Soviet and Russian actress Zoya Vasilkova was called the master of the episode. During her long film career, she has played in more than a hundred films. The performer has never been deprived of the attention of the directors.
According to some sources, the future actress was born in Ukraine, where her father served in those years, others testify that she was born in Leningrad. However, Zoya Nikolaevna herself adhered to the second version.
The road to vocation
The star's biography began in 1926. She was born on the fourth day of May. Nothing is known about the childhood and youth of the actress. In an interview, Vasilkova herself said that at school she dreamed of the profession of a sea navigator. The girl, by her confession, grew up as a real tomboy.
The family often moved, since his father was a military man. During the war, almost immediately after her father, his daughter went to the front. Father did not know about her decision, mother could not dissuade. However, after the letter received, the head of the family succeeded in transferring the young girl to his anti-aircraft unit.
Zoya became a meteorologist. Her responsibility was to determine the weather conditions, the main thing - the wind, so that the anti-aircraft gunners could more accurately direct the shells. The success of the defeat of the enemy depended on the work of the girl. Zoya tried, and after work she completely laid out in amateur performances. Vasilkova suffered in the very first days of her appearance at the front. Due to the coincidence of circumstances, the girl's face was excised with shards of glass. In the hospital, it was literally reassembled.
The girl was sent home in October 1944. During this time, Zoe got a lot. However, Vasilkova recalled the front-line without a shudder.
After returning in 1944, Vasilkova decided to get a higher education. The institute was chosen as an architectural one. However, after the first semester, the student left the university and moved to a music school. Good vocal skills came in handy. After a year of study, Zoya began preparations for entering the conservatory.
Film career and family
However, the director of the theater institute recommended that the talented girl choose a theatrical career. So Vasilkova ended up at a Kiev university. Father was transferred, this time to Moscow. The parents did not plan to leave their daughter alone. Poet Zoya set about looking for a suitable metropolitan education option. She was advised to contact VGIK.
She graduated from the Vasilkova Institute superbly. She worked at the Theater of Cinematographers, and then went under a contract to China with her husband. In the local Palace of Culture, Vasilkova directed amateur art activities. During her studies, Zoya became the wife of fellow student Yuri Chekulaev.
The actress began filming under the name of her husband. The young family spent several years abroad. After two years in China, she returned to Russia, then went to Poland, after her to Germany. Only after that did they return to their homeland. The acting couple stayed in the capital to live.
Like all fellow students, after graduating from Vasilkova, she dreamed of the main roles, recognition, fame. In 1949, Vasilkova's film debut took place. She participated in the film "They Have a Homeland". A lot of the performer starred in the films Ptushko and Row.
She became famous for her skill in performing episodic roles. The main characters were offered to her, but rarely. Without work, the actress did not want to sit, therefore she agreed. At the same time, Zoya Nikolaevna turned even the smallest appearance in the frame into the most memorable event.
Vivid episodes
Even after many years, it is enough to recall a role, and the picture in which the artist participated is immediately remembered. So, in the fabulous picture "Fire, water and … copper pipes" she brilliantly played the role of a counselor.
In the comedy "Gentlemen of Fortune" Vasilk4ova was reincarnated as a conscientious janitor who cursed the four unlucky robbers under the leadership of Leonov-Associate Professor. In some films, her roles were so small that even the name of the performer was not mentioned in the credits. An example of such work was the film "Sisters" and the role of Rastorgueva. But in the film history "Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka" there was an opportunity to try on the real outfit of Empress Catherine. The actress played her role.
Basically, the famous artist participated in fabulous and comedy films, but dreamed of a dramatic serious role.
Personal life with Chekulaev was marked by the birth of an only child, the son of Andrei. He chose a military career, then went into business. After two decades, together, the couple decided to leave.
Completion of a career
Many years later, Zoya Nikolaevna met her first love. Felix Ivanov, who became a sailor, met Zoya at sixteen, when she lived with her parents in Baku. The feelings were mutual, but the war separated the lovers. After many years of separation, the meeting took place. Together they remained until the actress died.
In the early eighties, Zoya Nikolaevna worked on Finnish television, hosted a series of specialized programs for teaching Finns the Russian language.
The last film project in which the actress participated was in 1998 the film "Composition for Victory Day" by Ursulyak. The episodic character played by Vasilkova was unnamed.
The son pleased the parent with his granddaughter Katya. The four-year-old girl starred in the famous film "For family reasons" in the role of Lenochka. It all happened by accident.
Together with her famous grandmother, Katya came to Mosfilm. They were met by the director who was filming the picture. Parents did not want to hear later about their daughter's film career. Ekaterina graduated from the Faculty of Philology. Her appearance on the screen was the first and last.
Zoya Vasilkova died in 2008, on June 1.
