Yang Ge (The Voice) – films and Instagram photos of the actress, personal life of the director

Biography

The German writer Lion Feuchtwanger once said: “A talented person is talented in everything” and, undoubtedly, the author of Josephus was right, because there are many examples in the world when a creative person succeeds in everything that he would not have to undertake. Listing gifted people, like Julius Caesar, who take on everything at once, one cannot help but notice the Chinese woman Yang Ge, who captivated the audience with both her voice and acting skills.

Yang Ge: “A man is not such an important thing in life”

The name of this talented girl is Ge, her last name is Yang. Director Kirill Serebrennikov began to call her Gesha (and after him everyone else). He invited her, then still a student at VGIK, to try out for a role in his play. As a result, Gesha became an actress at the Gogol Center. Then there were roles in films: “Matilda”, “Crew”, “Attraction”... She came to the blind auditions in the show “The Voice” herself. And she became a finalist. Ge’s own directorial debut, the film “Nude,” was awarded a MIFF award. What fantastic luck! Or is it not? Details are in the interview with Atmosfera magazine.

- Gesha, they say here: if you change your name, you change your fate. You did it!

— Yes, I never thought that I would live in Moscow, play in the theater, act in films, sing on stage, make my own films. And now I'm Gesha, and I really like it. The name is funny - and I am very cheerful.

— What was your childhood like? What were you dreaming about then?

“I can’t remember almost anything from my childhood.” I was just studying. All my dreams were how to achieve a better grade. My life was very boring. Or rather, not boring - I didn’t realize it then. When you don’t see another life, you don’t understand whether you’re living well or badly. The girls at school weren't friends with me, but the boys were. In China this is considered very bad. But I didn’t care - my mother raised me so that I would not pay attention to what they said behind my back. But I didn’t hang out with the boys, I just talked. However, even this is condemned in our country.

Yang Ge's directorial debut, “Nude,” was awarded a prize at the Moscow Film Festival

Photo: press materials

- What about your first school love?

“We don’t have such a concept of falling in love at all.” We have everything in sight, everything is very strict - just like in the Caucasus. I came home from school and immediately sat down to study, I had a callus on my butt - I wrote, wrote, taught, taught... Now they ask me: “Why don’t you read? Must read! And I don't want any more. We didn’t just read for pleasure, we had to figure out why the author said that, what he meant in these lines. And also exact sciences - chemistry, physics, mathematics... And I was just studying. I didn’t go out, I didn’t party, I didn’t drink, I didn’t smoke, I didn’t do anything stupid. And I didn’t wear makeup at all until I was twenty.

- Gray mouse?

- No, no, I always received a lot of attention. In Russia this is understandable: I’m Chinese, my appearance is different, that’s why everyone looks at me. Everyone in China also looks at people with blond hair and blue eyes. But they paid attention to me there too. Firstly, because of my mother. She is a singer and a very beautiful woman. And people were wondering who her daughter was. It was also customary at our school to wear a uniform, but my mother believed that this was not necessary. She spoiled me with beautiful things, and I also loved to wear all sorts of strange outfits that others would not dare to wear. And I also sing. I didn’t learn to sing, it’s my mother’s genes. Because of all this, I have always received a lot of attention. There was a time when singing was considered a profession in China. Now you can just take it and go on stage. And then - only if there is a certificate that you are actually a singer. And my mother was part of the first group of such professionals. And that’s why she earned a lot. And she could dress me up. How I loved dressing beautifully! It was such a joy! We have a Druzhba store in the city center, the goods in it are only for dollars. And all my things, all my food came from this store. Then, due to health problems, my mother had to leave the profession. And we immediately became poor. But they still enjoyed life.

“They whispered behind my back: she doesn’t have a father! But I didn’t care: I knew that I was happy because my mother loved me very much. She gave me double love"

Photo: personal archive of Yang Ge

— You were raised by one mother?

- Yes. My father cheated on my mother and she kicked him out. She just kicked me out harshly. I was very young, so I didn’t remember him. My grandmother, who had an old upbringing, said: “You can’t get a divorce, it’s indecent!” And mom: “What should I do - tolerate it if he cheats on me?!” There was shock throughout our entire area. Back then it was very rare for people to get divorced. That’s why they poked after my mother: whore! And they whispered behind my back: she doesn’t have a father! But I didn't care. I knew that I was happy because my mother loved me very much. She gave me double love. Therefore, I did not torment her with the question: why don’t I have a father? I only saw him once. It was small. I remember he stood there, all teary-eyed, I came up, he hugged me, looked at me strangely. Then I told my mother: “How did you choose him? He's so ugly! I was very surprised that my father was not handsome. Because my mother is the best for me. But, despite the fact that he did not participate in my life in any way, if he needs help, I will not refuse.

— After school, you went to Russia under a student exchange program - to Tula Pedagogical University, to study as a translator. Did this profession really attract you?

“I didn’t think about my future profession then.” I flew to Russia because I could get a higher education there for free; in China this is impossible. She flew with fear. And at first it only intensified. For me, for example, it was a shock that in the dorm next to the girls’ rooms there were boys’ rooms. We definitely have a house for women, a house for men. But a month passed, and I already normally perceived that I was leaving the room and seeing: guys sitting, drinking, eating... And I suddenly felt how cool it was that no one controls you, you decide what time to come back, what time to sleep go to bed, and that you don’t always have to study. But I am a man with a head, although I may sometimes look frivolous. If I need to learn a lesson, I won’t walk, I won’t sleep. Now many people are surprised how I manage to do everything - cinema, theater, recording an album, and participating in “The Voice”. But that period of life in China, when there was tough schooling, disciplined me a lot. Now it’s not a problem for me to sit at home all day and write a script, for example. This also helped me learn Russian.

— And while you didn’t know the language, who did you communicate with?

- In Tula - only with girls from the Faculty of Foreign Languages. They spoke English, and I know it well. They remain my friends, although we see each other very rarely. But lately I rarely meet even my very, very close friends with whom I studied at VGIK, there are three of them. Because I'm very busy. But they understand...

“I only believe in love at first sight”

Photo: personal archive of Yang Ge

— You said in one interview that after a year of studying in Tula you decided: I don’t want to be a translator! They took a piece of paper, wrote on it the professions in which they were interested, and chose the most inaccessible, but so tempting one... In general, they decided to go to Moscow to enroll in the acting and directing department at VGIK.

“I thought: why can’t I try? Who will stop me? A month before the exams, I memorized Pushkin’s poem and Krylov’s fable - and went. I scored the maximum points and entered Sergei Solovyov’s course. Many students think: you definitely need to prepare, read well. No! I’m making films myself now and I don’t even arrange casting. Because it doesn't matter how well you read. If everything is great, why are you going to study? A person's potential is immediately visible. Whether he is charming or not, will he be able to loosen up? They saw me, I was lucky. But in order for me to pay for my studies, my mother sold our house in China. And now she and I live in Moscow in a rented apartment. I’m not worried that I don’t have my own home, but my conscience torments me in front of my mother. As soon as I earn enough money, I'll buy her a house!

— Why did you choose acting?

