Biography of Vera Vasilyeva. Vera Vasilyeva: My husband knew that I loved someone else and quietly waited - What do you think is the secret of happy marriages

Vera Vasilyeva Born into a simple family: dad is a driver, mom is a housewife. The whole family lived in a communal apartment in a small room. Little Vera had to wash, clean, darn clothes, and even cook dinner. So days dragged on, the girl grew up, but nothing changed in life, still the same communal apartment, still the same neighbors. But when she came home to this tiny room, she dreamed about the theater, about the stage, about the spotlights, the girl spent all her wealth, the pennies accumulated from dinners on tickets that let her into that extraordinary, romantic, colorful, completely different from her monotonous life world.

And then one day, or adolescence affected whether the despair was really so strong, but Vera, deciding that nothing would change in her life, took the razor in her hands and ran it several times along her hand. There was little blood, it barely touched any veins, but it was seriously frightening. She immediately ran for a bandage and hid the traces of her weakness under it. She told her parents that she was injured. And then Vera Vasilyeva swore to her best friend: “I will still be an artist!” And she kept her word.

Vera Vasilyeva in the play based on the play “Intervention” by Lev Slavin. Moscow Academic Theater of Satire, 1967. Photo: RIA Novosti / Miroslav Murazov

She became an actress, got into the theater, and was in great demand in the cinema. Young beautiful actress She was popular with her fellow actors and senior directors. She herself could not resist one of them. Her affair with directed by Boris Revenskikh lasted for 7 years. young girl I listened to every word of the master. He, too, was in love at first, and then gradually moved away, immersed himself in rehearsals, in which other actresses took part. Vera decided to cut to the quick; she did not beg, beg, or return. She just took it and left. Forever.

Vera Vasilyeva during the musical television show “Benefit”, 1978. Photo: RIA Novosti / Rybakov

For my only husband in my entire life, my feelings were completely different, calmer, measured, and real. She did not sigh, did not suffer, did not cry because of him. Perhaps it was precisely this regularity of feelings, reality, the feeling of real support in life that attracted Vera Vasilyeva to actor Vladimir Ushakov. Future husband, looking adoringly into the eyes of the bride, he vowed: “You will no longer do housework, there are other people for that.” He paid the former cook to clean his dorm room and prepare lunch. Anna Ivanovna, who was a little blind and often left food scraps, scraps and scraps in the common kitchen. So Vera still had to do something around the house in secret from her husband, despite the presence of Anna Ivanovna.

Vera Vasilyeva and Vladimir Ushakov, 1953 Still from the film "Dowry Wedding"

The young people got married only 7 years later. And even then it’s a strong word – “got married.” They just went and signed at the registry office, without a veil, without a Mendelssohn march and even without rings.

But the wedding still took place, even though it was already “golden”. Vera Vasilyeva in a chic dress and her husband Vladimir Ushakov in an elegant suit celebrated the occasion with their closest friends and colleagues at the House of Actors. This time, the bride and groom brought rings to the wedding. For all these years, Vera Vasilyeva never remembered her first love and was always faithful to her husband. Although once she did give him a reason for jealousy, but not of her own free will. Once the troupe of the Satire Theater went on tour. In one compartment all the stars of the scene gathered, among them Vera Vasilyeva and Andrey Mironov. Mironov decided to make a joke, began to stealthily diligently court Vera Vasilyeva, and sometimes glanced sideways at her husband. And for good reason. Suddenly Vladimir grabbed his imaginary rival by the chest and kicked him out of the compartment. It is not known what kind of conversation took place in the train vestibule, but after it Andrei Mironov and Vladimir Ushakov became bosom friends.

