Vera Alentova (Vera Alentova) is a famous film and theater artist. Her most notable role was Ekaterina Tikhomirova in the film "Moscow does not believe in tears". But with her participation she brightened up dozens more outstanding films. More than half a century she keeps loyalty to the Moscow Drama Theater named after A. S. Pushkin, in the productions of which performed hundreds of characters. Her fate and career are closely intertwined with the activities of the famous director Vladimir Menshov, because their creative tandem grew into true love. And the joint daughter Julia Menshova became no less successful actress than her star parents.
Childhood and youth
Vera Valentinovna was born in the small town of Kotlas on February 21, 1942. Her father, mother and grandmother were theater artists, so the girl from an early age grew up in the theater scaffolding. A lot of time she had to spend alone, but the little girl it did not upset: she always found a hobby, invented stories, composed stories, read books, analyzed texts. This taught her discipline and independence.
When the girl was 4 years old, her father died. In the poor post-war time, even an ordinary cold was enough to get a severe complication and pass away. When the father died, the mother became very hard: she worked in the theater, where often delayed wages, then worked in a factory, and coming home at night, sewing. But even this labor was not enough for a normal existence.
Family Alentova lived poorly, she had no toys, and the taste of sweets she was unfamiliar. The closet consisted of a couple of things, sewn by her mother from old underpants. With all this, today Vera Valentinovna does not consider her childhood unhappy. She was able to find joy in small things and enjoy the love of others.
The debut appearance on the stage of the theater took place at the age of 8. Then her mother took her to the rehearsal, and in the process it turned out that one young artist fell ill and urgently needed a replacement. Vera came out instead of her and, as the actress says, "at that moment and caught the theatrical bacillus." In the yard, together with other children from a young age, she put on plays, invented costumes.
As a child, she and her mother moved many times. They managed to live in Ukraine, in Uzbekistan, in Altai.
When the girl was 15, her mother married for the second time. Stepfather was an artist, and immediately noticed in his stepdaughter acting talent. But the mother insisted that the daughter was a doctor. Attempts to enter medical school were not successful. But, following her dream, with the help of her stepfather, she got into the auxiliary staff of the Barnaul Drama Theater. At that time, the reception of documents in the theater universities has already ended. Without becoming an entrant, for a year Alentova worked in the melange plant.
In 1961, Vera went to conquer Moscow. She filed documents in all theatrical educational institutions, and entered the School-Studio of the Moscow Art Theater. That momentous day when she saw her name on the list of students, divided her life into "before" and "after".
Studenthood and a fateful meeting
The theater school became a joy for her: she tried hard, read a lot, rehearsed day and night - she put all her strength into her studies. On her personal life she did not have enough time, but the girl was really happy.
Even in the first year, she met with unpromising, according to teachers, a student Vladimir Menshov. But Vera saw in him an inner core, sincerity, his own view of different things. They have long been friends, and everyone was surprised that one of the best and most talented students found in a talentless young man with an unattractive appearance. And she was attached to him with all her soul. He long and beautifully wooed his lady of the heart, and by the end of the second year the couple married.
With the receipt of diplomas in 1965, Vera and Vladimir went to a real adult life, full of unpleasant surprises, ups and downs, happiness and disappointment.
Theater and cinema
Immediately after graduation, Alentova was accepted into the troupe of the Moscow Pushkin Theater. Almost from the first days she was entrusted with the main role in the production "Chocolate Soldier". She excelled in this play, and then in another, and another ... Very quickly Vera became one of the leading actresses of the theater.
She brilliantly played. She was given dramatic and characteristic images, she could be tender and sensual, strong and unprecedented. Her dizzying success caused envy among colleagues, so not once in the theater went different rumors and fictional stories about the artist.
But despite everything, the talent required realization. And one scene was not enough. The first cinematographic attempts to declare themselves were not successful. The next 10 years she gave herself completely to the theater, annually replenishing its creative biography a couple of cult works.
Fatal was 1979. Then came to the screens of the movie hit "Moscow does not believe in tears," where Vera Alentova performed one of the main roles. The film caused a furor not only in Russian, but also in world cinema. The work received an "Oscar", and our heroine was awarded the USSR State Prize and won in the category "Best Actress".
After such success, the directors simply filled the artist with invitations. Since then, the screens came out a lot of movie masterpieces with Alentova in the title role. She became an idol and the embodiment of the best acting qualities.
In the movies she starred in today. True, not so often, because age takes its toll.
Since 2009, she has been working as a teacher of acting at the All-Russian State University of Cinematography named after S. A. Gerasimov, where to this day she shares her experience and knowledge with students.
Marital status
About the personal life of Vera Alentova much to talk about is not worth talking about. Vladimir Menshov was her only man. He became her husband as a student, after graduating from the Moscow Art Theater, they lived separately for some time. Then again came together and parted. They were brought together by fate on the set, because in tandem they gave fantastic work, which brought success to both.
With the appearance of a daughter Julia, the couple parted. Father often came to his relatives, but then left again. And only when the girl went to the first grade, the family reunited. Vera and Vladimir overcame many difficulties and hardships together, learned a thousand pleasant moments in their life together. Their creative dynasty continued in their only daughter Julia, who became no less famous artist than her mother.
Today Alentova does not often appear in public, but also "quiet old age" is not about her. In 2018, she starred in the film "Ampire V" and once again confirmed that the talent of age is not under control. What else will please us actress, you will find out in the catalog of artists on the website kontramarka.de.
Filmography (favorites):
1965 - "Days of flying"
1977 - "Birth"
1979 - "Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears".
1982 - "Time for Reflection"
1984 - "Time of Desire"
1987 - Tomorrow Was War
1994 - The Miami Groom
1995 - "Shirley, Shirley."
2000 - Envy of the Gods
2004-2007 - "Balzakov's Age, or All Men Are Their Own..."
2007 - "And Still I Love"
2010 - "God's Gift"
2014 - "Happy Eighth of March, Men!"
2014 - "The Road Without End"
2018 - "Ampire V"