— Because making art is the most interesting job. It's like love. Just as in love, people have different tastes, so it is here. This is the only story where you cannot say whether you are doing something well or badly. As an actress, some people like me, others don’t. This doesn't mean someone is wrong. They just see things differently. So I'd rather concentrate on the people who love me. Work for them. I don't choose the path, I just follow it. I don’t even define who I am: an actress or a singer. They ask me: in what direction do you want to develop? I answer: it’s not a matter of where I want, the main thing is what you like. If you love me as a director, I will direct. If you like my songs, I will sing. I'm happy anyway. People really liked my film, it won prizes at the festival - and now I’m making a second film. And this is such joy!

— The synopsis for “Nu” says that the main character is looking for love in Moscow. You said you had an affair here. By the way, have you forgiven this person?

“I can’t forgive him.” I remembered that pain forever. But if this had not happened to me, I would not have made my movie, there would be no “Voice”. A lot of good things wouldn't happen later. So, everything was justified. And my film is not about what is written in the synopsis. It is about finding yourself, saving yourself. I wanted to awaken in people the desire to create. If such a fire ignites in their hearts, then the world will move on, art will move on.

— Will you stay in Russia?

— I would like to, I love Russia. But I can’t imagine what will happen next. I will only stay with my loved one. And I enjoy life. I am so interested in what will happen next, who I will meet. It used to be that I really wanted love, and I was looking for it. After the breakup, I no longer looked for anything, I just cried. But a man is not such an important thing in life as food or water, without which I will die. I can live without a man. But it’s important: if it’s like a vase, for example, then for me it’s not just any vase... No, that’s wrong. A man is not a vase. Most likely he is the bed. Now I can sleep on the sofa, armchair, anywhere, even on the floor. And the man is the bed. It seems necessary, but also... I can easily get by. It would have to be a really good bed for me to want it.

This girl's talent is multifaceted. In his free time, Gesha also paints pictures.

Photo: press materials

— So a man is something you can do without?

- Yes. And if you have it, then it will be the best, ideal. Otherwise there is no point in taking it. But that doesn't mean it will be perfect for everyone - just for me! He may be crazy: if I like crazy people, then it’s good, it suits me. Some people prefer blondes, some prefer brunettes. I like blondes, but what if I fall in love with a dark-haired one? It's unpredictable. And so interesting! What will it look like? I would like him to be tall, look after me beautifully and carry me in his arms. (Laughs.) And also - so that he is a person with taste. I wish it was like that. But you can’t guess! It's chemistry. When you see a person and - oh-oh-oh, my! That's all. I only believe in love at first sight.

- Why?

- Because at such a moment neither character, nor appearance, nor money are important - you don’t know anything about this person! You saw each other and your hormones matched. I like that. And so that I don’t think too much. Because we women, especially with age, begin to decide whether he is suitable for the family, how much money he has... Why am I not looking for a rich man, as they usually do? I do not need it. I make good money myself. Let him be interesting and beautiful so that I can fall in love with him. And one more thing: he must be cooler than me. I believe a woman should look up to her man, then he can be loved and loved. And if he trails behind you, then... no, this is not for me. I believe that he is somewhere on the way to me, just... slowing down. For this I am angry with him: where are you?! I could have come earlier. I don’t know, maybe I missed the bus and am waiting for a second one, or I have to fly by plane, but the weather is bad. But he is somewhere. I know.

— Mom probably misses China?

- No. She's here, next to me. She has so many interesting things in her life here! For example, my mother and I love to travel. In general, I think that people themselves need to arrange adventures for themselves and their loved ones, some pleasant events, so that they have something to remember in old age and tell their grandchildren. And in order for me to be able to afford everything I want, I need to work a lot. I'm bored with nothing to do.

-You have a happy character! You get joy out of everything...

— In general, a lot of good things happened to me in Russia. And what was bad and difficult is really not an event for me. So they asked me questions: “You became a finalist in “The Voice” - how do you feel?” - "How? Well, okay." - “Aren’t you happy?!” - “I’m glad.” But they still thought that I was somehow not expressing my emotions clearly enough. And I understand that we need to continue to work and develop. I don’t feel: that’s it, I’m now a star and I’ve gone to heaven! Absolutely not. I will always remain human. I understand why so much fame has come to me now - because I was ready. Ready to not get lost in these noises. That is, fate - it will not change, it will be the same no matter how much more life gives me. I'll just keep working. I met a lot of celebrities, acted with them, sang with them. They behaved not like stars, but like ordinary, normal people. They told me: “Do you know who you were singing with just now?!” This is such a star! When I was little, I dreamed of marrying him! And you sang with him, and he held your hand!” They said this about Dima Bilan and Ilya Lagutenko. And they are good. I can't treat people differently. I don’t even listen when they say: he is bad, cunning, evil. Only when I see the person myself, talk to him, then I will judge. I don't need anyone else's opinion.

“I used to want love, and I looked for it. and after the breakup I didn’t want anything anymore, I just cried. But a man is not such an important thing in life as food or water.”

Photo: press materials

-Are you a good person?

— In general, I think yes. But there is certainly some dark side. There is no other way. And this is about my second project, which I am currently doing. I was really inspired by Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, which had a lot of Oscar nominations this year. As a result, Frances McDormand, who played the lead role there, received the award for best actress. There are no specifically negative or positive characters in this picture. It’s the same in life. There are no super good and super bad people. It's fair. And this is interesting. My second film is about this honesty, about love, about faith in God. Before, I didn’t believe that in China they don’t accept God. It seems to me that it doesn’t matter - Allah, or Buddha, or Jesus. The main thing is faith. I believe that He exists and sees everything. There are laws invented by people, but any one can be circumvented, there is a hole everywhere. But you can’t bypass your conscience. Who put this into us?.. But my faith does not mean that I will sit and wait for help and protection from God. No! I can't say that God doesn't help me. Helps. But my works also help me. Together. And that’s the only way it’s right.

“You might think: how easy everything comes to you!”

- No, my life is not at all easy. I just don’t look at it that way – oh, it’s so hard! I shot the movie alone, and then it had to be edited, scored... Besides, I’m Chinese, and this makes everything twice as complicated. But don't get hung up on it. While others think: oh, how difficult it is for me, how to make everything work out, I just do it. I don't waste time thinking. I made the film with great effort, but I knew that I would finish it. And it won’t turn out bad, since I put all my love into it. I didn't expect any prizes. And there is no need to calculate in advance, so as not to be upset later. My Russian friends taught me, they said: everything will be fine. This is the main thought I live with...

Childhood and youth

Yang Ge (few people know that Yang is actually a surname, not a given name) was born on September 7, 1988 in the capital of the Celestial Empire - Beijing. In this city, which concentrates the entire culture of China, the talented girl lived for 20 years. It is worth saying that in childhood Ge was a smart and independent girl. For example, the future singer went to kindergarten herself and helped her mother with housework.

Yang Ge in 2017

It is noteworthy that in her native country the Chinese woman was not involved in creativity, since Yang Ge’s mother was a singer, but she was not able to last her entire life on stage. So that in the future her daughter would not suffer a fiasco and be realized in life, Ge’s parent forbade the beauty to connect her life with a creative path. She said that in show business there are many nuances, and no one can steal the mind.