Vera Vasilyeva (Countess Almaviva) in a scene from the play directed by V. Pluchek based on the play “Crazy Day, or The Marriage of Figaro” by Pierre Beaumarchais, 1978. Photo: RIA Novosti / Rybakov Vera Vasilyeva and Vladimir Ushakov lived together for 55 years. Vera Kuzminichna always noted that she never had a conflict with this man, who became her destiny for more than half a century. He simply did not give her a single reason for conflict. The reason for the final and irrevocable separation could only be his illness. Now Vera Kuzminichna was caring for her husband. For 15 years she took him to hospitals, worked, earned money for medicine, for doctors, supported him, tried to encourage him as best she could. In these days, weeks, months, years, she was not an actress, she was a wife, stone wall, and she was also her husband’s eyes: after all, at the end of his life, Vladimir was completely blind.

The third heart attack was the last for Vladimir Ushakov. The wife managed to call an ambulance, the doctors even took him to the intensive care unit, but they failed to save Vera Vasilyeva’s husband. After the funeral, Vera Vasilyeva disappeared. In the literal sense of the word. She closed herself off from friends, acquaintances, and colleagues. The only person, whom she allowed to her, was girl Dasha, “goddaughter,” as Vera Vasilyeva herself calls her.

Photo: www.russianlook.com / Anatoly Lomohov

They met when Ushakov was alive. The famous actress got to the hospital to see her husband by public transport; Vera Kuzminichna could not spend money on a ride. There are heavy bags in your hands, the road is long. The only person who decided to help was that same Dasha. She accompanied Vera Vasilyeva to the hospital, they started talking, and as a result, gradually the random companion became an assistant, a friend, and an adopted daughter for the actress. Dasha’s daughter Vera Kuzminichna herself now calls her granddaughter, and Dasha her daughter. Actress Vera Vasilyeva has a family again.

“At the age of 14, I almost did something stupid. After reading a book, I decided: it’s better to die young. took a razor and cut her vein twice,” said AiF People's Artist USSR Vera Vasilyeva.

Scar as a keepsake

No one in our family has ever had anything to do with the theater. Dad worked as a driver, mom did housework. We lived very poorly, the seven of us in one room on Gusyatnikov Lane, in the Myasnitskaya area. Mom and dad, three sisters, brother and me. But one day Anna Yulievna, a neighbor in our communal apartment, took me to a matinee performance of the opera “ The Tsar's Bride" And I, an 8-year-old girl, saw this beauty - velvet, chandeliers, an orchestra, everything sparkles, like in a fairy-tale palace, I heard divine music... Then I decided: either I will be an artist, or I will not live. I went to the House of Pioneers, to the drama club, to the choir, signed up for theater libraries...

Me and my girlfriend Katya Rozovskaya(we are still friends with her, it’s scary to think how many years!) together we dreamed of a stage. Plans were made - one crazier than the other. We dreamed of running away from home and entering some provincial theater as someone, and then there was some unexpected incident, a debut, like Ermolova, and it will begin theatrical life full of adventure...

As a result, I became an artist, Katya became a theater expert. Now she already has a grandson, I only have the Theater. Only roles born by me. But this is not so little.

What was I like then? Quiet, dreamy, very romantic. At the age of 14 I almost did something stupid. After reading a book, I decided: it’s better to die young than to live and gradually become disillusioned with life. I took a razor and cut my vein twice, then put my hand in a warm basin in the hope that I would die quietly, beautifully. Fortunately, I came to my senses in time. But in memory of this childhood stupidity, two white lines remained on my left hand in the bend of my elbow.

