Soviet Art

USSR Culture

Soviet actress Lyudmila Shagalova

Soviet actress Lyudmila Shagalova

She knew she would be an actress even at the age of five. Soviet actress Lyudmila Shagalova (1923-2012)

Soviet actress Lyudmila Shagalova

Born on April 6, 1923 in the city of Rogachev (Belarus), she grew in a military family. Two and a half years later, she was left without a mother. And in 1928 her father was transferred to Moscow for service, where Lyudmila went to school. While still a schoolgirl, she came into contact with cinema. First, she hit the newsreel when she greeted Papanin heroes at a rally. And then the director Yakov Protazanov saw her and gave a small role (Lelya) in his film “Seventh Graders” (1938).
In 1944, Shagalova entered VGIK – All-Union institute of Cinematography (workshop of S. Gerasimov and T. Makarova). Thanks to the teachers, her debut in big cinema took place in the film by S. Gerasimov “The Young Guard” (1948), where Shagalova played the role of Valeria Borts. Over the following years, the actress played a number of small roles. In particular, “The Big Concert” (1951; collective farmer Katya), “Farewell to America!” (1952; Cecilia Wong), “Faithful friends” (1954; Katya Sintsova), “They came down from the mountains” (1954; Nastya Bulanova), “In Search of a Destination” (1955; Natasha Sokolova).

Schoolgirl Lyudmila

Schoolgirl Lyudmila

Fame came to Shagalova in 1956, when she played the main female role (Lyudmila Irkutova) in the popular detective story “Case No. 306”. The film became one of the leaders of the Soviet cinema. The actress played a frivolous student, a professor’s daughter, who, by chance, was involved in a gloomy detective story. After the appearance in this detective, the roles of Shagalova went one after another, including the main ones. Among them: “Next to us” (1957; Nina), “The purpose of his life” (1958; Nina Kostrova), “Do not have a hundred rubles …” (1959; the botanist Nina Koretskaya), “I am writing to you … “(1960; Nelli),” The coeval of the century “(1961; Dusya),” Duel “(1961; Nadezhda Fedorovna),” The very first “(1962; Vera Pavlovna Kalugina), “713th asks for a landing “(1962; Teresa), “The Slowest Train” (1963; actress Barbara).

Student of VGIK

Student of VGIK

A new wave of popularity happened in the mid-60s, when she played three comedic roles at once. First, “The Tale of Lost Time” (1964; the old girl Marusya Morozova), “The Marriage of Balzaminov” (1965) and “Believe it or not …” (1965; Galya Sazonova). Undoubtedly, the comedic gift of Shagalova opened for many. Even more, she got an award – the title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR in 1965.

Young future actress

Young future actress

The fact that in the mid-70s Gaidai suddenly remembered about Shagalova and invited her to one of the main female roles in “Can’t be!” was not an accident. Besides, at that time the actress again began to actively master the comedy path, starring in several films of this genre at once. In particular, “Cottage” (1973; Marya Mikhailovna), “Have you ever loved?” (1974; the main role, as Nina Dmitrievna), “The Unknown Heir” (1974; Alevtina), “Aw!” (1975; two roles: actress and courtier).
In “It can’t be!” Shagalova beautifully played the mother of the bride – a woman in her own way unhappy, whose husband is a drunkard and daughter, who has several marriages, several children, but can not stop.

1948, The Young Guard, as Valya Borts

1948, The Young Guard, as Valya Borts

Alas, this meeting with Gaidai became an exception, as he will not invite her to his films anymore. Therefore, other directors invited her to their films. As a result, in 1977 she received the title of People’s Artist of the RSFSR. Just some of these works: Podranki (1977), Rudin (1977), Mustached Nanny (1977), Last Chance (1979), “Adult Son” (1980), “House on Lesnaya” (1981), “Ice Granddaughter” (1981), “Sicilian Defense” (1981), “Alien” (1984), “Dance Floor” (1985), and more.

The Young Guard

At the rehearsal of ‘The Young Guard’, 1948

After the collapse of the USSR, Shagalova left a large cinema. In 1994, she also left the troupe of the Theater Studio of the film actor, where she worked for 46 years. She lived in Moscow with her husband, the well-known cameraman Vyacheslav Shumsky.

'They came from the hills'. 'True friends'

‘They came from the hills’. ‘True friends’

Biography book. 1985

Biography book. 1985

Soviet actress Lyudmila Shagalova

1963 film The slowest Train

1963 film The slowest Train

1970s

1970s

1977

1977

1980s photo

1980s photo

1990s

1990s

As Theresa in '713 Requests Permission to Land', 1962 film

As Theresa in ‘713 Requests Permission to Land’, 1962 film

As Valeria Borts, Young Guard

As Valeria Borts, Young Guard

Beautiful Soviet actress Lyudmila Shagalova

Beautiful Soviet actress Lyudmila Shagalova

Duel (1961 film)

Elegant and beautiful till old age

Elegant and beautiful till old age

Elza Lezhdey, Shagalova and Zinaida Kirienko

Elza Lezhdey, Shagalova and Zinaida Kirienko

Favorite actress of millions

Favorite actress of millions

Film and theater actress L. Shagalova

Film and theater actress L. Shagalova

Fragment from 'The Slowest Train', 1963

Fragment from ‘The Slowest Train’, 1963

In the film 'The Slowest Train', 1963

In the film ‘The Slowest Train’, 1963

Last Chance, as Valentina

Last Chance, as Valentina

Lyudmila Shagalova

Lyudmila Shagalova

magazine photo of 1970s

magazine photo of 1970s

Postcard

Postcard

Privalov's Millions. 1972

Privalov’s Millions. 1972

Promotional photo

Promotional photo

Scene from 'The Slowest Train', 1963 film

Scene from ‘The Slowest Train’, 1963 film

Shagalova

Shagalova

She easily took aged women roles

She easily took aged women roles

Sicilian Defense (1980 film)

Sicilian Defense (1980 film)

Student of All-Union Institute of Cinematography

Student of All-Union Institute of Cinematography

Telling about herself

Actress telling about herself

The life of the actress includes meetings with colleagues and fans

The life of the actress includes meetings with colleagues and fans

The Princess of the Circus

The Princess of the Circus

The same age with the century, 1960

The same age with the century, 1960

'The Slowest Train', 1963 film

‘The Slowest Train’, 1963 film

The Slowest Train, 1963

The Slowest Train, 1963

True friends

True friends

Vasily Merkuriev and Shagalova

Vasily Merkuriev and Shagalova

Wounded Game, 1977, as a teacher

Wounded Game, 1977, as a teacher

Young actress

Young actress