Yang Ge

When Ge was faced with the choice of an institute, she did not even think about a music academy or drama school, although she had dreamed of playing the Little Mermaid since childhood. And besides, in their native China, enrolling in acting courses was the ultimate dream for many young people. Therefore, when Yang received a certificate of secondary education, the Chinese woman moved to Tula, where she began to master the rather mundane profession of a translator.

Yang Ge studied in Tula

Many people wonder why a girl born in the sunny capital of China chose a cold country. The fact is that in Russia you can enroll in a budget-funded form of education, and besides, Yang Ge got into the state exchange program. The girl admitted that she was sent to the homeland of Mikhail Lomonosov by a Chinese organization, and to ask unnecessary questions “Why?” and why?" she didn't have to.

Actress Yang Ge

The actress and singer also shared in an interview that, compared to Beijing, Tula is a small city that can be seen from the window of a student dormitory. But it is from the homeland of gingerbread and samovars that the Chinese woman has warm and pleasant memories. Among other things, Yang Ge graduated from the directing and acting department of VGIK (course of Sergei Solovyov and Valery Rubinchik).

Chinese actress Yang Ge: about gingerbread, Tula students and community gatherings

After graduating from school, Yang Ge got, as they say, from a ship to a ball - from densely populated, flashy Beijing to little Tula. It was here that she learned the Russian language and chose the profession of her life. The path of one of the most popular Chinese actresses in Russia began in our city. Now Yang Ge works at the Gogol Center in Moscow and is actively acting in films.

— From China to Russia. Why?

— I lived in Beijing for 20 years, graduated from school, and was faced with a choice: where to go to study? All our education is paid - both secondary and higher. And then I found out: in Russia you can enroll on a budget. I decided to try it. I didn’t know anything about your country then, my friends spoke in stereotypes: it’s cold here, everyone drinks, and bears walk the streets. At the same time, China has a generally good attitude towards Russia; at school we studied biographies of Lenin, Stalin and the whole history associated with the communist regime. In addition, I heard a lot about Russia from my friend. Her grandmother is Russian, and she talked about the wonders and beauties of this huge country.

— What were your first impressions of Tula?

- I was a little confused. Compared to Beijing, Tula is a tiny town. And so calm that it took me a long time to get used to it! You stand on the balcony of a student dormitory and you can see almost the entire city. Of course, this won’t work with Beijing. During the first year, I immediately realized how we Chinese differ from Russians and other foreigners: we are “programmed” to do what we are told. In Tula, I found freedom and finally found time to think about who I want to be. I wrote down interesting professions on paper and as a result decided to become an actress. At the same time, I knew about VGIK, and my Tula friends helped me - they told me when the audition was and what to do. I went and got accepted.

— Do you miss your Tula friends now?

— When I arrived, I didn’t know Russian at all. Many students spoke English, which helped improve communication. They became my first Russian friends. Now, unfortunately, I don’t have time to go to Tula and visit them all. I miss you terribly... But we don’t disappear completely: we correspond on social networks, follow each other’s lives.

Recently I went on tour with the group “King and the Clown” to St. Petersburg. I remembered that one of my Tula friends moved there to live. I called her and invited her to the performance. It was a very touching meeting: we haven’t seen each other for seven years and we miss you! Both had tears of happiness.

Yang Ge with Tula friends.

I am grateful to the people of Tula for becoming who I am now. And I learned Russian thanks to them and, of course, wonderful teachers. I really want to find my teacher from TSPU. Her name was Svetlana, but, unfortunately, I don’t remember her last name. If you are reading this, respond: I dream of inviting you to my performance. You will be pleasantly surprised how well I speak Russian now! If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be able to speak the language at such a level to act in films and play in the theater.

— Is Russian a difficult language?

- Crazy! Much more difficult than English: it has cases. For me it's like a dirty word. After all, in English this is how everything works: you learn words, expand your vocabulary and, using it, you can talk to yourself calmly. With Russian it’s a different story. It’s not enough to just learn, you need to somehow get involved with your soul, or something. I did it. It seems...

- What can you say about gingerbread?

— To be honest, I, like most Tula residents, did not pay attention to them while I was in the city. And as soon as I left for Moscow, I tried it. It turns out that they are very soft and tasty: I have never eaten anything like them before. No wonder they are so popular.

— What about Russian (Tula) food? What do you like?

“I was a poor student and didn’t spend much money. The only thing I remember is that my Russian friends took me to a cafe where their friend worked and fed me heartily. And for dessert a surprise awaited me: they brought me a piece of cake with “Yang Ge” written on it. It was so nice that words cannot describe it.

And I ate mostly in the hostel - what I would buy at a regular grocery store. I cooked by myself, sometimes with friends. And she never complained: sitting at home over dinner in a warm circle of friends is one of the best memories of Tula.

My favorite Russian food is pickled cucumbers. Dumplings - well, it's actually Chinese food, our traditional Jiaozi dish that is always prepared for New Year.

Only in Russia they are always with minced meat, but here we also have them with herbs. And I always eat them with soy sauce, not sour cream. I like pilaf, but not very fatty, ice cream. At one time I lived with a young man, and his mother cooked amazing borscht, the like of which I have never eaten anywhere else.

So, they say: you Chinese eat caterpillars, chicken feet - ugh! In fact, we have practically nothing raw and unprocessed in our kitchen, everything is somehow cooked. And fish - you just throw it into salt water and it dies. Sushi contains at least cut pieces, but then you open the jar and little eyes look at you. It also took me a long time to get used to eating beets: some kind of incomprehensible bloody food with the taste of earth. But in the last year they taught me to eat it with garlic.

But the most tasteless dish in the world is okroshka. Kvass and potatoes - what are they? I hate it so much that I can't even swallow a spoon.

— What places in our city do you remember most? Can you say that you fell in love with one of them?

— I lived in Tula, but, in fact, I was limited by the walls of the hostel. The fact is that not knowing the language greatly affected my leisure time: it was much cooler to sit in a dorm with friends who love and understand me than to wander the streets, afraid of not understanding others. But I still looked at something. The Kremlin is the most wonderful place. Inside its walls it is very cozy and calm, which is quite unusual for historical monuments.

— What role do you dream of?

— Since childhood I have dreamed of playing the Little Mermaid. To be honest, I’m not capricious: I play all the roles that are offered to me. But, unfortunately, I am not always happy with the final result. What to do: what’s filmed is filmed. And looking for flaws in yourself is so feminine, to be honest.

- Yang, is your heart free now?

- Yes. I don't have a boyfriend right now. But I know for sure: love is an unpredictable and sudden thing, it can cover you so much that you don’t recognize yourself. My man is waiting for me somewhere on my life's path. Sometimes I sit and think: who is he, what does he look like, what is he doing at this moment? If we talk about appearance, my preference is tall blondes with a straight pointed nose, light eyes and a not over-pumped body. But this is not the most important thing. More important is the ability to appreciate and respect your woman. This is the ideal man.

myslo dossier

Yang Ge was born on September 7, 1988 in Beijing (China).

She graduated from the directing and acting department of VGIK (course of Sergei Solovyov and Valery Rubinchik).