Pyryev and stockings

In that for me, a third-year student theater school, fell out so happy lottery ticket, like the painting “The Tale of the Siberian Land”, there is no special merit of mine. Think, big role my appearance at that time played a role. I was plump and rosy-cheeked. My assistants noticed my good-natured face Pyryeva. They came up and asked: “Girl, do you want to act in a movie?” I wanted it so much that my whole family didn’t sleep a wink all night - we kept thinking and wondering what to dress me in before the screening. As a result, I showed up at Mosfilm in my sister’s dress made of blue silk, tied with a wide belt, wearing makeup and with unimaginably fluffed curls. Pyryev, without saying a word, sent me to the make-up artists. The first thing they did was comb me. She looked at herself in the mirror and was horrified: her eyes were small, like a well-fed pig, her pigtails were thin. They will never take you to the cinema! But it turned out that this is exactly what was needed. Dressed in the costume of the heroine - Nastya Gusenkova. They brought me to Ivan Alexandrovich again. He looked at me so intently and commanded: “Bring two simple stockings.” Brought. Pyryev took them and rolled them into two balls. And, without the slightest hesitation, he stuck a stocking into my cleavage in those places where lush breasts should be. “Well, everything is all right now! Otherwise you won’t understand anything.” I began to look like a busty woman who covers teapots. This one was approved immediately. I remember when filming was already underway, Pyryev often reminded: “They planted everything on Vasilyeva? Then we can begin!”

“The Legend of the Siberian Land”, 1947. Still from the film

I perceived the triumph of the painting “The Tale of the Siberian Land” in 1948 as a miracle of miracles and was to some extent even frightened when they paid for it Stalin Prize. As I was later told, Joseph Vissarionovich, who always watched all the pictures, saw me on the screen and asked: “Where did they find this beauty?” To which he was told that she was just a third-year student, and therefore was not nominated for the award. Stalin briefly ordered: “She played well, we should give her a bonus.” And I was instantly included in the list.

I don't even know if I was happy. Probably there was. Although I always believed that both the reward and great fame fell on my young, inexperienced head not entirely deservedly. I just got into good hands director. By the way, apparently, this is exactly what Pyryev himself thought. One day he directly told me: “It’s time for you to thank me.” And he made an appointment at the Moscow Hotel. I went, suspecting nothing. I remember Ivan Alexandrovich sitting on a chair and saying: “Well? Will you thank me?” I answer: “Thank you so much!” And he: “That’s not how they thank you! Come here!" And he started pestering...

Having difficulty breaking free, I ran to the door and heard after me: “You will never act in films again!” “Well, I don’t care,” I thought. He kept his word - not to shoot me. But I’m not offended by Ivan Alexandrovich, I forgave everything a long time ago. After all, whatever one may say, Pyryev gave me not only a role - life. If it weren’t for meeting him, I might have been sent to hell somewhere in the middle of nowhere after graduation. And so... I was immediately invited to the Satire Theater on main role- Lizochka Sinichkina in the play “Lev Gurych Sinichkin”. Can you imagine?!

Actress of the Moscow Theater of Satire Vera Vasilyeva in the artistic room. 1956 Photo: RIA Novosti / V. Malyshev

901st wedding

The play “Dowry Wedding,” which premiered on March 12, 1950, on the one hand, gave me the most great love in my life, on the other hand, he gave me a stage partner and a loving husband, with whom we lived happily for 54 years.

The director was a young talented director Boris Ivanovich Ravenskikh. They found out about our affair with him in the theater almost immediately, and I didn’t know how to hide it. For almost seven years I lived with complete readiness to give him my life, if necessary. But he was married to actress Lilia Gritsenko.

Chief director of the Moscow State Academic Maly Theater National artist USSR Boris Ravenskikh, 1975. Photo: RIA Novosti / I. Zotin

The success of "Dowry Wedding" was phenomenal! The performance was performed 900 times, was awarded the Stalin Prize, and was filmed. Volodya Ushakov was my “fiancé Maxim” both on stage and in films. I saw that his feelings for me had long gone beyond the stage and screen, but I couldn’t help myself. Meanwhile, Boris Ivanovich was invited to head the Maly Theater... And all these years I lived as a religious recluse with the hope that he would finally be freed and understand whether he needed me in his life. She suffered terribly, but did not dare to remind her of her love even once. Sometimes at night, at about two o'clock, when all the residents of our communal apartment slept soundly, sounded phone call, and I ran barefoot down the corridor. In a whisper, shivering from the cold, she answered the mocking question: “Are you awake? Are you waiting? - “Yes, I’m waiting...” He felt guilty and was annoyed with me for remaining patient and faithful.

