadly and added: “Well, that’s okay!” I’ll tell you now how Mordyukova laid the rails.” As a result, she was showered with flowers and applause for her humorous stories. Coming backstage, looking around me, my husband Zharikov , Gluzsky and Skobtseva , Rimma Vasilievna sighed: “You turned out to be right! She climbed and climbed and shit herself! Next time I'll keep it in mind." After this story, she smoked five cigarettes backstage, one after another. But that didn’t make me any less proactive. For example, when two years ago I broke my leg and was unable to go on tour to Volgograd, Rimma Vasilievna immediately came to the rescue: she immediately got on the plane and arrived. That's the kind of person she was.

Filmography: Actress

• The Life and Adventures of Mishka Yaponchik (2011), TV series
• New Year's Detective (2010)
• Burnt by the Sun-2 (2010)
• Voronins (2009-2014), TV series
• The Devil's Dozen (2009)
• Operation Righteous (2009)
• Savva Morozov (2009)
• Veronica won't come (2008)
• Three and Snowflake (2007)
• Ada's Family (2007)
• The Best Movie (2007)
• Shawls (2007)
• Day Watch (2006)
• Night Watch (2004)
• Savage (2001)
• Shifted (2001), TV series
• Suspicion (2001)
• Prince Yuri Dolgoruky (1998)
• Outskirts (1998)
• Old songs about the main thing 2 (1997)
• At the Dawn of Foggy Youth (1997)
• Kings of Russian detective (1996)
• Fall (1993)
• Arbiter (1992)
• Noah's Ark (1992)
• Scammers (1990)
• Fools Die on Fridays (1990)
• Russian Roulette (1990)
• Homo novus (1990)
• Evil Spirit (1989)
• Souvenir for the Prosecutor (1989)
• Old ABC (1987)
• Midshipmen, forward! (1987)
• We are cheerful, happy, talented! (1986)
• The Last Road (1986)
• Every Hunter Wants to Know... (1985)
• Aunt Marusya (1985)
• Good Intentions (1984)
• Human Factors (1984)
• Obstacle Course (1984)
• Following (1984)
• Eternal Call (1983)
• Mirgorod and its inhabitants (1983)
• Precipice (1983)
• Take care men! (1982)
• Pokrovsky Gate (1982)
• Desire Limit (1982)
• Kinfolk (1981)
• Vacation at your own expense (1981)
• The Hat (1981)
• Lyubasha (1979)
• While the Dream Goes Wild (1978)
• And we had silence... (1977)
• Sweet Woman (1976)
• Chairman's Son (1976)
• It's Not Evening Yet (1974)
• Starling and Lyra (1974)
• Nylon 100% (1973)
• Siberian (1972)
• Believe it or not (1971)
• Egor Bulychev and others (1971)
• Seasons (1968)
• Crane (1968)
• Indian Kingdom (1967)
• Wings (1966)
• The Living and the Dead (1964)
• Next to Us (1957)

First successes

After graduating from the studio, Rimma Vasilievna was left at the theater. She did not play traditional roles with the words “food is served” for long. Soon she was offered the role of Komsomol member Frosya in the play “Second Love”. The young actress could well have become a laureate of the Stalin Prize if the same performance had not been performed at the famous Moscow Art Theater. The prize went to others, although Lenkom's production, as many noted at the time, was much better. After Bersenev's death, he had to part with the first theater. She showed her character here too. Dismissed due to layoffs, she achieved admission to the CPSU Central Committee and reinstatement. And then she came and wrote a letter of resignation of her own free will. At that time, Markova was already playing in films, but only in episodic roles. She got her first experience in the 1957 film Next to Us. The true love of the audience fell on the actress after the release of “The Indian Kingdom” on the big screen. From that moment on, fans became interested in everything about Rimma Markova - biography, personal life, children...

The fate of a simple Russian woman from the film “The Indian Kingdom” amazed not only the Soviet people, but also the Italians. Evidence of this is a special prize at the festival in San Sebastiano. An interesting episode of her life is connected with this.