In 2012, she participated in the TV show “Minute of Fame,” performing Anna German’s song “Echo of Love.” It was with her that Yan’s ascent to the Russian pop Olympus began.

She has been working as an actress at the Gogol Center since 2012. The Gogol Center is a theater center created by director Kirill Serebrennikov on the basis of the disbanded Moscow Drama Theater named after Gogol.

Single.

Theatrical works: “Awakening of Spring” (dir. K. Serebrennikov), “Fear” (dir. V. Nastavshevs), “Marina” (dir. E. Berkovich), “Kharms Myr” (dir. M. Didenko).

Filmography: “Valera”, “The Habit of Parting”, “Girl from the Supermarket”, “Norway”, “Order”, “Crew”, “Matilda. The secret of the House of Romanov."

Music

Yang Ge's mother said that when her daughter was very little, she absolutely loved dancing and singing. Therefore, it is not surprising that the girl approached the intricate world of musical compositions and notes. In addition, Ge’s mother, from birth, “coded” Ge’s life for a musical future, because her name translated from Chinese means “sunny song.”

Yang Ge in the show "Minute of Fame"

In 2010, Yang appeared in the show “Minute of Fame,” in which participants demonstrate their talent in front of the jury. When Ge performed with Anna German’s song “Echo of Love,” Maria Shukshina, Alexander Maslyakov and Irina Allegrova assessed her singing potential.

Yang Ge in the show "The Voice"

It is noteworthy that all the star critics liked the girl, so she easily reached the final, where she performed the song “Nocturne” with Sergei Mazaev. However, Ge said that she was motivated not by fame, but by the cash prize, to become a participant in the show.

In the fall of 2020, Yang Ge attended the blind auditions with the fiery song “Come Together” in the sixth season of the show “The Voice.” Also, at the request of the jury, the girl performed a Russian romance, but not all the judges said the coveted word “Yes”: only Dima Bilan turned to Yang Ge.

On December 29, 2020, the final of the show “The Voice” took place, in which Ladislav Bubnar, Yang Ge, Timofey Kopylov and Selim Alakhyarov competed for the title of the best vocalist of the country. The audience felt that Selim was worthy of victory, bringing Gradsky another success in the project.

“Gogol Center” actress Yang Ge: I went to “The Voice” when there was nothing left to eat

The Gogol Center actress and Beijing native Yang Ge (30) proved that she had become Russian by simply writing a message: “Come visit me, we’ll talk there.” In an apartment in the north of Moscow, she treated me to real Chinese tea and famously swore in Russian. She came to Russia at the age of 20 as an exchange student, and stayed there – she entered VGIK, became an actress at the Gogol Center and the star of the show “The Voice” on Channel One. Why her mother was against it, how she reached the final of “The Voice” and why she made her own movie, Ge told PEOPLETALK.

My mother didn't want me to become an artist. To make me upset like she is. She did not become a famous singer, she stopped playing music. She believes that it is better to choose a profession that you know for sure. You do something and get results. Like mathematics. 1+1 = 2. And there are no other answers.

I always listened to everyone, I was the right girl. Until I was 19, I didn’t wear makeup at all, I didn’t do anything stupid, I didn’t go out with boys. In China there is such a tradition - respect your elders, listen to them. It doesn’t even occur to me to ask the question: why? For what? This was completely normal for me. China is a different country.

After school, I was sent to study in Tula as a translator. I came to Russia without any language at all. I didn’t understand anything. This is absolutely brutal. Our teacher did not speak either Chinese or English. We learned letters, then grammar, new words. It was hell. I started communicating normally after three years. The first year I slept four hours a day. But people still didn’t understand me. It doesn’t happen that you will speak in three months. Three years later it was already good. And then over time there is a difference, but it’s small, not like at the beginning. He gets better and better. I realized that I knew him well when I started having Russian dreams. In Russia, in my dreams, people speak Russian. How I used to talk to people: you speak Russian, I translate it into Chinese, answer in Chinese in my head, translate it into Russian and speak. And now, for example, I need to explain something to my mother, but I can’t find the words in Chinese, because I’m already used to it. It is very interesting.

It’s very difficult for me to learn the text for filming. Or rather, no: if it’s spoken language, then it’s easy to learn. And sometimes, for example, there is the play “Metamorphoses”. There are very literary words, very complex phrases. I play the nymph Procne, there is a monologue. If you read slowly, then 11–12 minutes. I taught him for two months. This is the hardest text I've ever written in my entire life.

Instagram: @yangge_

Yang Ge and Kirill Serebrennikov
Later, I began to ask the question: “Who would I like to be?” I wrote down the options on a piece of paper. It said "actress". Well, this is nonsense. But my mother was not around, but VGIK was. So I did, and everything in my life changed. I called my mother and said that I had arrived. And she: “What? Well, study. Even if you walked a different path, fate still led you in this direction. So it’s destined.”

I can’t say that I learned a lot at VGIK, but I can say that I learned a lot at the Gogol Center. Experience and understanding not only of art, but also of life. Kirill Serebrennikov is not only a teacher, but also a father. You admire what he does. They say that the Chinese are hardworking, so we can say that Kirill Serebrennikov is Chinese. He is very hardworking. He is interested, he moves. And we in the theater cannot sit still, we move. Who your leader is is important. We are sad without him, but I really believe that everything will be fine! This is a difficult path that everyone must find. He knows that we love and support him.

My first film role was as a Chinese woman. (Laughs.) The most famous name is Lee. This is a children's film "Treasure Hunters", where we are looking for treasure. We filmed in the forest, it was fun. 2011, after the first year. This is one of the main roles. In general, the fact is that I am the queen of episodes. (Laughs.) This is already funny. They always tell me: “She played in Attraction.” I have two seconds there, guys! In short, nowhere. I'm used everywhere, I'm like a monkey, that's what I call it. In "Matilda", "Draft". There's just no depth to the role. Therefore, in fact, I made my film “Nu” - I acted and filmed there, and was an artist, a producer, and a songwriter. This is a story about misunderstanding. How a girl tries to get rid of pain. And the main message is that it’s okay when you’re in pain. The main thing is to try to save yourself. No one will save you if you don't save yourself.

Instagram: @yangge_

One day it just happened in life that I had nothing to eat. I thought: what else can I do? And I remembered that I can sing. I came up with a program and began performing. And at one event a man came up to me and said: “The whole country should hear you, you need to go to Golos.” The next day I went to the “First” website, sent an application and forgot. Three weeks later the agent called me back. I spoke and passed. I had absolutely no idea how I got to the finals. Dima Bilan says: “That’s because you wanted it least of all.” What has changed after “The Voice”? More people just recognize me. But I don't want to transform myself into show business. Doing art is one thing, but show business is another. Between high and money, I choose high.

Now I'm acting as an actress. And plus concerts. But “The Voice” didn’t do it, I did it. What we have now. Somehow money appears. I don’t ask anyone for it, I don’t have a boyfriend, I don’t ask my mom, I earn it myself.

I get recognized on the street very often. Everyone takes pictures. I'm neither good nor bad. I just live differently, that’s not why I get high. It's good that they find out, I'm very grateful. I see their happy faces.

