Big, kind, open and even a little naive - this is how viewers of actor Andrei Sviridov are used to seeing on the screen. And what is he like in life? What else does he do besides cinema, does he have a wife and children?
A born Belarusian, a failed basketball player, a successful actor with an American education - this is all about him, about Andrei Sviridov. Russian viewers will remember him for the role of Gena from the youth TV series "Univer" and "Sasha Tanya". But few fans are familiar with his biography, how he came to the world of art. And Andrey reluctantly talks about his personal life, trying to hide it from prying eyes.
Biography of actor Andrey Sviridov
Andrei was born in the Belarusian city of Mogilev, at the end of March 1975. The boy's family was from the category of the intelligentsia - his mother worked as an accountant, his father taught Belarusian literature and language in one of the city schools. In addition to Andrei, they also had a younger daughter, Alena.
Andrey was always different from his peers. Firstly, education, and secondly, growth. He grew up a sensitive boy, rarely got involved in fights. He himself believes that they were simply afraid of him. The fact that Andrei would be tall became clear already by the end of elementary school.
Andrei Sviridov never thought about the career of an actor, at least in childhood and adolescence. He was fascinated by sports. The boy tried several types, eventually opted for basketball. The results in sports were brilliant, but Andrei had to end his career at its very peak.
Sports career of Andrey Sviridov
Andrey has been counting his sports career since he was 5 years old. But it wasn't basketball back then. The boy tried everything - skiing, wrestling, even tennis. In elementary school, it became clear that he would be tall, and it was then that he was invited to the basketball section. The coach highly appreciated the boy's abilities, recommended sending him to a sports school, and his parents followed his advice.
In high school, Andrei was transferred from the city sports school to the school of the Olympic reserve of republican significance. And by the age of 19, his sports "piggy bank" already had the title of Master of Sports.
Soon after passing the standards for the "master" Andrei became the basketball champion in his native Belarus, then he twice received this title at the level of the USSR in his age category. But these are not all achievements - later Sviridov won the CIS championship, then the European championship.
It was then that representatives of the American basketball club The George Washington University noticed him and invited him to play for them. Andrei agreed without hesitation and went to the USA. And there he managed to prove that his full potential has not yet been revealed. Many times he delighted his new mentors and team members, but a successful career ended overnight. A back injury forced the promising basketball player to abandon the sport forever. The trauma was followed by disappointment, deep depression. Andrey simply did not understand what to do next. To somehow survive, he worked as a security guard in a large children's amusement park.
Cinema and TV in the life of Andrei Sviridov
In a difficult period for himself, Andrei found an outlet in the theater. It was attending performances that helped him cope with depression and even set a new direction in his life. The young man had plenty of free time, and he decided to use it to get a new education - he entered an acting school in Los Angeles.
The student actor was soon noticed, they began to offer him to play the roles of Russian bandits or guards, and he happily took on them. In America, he starred in almost 10 films, in cameo roles. In addition, he was lucky to work with famous singers - Enrique Iglesias and Robert Williams - he starred in their music videos.
Andrei Sviridov returned to Russia at the insistent request of Andrei Krasko. Andrei Ivanovich managed to convince the namesake that with his texture and talent much greater success awaits in his homeland. Sviridov believed him, and not in vain.
To date, the filmography of actor Andrei Sviridov has more than 70 projects. He plays in episodes and plays the roles of minor characters, but in such a way that they are remembered, and for many viewers they become key ones. A striking example of this is the series "Univer" and its sequel "Sasha Tanya". Andrei played the role of a security guard so much that many turned on the TV during the show of the series just to look at Gena.
In 2013, Andrei Sviridov tried himself in the role of a comedian - he took part in the show "Ural dumplings", where he appeared on stage in the form of the Snow Maiden. The success was overwhelming.
Personal life of actor Andrey Sviridov
Andrey tried on the role of a husband twice. The first experience was so unsuccessful that Sviridov does not even want to remember him, never mentions the name of his ex-wife.
The second wife of the actor was a certain Apollinaria Beylik. The young people met on the set of the TV series "Sasha Tanya". The girl starred there in the crowd. In 2014, the couple formalized their relationship officially, the wedding was accompanied by ceremonial events "according to the classics" - with a magnificent wedding dress, a photo session and a festive feast.
Now the Sviridov family lives in Moscow, in the house of Andrei. In rare interviews, Andrei says that he and his wife dream of children, but so far they only have aquarium fish and a cat. The couple rarely attends social events, they prefer solitude and quiet family evenings.
