The surname "Orlova" is quite common. Therefore, it is not surprising that on the Soviet film and theater stage, two "stars" with such a surname, Lyubov and Vera, shone almost simultaneously. But this is where their similarities ended, they were completely different actresses: bright and energetic Love, the unspoken sex symbol of the country, and the soft and tender Faith, which people of the older generation often called Vera Orlova.
Biography of Vera Orlova
Vera Markovna Orlova was born on May 25, 1918 in Ukraine, in a city that was then called Yekaterinoslav, then - in Soviet times - Dnepropetrovsk, and now - Dnepr. The school years of the future artist were spent in Moscow, where the family moved shortly after the birth of their daughter; after school hours, Vera performed as a member of the school's amateur ensemble, played the guitar, sang popular songs and dreamed of becoming an actress. In 1936, she graduated from school, then received an acting education at the school at the Theater of the Revolution, where she studied from 1937 to 1941. After graduating from college, Vera Orlova was invited to work at the Moscow Lensovet Theater, but in 1942 she had to leave for evacuation to Khabarovsk together with the artists of the Theater of Satire and there already work in the troupe of this theater.
Returning to Moscow, Vera Orlova was invited to the Mayakovsky Theater, where she worked for many years - from 1942 to 1974 and played several dozen roles. The main director of the theater was Nikolai Okhlopkov, who immediately appreciated the talent of the young actress and her angelic voice, became her friend and mentor, helped to reveal his talent, and gave valuable professional advice. Among the roles played by Vera Orlova at the Mossovet Theater are Valya Filatova in Young Guard, Zina Praschina in Little Student, Varvara in The Thunderstorm by AN. Ostrovsky and many others.
When Okhlopkov died, Orlova decided to go to the Lenin Komsomol Theater, where she was joyfully and enthusiastically greeted by the team. On the stage of this famous theater, the actress played in such performances as "The Thief", "He was not on the list" and others. Wherever Orlova worked, in each of her roles she did not just get used to the image, but lived it, tried to feel and show the audience all the nuances of her heroine's life. Colleagues jokingly called her a "time bomb" for the fact that every time on stage she brought something new and unexpected to her game. The popularity of the artist was very high - tickets for her performances were sold out instantly, there was always a full house in the hall, the audience greeted the actress with applause. Orlova herself considered herself to be a theater actress, despite the fact that her film career brought her most fame.
Film career of Vera Orlova
In 1945, Vera Orlova first appeared on the silver screen, playing the role of Liza Karaseva in the comedy directed by Konstantin Yudin "The Twins"; Orlova's partners on the set were such great actors as Lyudmila Tselikovskaya and Mikhail Zharov. In this film, Vera Orlova herself performed the song of the heroine, showing not only her acting, but also singing talent. This was followed by other offers to act in films - the actress played 31 roles in films by various directors.
The greatest fame and love of the audience brought her filming in two films about Ivan Brovkin - "Soldier Ivan Brovkin" of 1955 and "Ivan Brovkin on the Virgin Land" of 1958 (directed by Ivan Lukinsky), where Orlova played Polina Kuzminichna Grebeshkova, a barmaid who became in the second film the head of the dining room. Soft and charming, but at the same time brave and purposeful, Polina was not afraid to go to Tselina together with the main character Ivan Brovkin, played by Leonid Kharitonov, and also patiently waited for her love - Zakhara Silych Peryshkin performed by the brilliant Mikhail Pugovkin.
One of the most striking roles of Vera Orlova was the main role in the film "Children of Don Quixote" directed by Evgeny Karelov in 1965. Here Orlova played her namesake - Vera Bondarenko, a plastic surgeon and the wife of a gynecologist Pyotr Bondarenko. Together with her husband, they raised three sons, and it was only at the very end of the picture that it became clear that all Bondarenko's children were foster children, left in the hospital by the patients of a doctor who could not convince them not to abandon their children. The famous actor Anatoly Papanov became Orlova's partner in this film.
Once again, Vera Orlova met Papanov on the set with Mark Zakharov in 1976, when the four-part film "12 Chairs" was being created based on the novel by I. Ilf and E. Petrov. Here Orlova, being already an "age" actress, brilliantly played Elena Stanislavovna Bour, the former lover of Anatoly Papanov's hero - Ippolit Matveyevich Vorobyaninov. Here the emphasis was placed on the gentle voice of the heroine, which, unlike her appearance, has not changed at all over time.
Among the 31st films in which Vera Orlova starred, one can name "Precious Gift" (1956), "Different Fates" (1956), "Seven Nurses" (1962), "Different People" (1973), "Solar Wind" (1982) and others.
Other activities of the actress Vera Orlova
In addition to filming a movie and playing on the stage, Vera Orlova managed to voice the heroines of foreign films, as well as characters from domestic cartoons. Princess Marya speaks in her gentle voice in the cartoon “In a certain kingdom” (1957), The Cat in “The Cat's House” (1958), Radish in the cartoon “Chippolino” (1961), Fox in “I Want to Butt” (19680, etc. Besides, Orlova also worked at the All-Union Radio: for many years she hosted the humorous program "Good morning!" In the guise of an employee of the information bureau.
Orlova also conducted public activities - she was a deputy of the Moscow City Council, joined the CPSU. Her work and other merits were highly appreciated by the country's leadership: in 1954, Orlova received the title of Honored Artist, and in 1960 - People's Artist of the RSFSR. In addition, she was awarded two orders - the Red Banner of Labor (1971) and Friendship of Peoples (1981).
Personal life
The personal life of Vera Orlova was very dramatic and, surprisingly, atypical for the Soviet era. Working at the Mayakovsky Theater, Vera Orlova fell in love with her colleague Alexander Kholodkov, who at that time was in a civil marriage with another popular Soviet actress Luciena Ovchinnikova, known to movie lovers, for example, for her role as Katya in the film Girls.
A love triangle was formed, which was discussed in all theatrical circles of the country. Kholodkov did not strive for marriage and, it seems, he was satisfied with this position - to be loved by two famous, beautiful and talented women. It is interesting that Orlova and Ovchinnikova not only did not become rivals or enemies, but managed to make friends and accept this juicy situation. Both actresses carefully guarded their privacy from prying eyes, never gave rise to gossip, but various kinds of rumors still spread among their colleagues and fans.
When Kholodkov fell ill, Orlova and Ovchinnikova took care of him together, replacing each other, and when their beloved died in 1965, they organized a funeral together and stood embracing at the coffin, seeing off their love on the last journey. As a result of such a difficult relationship, both actresses were left childless. Being kind, gentle and economic, Vera Orlova transferred her unspent maternal love to her young colleagues - actors of theaters and film sets where she was involved. She fed them with all sorts of delicious homemade dishes, helped them with advice - both in her professional and personal life. And colleagues responded to her with mutual love and respect.
Nevertheless, the actress was very upset by the death of Alexander Kholodkov. In dire need of love and male support, she unexpectedly made a rash act for everyone - she hastily married her very persistent admirer, much younger than her in age. The marriage was short-lived, the couple parted.
The last years of Vera Orlova's life
In the mid-80s, Vera Orlova began to have a leg disease, it became difficult for her to move, and even more so - to work on stage or act in films. The last years of her life, she mostly spent in her apartment, but not at all alone - she was often visited by colleagues and friends. In 1993, the actress celebrated her 75th birthday. Almost the entire troupe of the theater, colleagues in cinematography, friends came to congratulate her in Lenkom. And three months after the celebration of the anniversary - September 16, 1993 - Vera Orlova passed away. She was buried at the New Donskoy cemetery in Moscow.