I’m a migrant worker—I always say that. In general, I think it’s a lie that I’m Chinese. (Laughs.) I know Russian too well, I’m just Kyrgyz, and I lie to everyone that I’m Chinese.

In China, people really care what people think about them. Everything is in plain sight, for other people, not for yourself. You don’t want to, but you do it, why? Russians don’t worry about it at all, I really like it. I don’t care what people do and say, the main thing is what I want.

I always think about family and want it, but it’s important - with whom. By genetics and beauty. I decided: my child should be beautiful. Because that’s how the world works, you always choose the beautiful one. It doesn’t matter what nationality, the main thing is that I am respected and appreciated, handsome... and not stupid. But it doesn't matter so much, because when you meet a person, you recognize him immediately. In the meantime, he hangs around somewhere, pisses me off, makes me wait. (Laughs.) I am a self-sufficient person, but lonely. I have no male support. As in childhood, so now. I want to be happy, to be lisped.

Photo: Yulia Tochilina. Producer: Angelika Purtova. Producer assistant: Victoria Tenishcheva. Stylist: Anastasia Machulskaya. Stylist assistant: Alina Aigumova. Makeup and hair: Daria Emelyanova

Movies

Yang Ge told reporters that in China there is no freedom of choice, and a person must know his calling.

“We are “programmed” to do what we are told. In Tula, I found freedom and finally found time to think about who I want to be,” the girl shared with the correspondent.

Therefore, without thinking twice, Jan wrote on a piece of paper that she wanted to become an actress, because this fascinating profession allows a person to live someone else’s life in front of the director’s cameras. Yang Ge’s creative biography in the world of cinema began in 2011 with the film “Treasure Hunters,” in which Elena Biryukova and Semyon Furman also played.

Yang Ge in the movie "Treasure Hunters"

Since 2012, the girl has moved away from filming, preferring the stage of the Gogol Center to television screens. It is noteworthy that if in films the girl plays mainly Asian women (she got the roles of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.), then the theater directors did not pay attention to nationality, Yang Ge often played Russian heroines, and besides, the girl speaks almost no accent.

In 2014, the actress continued to explore the expanses of show business and appeared in the comedy film “Only Girls in Sports,” where she worked on the same film set with Alexander Vedmensky, Ilya Glinnikov, Alexander Golovin, Lyanka Gryu, Alexei Zolotovitsky and other actors.

Yang Ge and Alexander Gorchilin

Yang Ge also appeared in the films “Norway” (2015), “Crew” (2016) and the TV series “Salam Maskwa” (2016). Among other things, the actress played in the acclaimed film by Fyodor Bondarchuk “Attraction” (2017), which tells viewers about an unidentified flying object that hit Moscow.

Along with Yan, Irina Starshenbaum, Alexander Petrov, Oleg Menshikov, Nikita Kukushkin and Evgeny Mikheev played in the fantastic film. In the same 2020, the Chinese woman took part in the film “Partner” together with Sergei Garmash, Andrei Nazimov, Liza Arzamasova and Ksenia Lavrova-Glinka.

Professional activity

For the first time among a wide range of viewers, Yang Ge appeared in 2010 in the project “Minute of Fame.” At the competition, the girl performed the song “Echo of Love” by the famous singer Anna German. The jury at that time included Irina Alegrova, Alexander Maslyakov and Maria Shukshina. In the show, Yang Ge managed to reach the finals of the project.

At the end of 2020, the girl took part in the popular and top-rated vocal show “The Voice” (season 6). In this project, Yang Ge also managed to reach the finals and compete for the title of best vocalist in Russia. But the victory in the competition went to Gradsky’s ward, Selim. After the TV show, the girl began to be recognized on the street.

The talented Chinese singer captivates audiences not only with her original voice, but also with her impeccable acting skills.

Yang Ge made her film debut in 2011 in the film “Treasure Hunters.” In addition to the girl, Semyon Furman and Elena Biryukova starred in the film project. The next film in which the aspiring actress played was the comedy “Only Girls in Sports.” Ge could also be seen in such well-known projects: “Attraction”, “Crew”, “Draft”, “Matilda”, “Call DiCaprio” and others.

The girl also tried herself as a film director. Ge made two films: “Nude” and “Trinity”. The most interesting theme for Yang Ge in cinema is betrayal, since marriage in China is considered the most important thing in people's lives. Chinese women always tolerate the betrayal of a loved one.

Since 2012, the girl began playing on the stage of the Gogol Center , when she was a third-year student at VGIK. In the theater, Yang Ge played not only Chinese, Korean and Japanese women, but also other characters, while speaking Russian without an accent.

In 2020, Yang Ge participated in Yulia Malysheva’s popular program “Alone with Everyone,” and in 2020 she was a guest of Tatyana Ustinova in the project “My Hero.” Today, Yang Ge continues to work and live in Moscow, act in films, play in the theater, sing on stage, and also make his own films. The artist calls herself Gesha.

Personal life

In life, Gesha (as Russian friends call the actress) is an optimistic girl, accustomed to giving her friends and loved ones a radiant smile and spontaneity. She admitted that she loves to cook for friends, and her signature dish - chicken in Coca-Cola - pleases even the most fastidious gourmets.

Gesha also said that the Russians taught her to drink tea (in China, this drink is enjoyed only by adults and not as often as in Russia), and to eat bread, gingerbread and cakes. The actress loves Russian cuisine, but does not like traditional okroshka.

As for amorous relationships, the girl does not advertise this information. Therefore, fans of the oriental beauty can only guess whether the brown-eyed brunette has a boyfriend. At least Yang Ge doesn’t post photos with her lover on his Instagram.

Personal life and interesting facts

Yang Ge is not married. The actress does not advertise the details of her personal life. In general, the girl believes that a man is not such an important thing in life, for example, like food and water. He believes that if you have a man, then the best, ideal one, otherwise married life has no meaning.
By nature, Gesha (as her friends call her) is a very spontaneous, cheerful and optimistic person. The girl loves to cook. Her signature dish is chicken in Coca-Cola. The girl lived in China for the first twenty years of her life.
In Russia, Yang Ge first tried and fell in love with bread, crackers and gingerbread. He loves to eat. Ge loves Russian cuisine very much; the only dish she doesn’t like is okroshka. For her, there are two pleasures in life: food and sex. She believes that difficulties in life make her stronger, and you also need to live the way you want. She claims that she achieved popularity in Russia without rich parents and lovers.
The artist has an account on Instagram, where she is quite active, but the girl does not post personal photos there.
In addition to Russian and Chinese, the actress speaks excellent English. Doing art for an actress is the most interesting job.
The artist really likes the film “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” The film project inspires her, since there are no specifically negative and positive characters in it, as in life.
In life, Yang Ge does not think, but does and does not waste time thinking.
The name Ge is translated from Chinese as sunny song. The actress's mother's name is Yang Ji Ji (translated as sesame seed). The girl likes the profession of an actress due to the fact that thanks to it it is possible to live many lives of different people. Without Ge's life's work, life would be boring.
Today Yang Ge lives with his mother in Moscow in a rented apartment. Together they love to travel and have adventures, as well as various pleasant events.

