She was nicknamed the Queen of Operetta. The owner of the soprano set by nature, like a crystal, conquered the viewer from the first roles. Inimitable performing style made her images vivid and memorable.
Training with the best masters of theatrical and cinema art, more than a hundred images and roles, 65 years of work on stage, receiving the title of Honored and People's Artist of Russia - this is a brief biography of Zoe Vinogradova.
Childhood
The Soviet-Russian actress Zoya Vinogradova was born on November 27, 1930 in the city of Ostashkovo, Tver Region. From an early age she was engaged in amateur performances: she performed on an impromptu stage-veranda in the courtyard of her house, was engaged in singing in school years.
Little Zoya survived the war, she was 10 years old when she started. The war took her father and younger brother from her. It was especially hard during the blockade, like all the inhabitants of Leningrad. When my mother fell ill, I had to get water myself, defend the queues for bread. There wasn’t enough food, we were starving. Once, a cousin helped them out, passing a parcel with food through a military crew. So survived Zoya Vinogradova.
Zoe's family held out until the opening of the "road of life" in 1942. They and her mother were taken out of the besieged city along the frozen Lake Ladoga. Along the way, one of the cars fell through the ice. Then the bypass road was built about 8 hours. Then - a long journey in a train, in a freight car.
Little Zoya and her mother were evacuated to one of the Kuban villages, which had to be abandoned immediately due to a sudden German occupation. Soon they moved to a new place where the future actress was able to go to school, and her mother got a job. The local Culture House, where Zoya Vinogradova played her first roles, became a real joy. The biography of the future famous actress began to be filled with positive moments.
Youth. Return to Leningrad
By the time she left school, Zoya Vinogradova was determined to become an artist. Her goal was the studio of the Bolshoi Drama Theater. But then failure awaited her - enrollment in the studio was already over. Then there was an unloved study at the Architectural College, which did not last long. Zoya got a job at the Banner of Labor factory, where her mother worked.
In parallel, the girl participated in the amateur art studio, which gave her incomparable pleasure. It was there that they met Galina Kauger, accompanist of the Musical Comedy Theater, who opened up the world of operetta to young talent. It was a completely new genre that Zoya Vinogradova discovered. The biography of the future actress was replenished with new events that changed her whole life.
Beginning of work
Being an 18-year-old girl, on the recommendation of Galina Kauger, Zoya got a job at the Musical Comedy Theater. It was the 60s, and the theater flourished thanks to a new popular trend - operetta. Zoya was not only accepted into the troupe, despite the lack of acting education, but also treated her with warmth and care. The theater staff still recalls how at the audition a young talented girl sang two parts from the Free Wind at once - male and female.
Despite the recently ended war, which Zoya went through hard, like any resident of Leningrad, she retained her inner light, cheerfulness and children's enthusiasm. And these qualities, so important for people of the post-war era, she introduced into each of her characters.
At first, the work in the theater was intense. I had to play only in the supporting staff, while simultaneously undergoing training in the studio. But Zoe was lucky to be a student of the best teachers, outstanding directors and artists! Anatoly Maslennikov, Nikolai Yanet, Valentin Vasiliev, Nina Pelzer, Alexander Talmazan, Yuri Khmelnitsky, Andrey Tutyshkin, Alexander Belinsky worked with her. She carried her gratitude to them through her whole life, noting that thanks to the teachers, actress Zoya Vinogradova appeared, whose biography was filled with vivid roles.
Theatrical debut
The young actress made any roles unforgettable. This soon allowed her to occupy a leading position in the troupe. The debut of Zoe Vinogradova took place in 1956 - she received the role of Mabel in the play "Mr. X." This was the first serious work. Other roles followed: Martha from “Babyn Riot”, Polenka from “Servant”, Channita from “Kiss of Channita”, Erzhi from “Gypsy Love”, etc. More than 100 roles were played by Zoya Vinogradova, whose biography was now decorated with a long list of victories .
The role of Eliza Doolittle in the play "My Fair Lady" brought her both creative and political fame. Called the “First Lady of the Soviet Union,” Zoya Akimovna was elected to the Kuibyshev District of Leningrad. A high post allowed her to do many good deeds to people.
Movie roles
Zoya Vinogradova rarely makes films, since work in the theater remains the main and favorite thing. The creative path in the cinema began with the tape "Mr. X", where the role of Marie Latush was played. In 1974, the film "Krechinsky's Wedding" was released, where Zoya Vinogradova plays Anna Avtueva. This was followed by other roles - Pera's grandmothers in the film "Like in an Old Detective", mistresses of the hut in "Sonya Golden Handle", Tatyana Yuryevna in the series "It's Still Not Evening", etc.
In 2007, the biography of Zoya Vinogradova was replenished with a dramatic role in the film "Children of the Siege", where she played an actress in a besieged city. Zoya Akimovna herself notes that this role is of great importance for her, as for a person who has gone through the war years.
Zoya Vinogradova - personal life
The first husband of the famous artist Lenya was a military man. She married him early, a year after starting work in the theater. The husband did not share her interests and wondered why she had been delayed for so long after rehearsals and performances. Personal life then failed. After 7 years of marriage, they had to leave.
The second husband of the actress was Vitaly Ivanovich Kopylov. They worked in the same theater and often performed a duet. Vitaly has been courting Zoe for two years, reading poetry to her, and seeing her home. Soon they played a quiet wedding without a veil and white dress. The celebration was celebrated at 11 meters of their new communal apartment in a circle of loved ones. Lived together for over 40 years. In 2012, Vitaly Ivanovich died, but his wife keeps the memory of him in her heart.
The actress still works in the theater. In November 2015, she celebrated her 85th anniversary, but her voice still has youthful strength. She notes that creativity is the key to her longevity.