Vera Vasilyeva and Vladimir Ushakov in the film “Wedding with a Dowry”, 1953

The last straw was the premiere of his play at the Maly Theater on December 4, 1956, which Boris Ivanovich forbade me to attend. I did not go. She lay in her cell in complete darkness and could not sleep. How painful and lonely I was that night... In the morning Volodya Ushakov called me and, as if feeling that I was on the verge of death, he asked, as he had asked many times, when I would agree to be his wife. And then I answered: “I agree.” Volodya immediately rushed over, happy, in a car littered with flowers... I was drowning in flowers. Then we went to the hostel of the Satire Theater on Malaya Bronnaya, where, in addition to Volodya, we lived Anatoly Papanov with my wife Nadya Karataeva, Tatyana Ivanovna Peltzer and others, and he announced the news of our wedding to everyone. Although there was no wedding as such. I remember Tolya Papanov brought half a liter, others took the food into the kitchen - what did anyone have? And we signed at the registry office seven years later. There were no dresses or rings - they just came in and signed.

Alexander Shirvindt as Count Almaviva and Vera Vasilyeva (right) as the Countess in the play The Marriage of Figaro. Satire Theater, 1977 Photo: RIA Novosti / Vitaly Arutyunov

Went "to the side"

I wouldn’t say that I had a close relationship with anyone in the theater. But very good - with many. Tolya Papanov treated me very tenderly, he pronounced my name in a special way: “Ve-e-rochka!” As I sometimes said to a kitten: “My dear little one!” I thought he was an amazing artist. But with Andryusha Mironov We probably communicated more closely. He treated my husband very well, and Volodya adored him. At the theater they did their makeup in the same room. Andryusha was always frank with him, even talking about his novels. Through him we became friends with his parents - Maria Vladimirovna Mironova And Alexander Semyonovich Menaker. Their death, as well as Andrei’s early departure, became an insane tragedy for us. My husband just cried out loud...

Vera Vasilyeva in the musical television show “Benefit”, 1978. Photo: RIA Novosti / Rybakov

But I still played Ranevskaya, albeit “on the side” - in Tverskoy academic theater dramas. Then, with joy and pleasure, she went to Orel to play Kruchinin in “Guilty Without Guilt”, played in the plays “Whim” - at the New Drama Theater in Moscow and “The Strange Mrs. Savage” - at the Obraztsov Puppet Theater. These jobs saved me, because what I had dreamed of since my youth, for which I came into the profession, came true. Otherwise, I would simply think that I didn’t have enough talent, I didn’t have enough destiny.

In 2015, before my (terrible to say!) 90th birthday, I received a fabulous gift - the role of Irma Garland in the play " Fatal attraction" She played an elderly actress who does not want to come to terms with her age. We can say that this is to some extent about me - after all, I myself hardly feel my age.

What are my secrets? The fact of the matter is that there are none. I’ve never done exercises - I can’t stand it. Since childhood, I have been absolutely unsportsmanlike. I don't have any diets. But I don’t allow myself to gain weight - I stay at the same weight my whole life. However, I eat everything. After the performance, which is practically at night, I like to treat myself to something delicious. I don’t go out unless I paint my eyes and lips. I watch my posture; it is posture that reveals age. You may be surprised, I don’t even know anything about medicine. And thank God! I think the most important thing that keeps me in shape is the theater, my roles, and the love of the audience. They still recognize him on the street. Sometimes I’m walking and suddenly: “Oh, hello! Are you Vera Vasilyeva? - "Yes". - "Be healthy! Happiness to you!” It is very nice. In general, everything worked out for me: the profession I dreamed of, I had a wonderful loving husband, and at the end of my life, my goddaughter Dashenka appeared, who cares about me so touchingly that not every natural daughter will do this about her mother. I am 90 years old and I am absolutely happy. What am I dreaming about? Firstly, so that I can see a lot of interesting things. But most of all, I still dream of a good role. And I already have something interesting in mind. About love!