Yang Ge now

In 2020, the premiere of Alexei Uchitel’s film “Matilda” took place, telling about the relationship between the Russian Emperor Nikolai Alexandrovich and the Polish ballerina Matilda Kshesinskaya. The roles are played by Yang Ge, Michalina Olshanska, Lars Eidinger, Louise Wolfram, Danila Kozlovsky and other film stars.

Yang Ge

Also, according to rumors, in the near future the Chinese woman will play in the TV series “Insomnia”, “Tobol”, “Fourth Shift” and in the film “To Paris”, which will presumably appear on screens in 2018.

Among other things, in 2017, the actress took part in the television program “Alone with Everyone,” where she shared details of her personal life with Yulia Menshova and viewers. And also in November of the same year, the film “Hit” will be released, starring Yang Ge, Alexander Gorchilin, Pyotr Skvortsov and other actors.

Yang Ge: How can I, a Chinese woman, know who Kirkorov is?

In relation to Yang Ge, the word “sensation” would not be an exaggeration at all. Immediately after school, a young resident of Beijing came to our country as an exchange student to study Russian. And today she is an actress who has played in such popular Russian films as “Crew”, “Matilda”, “Attraction”. She is also a participant in performances at the Gogol Center. And also a singer who reached the finals of the TV show “The Voice 2017” on Channel One. And finally, one more path: at the 40th Moscow International Film Festival, which opened yesterday, an original film by a young actress and director called “Nude” was presented in the main competition. Our conversation with Yang Ge is about how she did it all.

— I’ll break tradition and start the interview not with a question, but with gratitude. Yesterday, preparing for the conversation, I spent half the night on the Internet and simply could not tear myself away from your videos. You immersed me in wonderful music and wonderful performances. And how different everything is: “My Heart Without You” is Russian rock, “I Like” is a romance, “New York, New York” is a classic American film hit... And there is always something of yours, individual, a little alien in the intonations ...

- Thanks for the kind words! Although there is nothing alien about me. I’m just Chinese, although I’ve been living in Russia for many years, and these two cultures live within me. And, of course, I sing these songs the way I hear them. I'm happy if it finds such a response.

- It even seemed to me that you sang some things - for example, “I Like” by Tariverdiev or the famous “We are the Echo”, which was once stunningly performed by Anna German and Lev Leshchenko - like an aria from traditional Peking Opera, where the voices are usually very high and transparent.

— Yes, I can sing in the style of Peking Opera. This was used, for example, in the play “Kharms. Myr" "Gogol Center", although, unfortunately, it rarely goes. And singing “I Like” was my idea. Dima Bilan (Yan Ge’s mentor on the “Voice 2017” project) accepted it, for his part proposing to make a duet out of the song with Leoncia Erdenko: “Castle in the Snow” is Dima’s proposal. And my initiative is to read poetry in Chinese in the middle of this song.

With Dima Bilan on the show “The Voice”

“My Heart Without You” is also Dima’s story, but how exactly to make it is my own search. There are quite a lot of poems, but only two musical phrases. How to present them so as not to sound monotonous? I rehearsed at home for a long time, my mother simply hated this song. And I told Dima: let’s go from the meaning...

— You did it completely differently from the author of this piece, Masha Makarova. Her message is strong, but you have more despair and insecurity.

“It seemed to me that, of course, Masha sings it better.” But it ended up that she found me through mutual friends and invited me to sing with her at her solo concert. Masha said that her dad is my fan and he liked my performance more.

- You see, your performance made such an impression on me that I even somehow forgot about the main topic of conversation - your work in cinema. Why did you, a native of a country with such a powerful cinema that is squeezing even Hollywood in the world, go to study at VGIK?

— In my life, a lot happens spontaneously. First, as part of an exchange program, I went to Tula to study Russian, preparing to become a translator. But the idea of becoming an actress has not left me since childhood. My mother is a singer. True, it was she who did not want me to choose the artistic path, believing that there was very little chance of success and the likelihood of disappointment was too high. But now I find myself close to Moscow, so why not try my hand? And I tried it.

— What’s it like to just learn Russian and go to VGIK?

— You probably don’t quite understand what is required of an applicant. There is no need to shine with ready-made acting work. And absolutely perfect speech is not necessary: if you read perfectly, why do you need to study further? There they try to discern in a person his potential. I had to read a fable, poetry and prose - I read “The Mirror and the Monkey” by Krylov, “I Loved You” by Pushkin, “If Life Deceives You” by Lermontov, Louise’s monologue from “Eight Loving Women” by Robert Thomas... They also asked me to repeat the melody that played enough. Demonstrate coordination: say, with your left hand slowly spin circles clockwise, and with your right hand quickly counterclockwise. Or: you stand with your back to the stool, you need to quickly turn towards it and jump over. That is, they look at what you are in principle: charm, plasticity and other qualities.

On the set of the historical series “Tobol” for Channel One

This is very consistent with my life rule: never try to specifically please someone. Take the same songs on “The Voice”: in theory, it was necessary to choose loud melodies with high, spectacular notes. But I preferred things that weren’t quite competitive, like “Where are you, dream?” And performance without regard to stereotypes. The main thing is to do everything only from a pure heart. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a song, theater or cinema. And the rest will follow.

— And you also ended up taking Sergei Solovyov’s course by accident?

- This is destiny. How did I know who Soloviev was? In the same way, how could I, a 22-year-old Chinese woman, know who Philip Kirkorov was when he appeared in front of me on the “Minute of Fame” jury and was invited to perform with me on stage. But this is what, I guess, hundreds of Russian singers dream about, but it just happened to me. Of course, there are some deep connections between what you are focused on and what will happen. This, by the way, is one of the two main things that Sergei Alexandrovich taught us. At the very first lesson, he said: a woman should always be attractive, wearing makeup, with her hair washed. You never know who you will see next and what offer they will make to you. We must be prepared to meet fate. And second: the film is your dream, and lack of money should not stop you. If you really want to take it off, you will do it, don't hesitate!

— Which films of the master do you especially like?

“I love Sergei Alexandrovich, I respect him endlessly for what he has done and for the fact that, despite his age and many difficult problems, he continues to work, and the year before last he took off his “Sneakers.” But I wouldn’t dare call him my idol. In the same way, while studying at VGIK, I enjoyed watching Soviet classics: “Andrei Rublev”, “Moscow Doesn’t Believe in Tears.” And “The Cranes Are Flying” is a wonderful film, its scenes are imprinted in the memory with pictures, especially the final episode, when the crying heroine walks through the crowd and hands out flowers to people. This is a high classic! But when they ask you about your favorite book, you wouldn’t name a textbook. Those films also belong to their time. But another cinema, a different style is close to me. For example, Paolo Sorrentino’s films “The Great Beauty”, “Youth”, “The Young Pope”. And in Hollywood of recent years there is a lot to learn from Spielberg, Guillermo del Toro... One can and should admire old cinema, but those techniques will not work today. Previously we shot on film, now we shoot digitally, and these are completely different possibilities. It's like comparing an old phone with a spinning dial to a modern smartphone.

— Is your film “Nude” frank eroticism or is it more about spiritual nakedness?

