Zinaida Kirienko is one of the most beautiful actresses in Soviet cinema, the star of the films Quiet Don (1958), The Fate of a Man (1959), Earthly Love (1974). Her roles refer the viewer to the difficult fate of a Russian woman, in which there is a place for love, sacrifice, suffering, humility and recklessness. The actress herself admitted that she is in many ways similar to her heroines, otherwise she would not be able to convey their characters so accurately.
Biography: family, childhood, studies
Childhood and adolescence of Zinaida Kirienko fell on the war and difficult post-war years. Her parents also had to go through a lot. Father Georgy Shirokov came from a wealthy family and lived in Tbilisi. When the Civil War began, he, along with other cadets of the Tiflis School, was transported to England. But no one was waiting for them there, and Russian boys had to literally survive in a foreign country, agreeing to the dirtiest work. In 1928, Georgy Shirokov returned to his homeland, as soon as the Soviet government adopted a directive on the return of immigrants. He was sent to live in one of the remote villages of Dagestan.
Zinaida Kirienko's father worked in a construction office, where he met the engineer Pyotr Ivanov and his family. The daughter of Peter Ivanovich, sixteen-year-old Alexandra, worked as a cashier in the same village. The girl's parents liked George, and they insisted on this marriage, despite the nine-year age difference. A year later, the newlyweds had a son, Vladimir, and on July 9, 1933, their daughter Zinaida was born in Makhachkala. Alexandra Ivanova dreamed of calling the girl Aida in honor of the heroine of her beloved novel, which tells about the fate of a Greek actress. However, the father recorded the newborn as Zinaida, although her family name was Ida.
When Zina was three years old, her parents divorced. Soon Georgy Shirokov was arrested and executed in 1939. Fortunately, his former family was not touched. The mother of the future actress worked a lot: at a fish cannery in Makhachkala, as a director of a grain storage warehouse in Derbent. In her free time, she was fond of shooting and horse riding, was engaged in the education of young cavalrymen.
As a child, Zinaida and her brother lived for a long time with their grandparents on the shores of the Caspian Sea. In 1942, their mother took them to Derbent, and soon she married Mikhail Ignatievich Kirienko, a former front-line soldier, for the second time. He adopted his wife's children from his first marriage, gave them his last name and patronymic. In this marriage, the half-brother and sister of Zinaida Mikhailovna were also born. Finally, the Kirienko family settled in the Stavropol Territory, where Alexandra Petrovna was sent to work as the director of an elevator in the village of Novopavlovskaya.
Since childhood, Zinaida Kirienko dreamed of becoming an actress. These thoughts once visited her mother. The grandfather was endowed with artistic talent. The elder brother Vladimir played the accordion perfectly. The mother's younger sister worked in the circus as an aerial gymnast. In short, the future actress grew up in a creative family.
Dreaming of entering VGIK, Zinaida left after the seventh grade for Moscow. She lived with her aunt, studied at the railway technical school. Then she had to move to the hostel, but there the girl was lonely and uncomfortable. As a result, she returned home to the village, finished her studies at school and again went to VGIK.
On the first attempt, Kirienko entered the course of Yulia Raizman, but she was conditionally enrolled, denying a scholarship and a hostel. Then the actress Tamara Makarova, who participated in the selection committee, advised the girl to come next year. So Zinaida Kirienko became a student of the course of Sergei Gerasimov and his wife. She withstood the competition of almost 600 people for a place. And fellow students of the future movie star were Lyudmila Gurchenko, Natalya Fateeva, Valentina Pugacheva.
Acting career and creative activity
Zinaida Mikhailovna played her debut and immediately the main role in the film "Hope" when she was in her first year at VGIK. By the end of the institute, her acting baggage was replenished with four more films, in addition to the one mentioned:
- Quiet Don (1958);
- Poem of the Sea (1958);
- The Thief Magpie (1958);
- "The Fate of Man" (1959).
The role of Natalia in "Quiet Don" directed by Sergei Gerasimov brought the young actress all-Union fame and still remains her hallmark. In her interviews, Zinaida Mikhailovna likes to remember the rehearsals and filming of the legendary film. For example, Gerasimov could reshoot even insignificant episodes several dozen times, if he noticed even the slightest inconclusiveness. But the great director called Kiriyenko "an actress of two or three takes."
After graduating from VGIK in 1959, Zinaida was admitted to the Moscow Theater on Malaya Bronnaya, but in 1961 she went to the State Theater of Film Actor. In the early 60s, after her roles in The Tale of Fiery Years (1960) and the drama The Cossacks (1961), the actress's career suddenly began to decline. The reason lay in the conflict between Kiriyenko and an official of the State Film Committee. She firmly suppressed his love harassment, for which she got into an unspoken blacklist.
The actress found out about this many years later, when she starred in Evgeny Matveev's film "Earthly Love" (1974). He was one of the few who decided to shoot the disgraced movie star. The role of Efrosinya Deryugina again returned Kirienko's love and popularity with the audience. Later she played in Matveev's films "Destiny" (1977) and "Love in Russian 2" (1996).
During the forced oblivion of acting, Zinaida Mikhailovna appeared in films in supporting roles, and earned her living by touring the country with concerts and creative meetings with fans. In addition to acting, Kirienko is known as a performer in the genre of Russian romance.
For outstanding services in the art of cinema, Zinaida Mikhailovna was awarded many honorary titles and awards:
- Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1965);
- People's Artist of the RSFSR (1977);
- USSR State Prize (1979);
- Gold Medal named after Alexander Dovzhenko (1978).
Currently, the actress has not been filming for more than 10 years. Her last role at the moment is dated 2006. In the film "Happiness by Prescription" Kiriyenko appeared in a small episode.
Personal life
Zinaida Mikhailovna met her future husband in Grozny when she was filming the film "Cossacks". Valery Tarasevsky took part in the crowd scene, but he decided to approach the movie star only outside the set. Kiriyenko recalled that when meeting, the young man managed to impress her: Valery was good-looking, tall, seriously involved in sports. And although she was surprised to learn about his young age, the communication still decided to continue. The actress turned 27 at that time, and her future husband was 10 years younger.
Zinaida and Valery met for two months while the shooting lasted. And shortly before Kiriyenko's departure to Moscow, the lovers tied the knot. Mom approved of her daughter's choice, despite the age difference and the lack of work for her fiancé. The newlyweds left for Moscow together and settled in a room that Zinaida had recently received. A year later, they had a son, Timur, and seven years later, a son, Maxim.
Kirienko lived with her beloved husband for 44 years, until his death in 2004. Valery worked as an economist, graduated from Moscow State University. And although he could not boast of career achievements, in the family plan he was a reliable support for his wife. While Zinaida disappeared on the set and on tour, her husband took care of the children, took care of the house and never reproached her for anything. After the death of a loved one, Zinaida Mikhailovna finds consolation in communication with her sons, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