— Until you have seen the film, you can think whatever you want about it. But you have to watch it until the end, until the last second. It's short, 64 minutes, and there's another little scene after the credits that's a must-see. Then you will understand what this film is about and why it is called that.

Actually, I shot this picture exactly as Sergei Solovyov taught us. Not because I wanted to go to the festival and receive a prize. I just couldn’t help but take this picture. This concerned my personal life, the severe insult that was inflicted on me. I felt so bad: they crossed out my profession, my work, my love... I already considered my future life in Russia impossible. But I decided that before I leave, I’ll tell you about my sorrows, losses and mistakes. Yes, I would simply die if I did not have the opportunity to make this film! And in the process of creating it, I realized that I was mistaken: I have friends, there are those who sincerely want to help me. And I will stay here in Russia as long as you continue to love me. You can write it like that!

My painting was made for zero rubles. I myself am the author of the script, general producer, artist, author of the soundtrack with four songs, and the main character. Not a penny was spent on the location, on the actors, on the equipment, or on the lighting. If you have a dream, you will do it. I simply believed in these words of Sergei Alexandrovich, and he turned out to be absolutely right.

— Among your many roles in this film, you did not name the director’s.

— Yes, I directed, but I don’t dare say about myself yet that I’m a director. I studied to be an actress. Not everyone can be a director. This is a very complex profession that requires a lot of knowledge, life experience, a subtle soul, and your own point of view. And there are also a lot of purely professional things that you need to master: editing, dramaturgy, photo composition: The director must imagine how an actor should play a role, guide the work of the operator based on his sense of beauty, feel the inner aspiration of the script - how it develops through the frame, movement, dialogues: Another thing is that the acting profession helped me a lot. Being an actor is not just about acting and imitating. This is always an excuse - a gesture, intonation, action. That’s how I shoot - looking for an excuse for every step: why I choose these particular objects, why I edit them this way, why the characters act this way, why they are dressed in that color and not another...

— Who are those crazy enthusiasts who worked with you “for zero rubles”?

“I’m basically insane myself.” And there are people who, out of sincere love, wanted to help me. None of us, I repeat, thought for a minute about the festival, especially about the main competition. I just told my friends about my grievance. And these people did everything to bring me back to life. First of all, my cameraman Maria Androsova, also a student of VGIK, Mikhail Agranovich’s course. The entire filming process, all the storyboards and so on - just me and her. And those in the frame are, for the most part, not artists. There is a sociologist, a model, a musician, a businessman. These are all my friends. And they, by the way, did not know that they were filming a full-length film. I just said: I’m filming something - can you help me? She hid her secret for two years. I thought I had no right to make broad promises - what if it didn’t work out? How amazed they were later to see themselves as participants in a full-length film.

— Was it filmed in Moscow?

- Yes. And the film turned out to be completely Russian.

- In what area do you imagine your future - in music, acting, directing?

- If you put me before a choice, then I will say this: I choose everything! But in fact, I think it’s not me who decides this, but the audience - who they want to see me. I can only promise that I will do everything with utmost honesty and sincerity.

— Back in 2010, you sang “New York, New York” so well that I think Liza Minnelli would have been jealous. Is this how you were trained in China?

— I never learned to sing. I don't even know the notes. Everything that exists comes from birth and from my singer mother.

— It is impossible that Ilya Lagutenko, our famous rock musician and professional orientalist, would not be interested in a person like you.

— I sang the song “Ice Cream” with Ilya, and a video for it was shot. It was a pleasure to work with: polite, intelligent, modest person. And then I went online, looked up who he was, and was stunned. I asked him to get me a ticket to his solo concert at Crocus City Hall - it was very cool.

— Do you already have a concert program?

— My musicians and I are preparing a new album, the next performance will be on the main stage of the Wild Mint festival. An hour of new songs.

“I won’t ask you about everyday matters, about your love for pickles and dislike for okroshka - you wonderfully told Yulia Menshova about this in her TV program “Alone with Everyone.” I wanted to ask about a more important thing - about those Russian families that you entered and who, in fact, became family to you.

With mom Vika, dad Sasha and mother Jan Zi Ji

— These are the Vykhodtsev and Buyanov families. Daria Vykhodtseva is my classmate who studied to become a director. I lived with her family for two years. And two more years - in the Buyanov family. These are also wonderful Russian people who helped me, separated from my mother, maintain a feeling of home - a place where you will always be accepted. Mom Vika, grandmother Ira and dad Sasha. And another dad - Nikita Vykhodtsev. If very briefly, I can say that my Russian father is Nikita, and my Russian mother is Vika.

— Will your own mother come to the festival?

- She has already arrived. He comes to see me all the time.

- Maybe you can sing together sometime?

- Wonderful idea!

Source

Yang Ge: “I like to live happily and don’t like torturing myself”

Yang Ge came to Russia many years ago to study as a translator. She entered VGIK, began acting in films, recording her own songs, Kirill Serebrennikov took her to the Gogol Center, and after she reached the finals in the popular show “The Voice”, without exaggeration, everyone learned about Yang Ge a country.

In 2020, with her directorial debut - the film “Nude” - she entered the competition at the Moscow Film Festival (and received the Silver George Award there); and this year her second work, the drama “Trinity”, was accepted into the main competition of the 30th anniversary “Kinotavr”. The film deals with adultery: Margot (Yang Ge) confessed to her husband, priest George ( Andrey Kurganov ), that she was cheating on him with her student. The film turned out to be unusual for Kinotavr - it is completely impersonal and was not filmed in Russian (but with Russian dubbing). Before presenting the festival awards, AiF.ru spoke with the director about “Trinity,” internationalism, “The Voice” and competitions.

"Trinity". Still from the film

— Your film was shot in English, and the scenery and characters were chosen so that it was as impersonal as possible, so that it was not clear where exactly the action took place. Why did you decide to make the picture this way?

“I didn’t want to tie the film to any particular country, because the theme of love is common, and absolutely anyone can face betrayal, regardless of where they live. Therefore, I could not explain to myself why “Trinity” must be filmed in Russian or, for example, in Chinese, and I chose the most common language in the world. And the world in the film turned out to be completely special, and although the film was shot in Moscow, Moscow is not in it. I also have heroes of different races.

— That is, you conceived and received such an international cinema. And with him we got into the competition of a film festival dedicated to Russian cinema...

- Yes, that’s what happened. We had to do a Russian dubbing, and the voices were done by the same actors who played in the film.

— Why didn’t they invite those actors who specialize in dubbing?

— Voice acting is also acting, and if I had called other artists, it could have turned out to be a completely different film. And with those actors who were filming, it was easier for me, because we had already worked through all the scenes and they understood the task that I set for them. The magic happened, I didn’t want to ruin it, and so I defended my decision to the producers. In general, I am very grateful to them - they gave me maximum freedom. After “Nude” I wanted to try something new and got the opportunity. For aspiring directors, this trust is very important.

Yang Ge. Photo: RIA Novosti/Ekaterina Chesnokova

— It’s hard to call you a novice director, because you took part in the competition at the Moscow Film Festival and received the “Silver George” award there. Few debutants can boast of such an award...

— It’s nice to receive awards, but for me as a director it’s important to find my own style. Two films are still not enough to draw conclusions.

— You have already lived in Russia for ten years. Who do you feel like now - a Chinese woman living in Russia or a Russian woman of Chinese origin?

“I feel like I’m in the right place, as if I was Russian in a past life.” Of course, in Russia there are people who don’t like visitors, and perhaps I was lucky, but here I only met good people.

— The whole country learned about you two years ago when you participated in the show “The Voice.” You reached the final without visible stress, but in the final you seemed to give up, did not work for victory, instead allowing yourself a bit of hooliganism. Is this really so or was the impression incorrect?

- No, everything was exactly like that. I don’t really like competitions, I understand that winning doesn’t change much in your life. Prizes don't mean anything. It’s the same with “The Voice” - my friend persuaded me to participate in it, and I wanted to get the most out of this competition. And fought to do what I want. Of course, there are certain limits on “The Voice” - I had to perform some songs if the mentor chose them. But if I didn't like a song, I insisted that I could perform it in a way that made me like it. And they allowed me my style of performance and allowed me to choose the costumes myself. And by the finals, I realized that I didn’t want to win, and I invited Dima Bilan (mentor Yang Ge - ed.) to celebrate the Chinese New Year in this issue. I didn’t have to prove anything to anyone - I can sing, and anyone who comes to my performances at the Gogol Center or to my concerts can be convinced of this.

I like to live happily and don’t like torturing myself. It’s surprising that Bilan agreed with my proposal, and then defended that dinosaur costume in front of the editors of the program. He laughed so much! And everyone around called us crazy (smiles). But in the end they remembered me, even though I didn’t win, and not the winner of that season. And I had fun, so I got what I wanted.

— It turns out that you don’t have a competitive nature at all?

“Only the quality of my film depends on me, and I have to make it as good as possible, so that there is no shame, so that it is perfect. And prizes and awards... Why should I worry about things that do not depend on me? And I believe in justice - if you give your whole soul, if you try, give your all, then in the end it can’t be bad.

Yang Ge: “Until I find my love, I can’t sing about it”

Na Yang Ge: polyester, silk and polyamide suit, Viva Vox; white gold earrings with diamonds, Happy Diamonds, white gold bracelet with diamonds, Happy Dreams - all Chopard

Photo: Alexander Murashkin. Interview: Denis Merezhkovsky

GRAZIA: Tell us how the work on the album “Man is not from Earth” is going? Yang Ge: All the songs have already been recorded (Yang Ge’s new musical program was presented at the Kinotavr festival in June - Grazia note), but first we will release the single “Two Tickets” - this month. To see how listeners will receive it. At the same time, I am working on an unusual project on the Internet - a mini-series without words that will be understandable to viewers around the world. GRAZIA: Your film “Nude” (Yang Ge’s debut film, which won the special jury prize and the audience award at the last MIFF. - Grazia’s note) turned out to be very personal and even autobiographical. What about the record? Y.G.: Creativity always expresses my inner state. When “Nu” was filmed, I had a lot of sadness in my life, it is also felt in the album of the same name, which contains all the soundtracks for the film (you can already listen to it on iTunes. - Note: Grazia). And when “Man is not from the Earth” was recorded, on the contrary, a lot of good things happened. The only thing is that there is not a single song about relationships in it. Until I found my love, I can’t write or sing about it. GRAZIA: Do you plan to return to big cinema? Y.G.: I’m really looking forward to the release of the historical series “Tobol” (the premiere is scheduled for the end of the year. - Note: Grazia) on First. The action takes place during the reforms of Peter the Great, and I have one of the main roles. Pavel Tabakov, Ilya Malanin and Sergey Garmash are playing with me. GRAZIA: How about continuing your directing experience? Y.G.: It will definitely happen, I’m already preparing to shoot the second full-length film. I would like to start them in August or September... I hope I can do everything in time! Because that's not all! (Laughs.) There are plans to open a cafe with Chinese cuisine and release a clothing line. Therefore, I am constantly looking for talented people to join my team. GRAZIA: You are amazingly active! At the same time, they became widely known only recently, after participating in “The Voice”. Why do you think few people knew about you before? Y.G.: Probably because I didn’t strive for fame. I had a different period of life, also creative, but I didn’t want any noise. Now I understand that I can do more, and fame helps with this. Maybe this also happened because I was then left alone and almost without close friends. It's difficult to put into words how difficult it was for me. But now there is time to take care of yourself and think about the future. GRAZIA: By the way, it is generally accepted that creativity in the broadest sense works better at a time when a person is experiencing some kind of drama. Do you agree? Y.G.: I know that Russians love to suffer. (Laughs.) Now I’m not in love, but I have a feeling of security. There are people around who truly appreciate me. And why not write songs for them? This is also an incentive to be creative. GRAZIA: You have been in Russia for ten years. What do you like best? Y.G.: Here the majority live simply for themselves - for fun. This is crazy cool! Recently I was in Shanghai and caught myself thinking that I want to go back to Moscow! Suddenly I realized that I was absolutely Russian... I came to Russia as a girl and grew up as a person. Then they told me the most important words in life: “Everything will be fine.” I repeat them often.

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Childhood and adolescence

Yang Ge was born and raised in the Chinese capital in a simple, poor family. The girl was raised by her mother, a former singer, who sacrificed her career for her daughter. She knew very well how difficult it was to succeed in a creative profession, and, despite her daughter’s obvious artistic abilities and her excellent vocal abilities, she advised her to master a more “earthly” craft.

Yang Ge as a child

Therefore, when, after graduating from school, Yang Ge was offered to go to Russia as an exchange and continue her studies there at the Tula Pedagogical Institute, the girl decided to take advantage of this chance. The profession of a translator and teacher of the Russian language guaranteed her a comfortable existence in her homeland, and the young Chinese woman began her studies with enthusiasm. At first, it was not easy for Yang Ge to get used to the harsh climate, new people and unusual traditions, but two years later she completely settled into Russia and fell in love with this country with all her heart.

Yang Ge was born and raised in Beijing

The girl made many friends who adored her for her cheerful, easy-going character, sociability and readiness for creative experiments. The guys often gathered in the dormitory, sang, played music, and organized impromptu concerts. The bright, talented Yang Ge was always the highlight of these evenings, and she soon realized that she wanted to become an actress.

Yang Ge moved to Russia after school

An attempt to enter VGIK was a pure gamble: there had never been such precedents in the history of the famous university. However, the determined Chinese woman believed in herself and became an acting student the first time. At this difficult moment, her mother provided her with invaluable support, who sold her apartment in Beijing to help Yang financially.

Yang Ge's height is 160 cm

Yang Ge's revelation: The story of what it's like to be an actress and how things are at the Gogol Center

I have never laughed so much in any interview. It's funny to hear how people perceive your country, and it's incredibly rewarding to hear when they love it. Yang Ge is a very sweet girl who beams with love for life and her mother, whom she remembers so often. Surprisingly, in the photo she turned out to be so eccentric, it’s immediately obvious that she got into character. We asked her how she managed to become an actress, what is happening at the Gogol Center now and, of course, how Russians differ from the Chinese.