Films that were shot in the Soviet era, and today are still pleasing to us. Among the actresses of that time there were many such beauties that you can not take your eyes off. Lyudmila Vasilyevna Marchenko occupied almost the first place in this list, her pretty face with a snub nose was bound to arouse sympathy, the character of Luda was fully consistent with her appearance.
The actress looked like a weak, unprotected woman, but in reality she was a very strong personality who could withstand life's “storms” and could overcome adversity and misfortune, but once the burden of problems became simply unbearable, and this beautiful creature “broke”, not wanting to accept help and the support of loved ones. Biography of Lyudmila Marchenko talks about the ups and downs of the artist. From this article you can learn about how she instantly appeared at the top of fame, and how the last days of her life passed.
Childhood
Luda was born on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus in the village of Arkhipo-Osipovka. This joyful event occurred in the Marchenko family on June 20, 1940. Did happy parents then think that their little beauty was destined to survive the years of World War II, because a year after the birth of the girl, the Germans attacked the Soviet Union. After the Nazi troops were defeated and people began to build and plan their lives anew, Marchenko decided to move to the capital, they hoped that in Moscow their daughter would have a bright future.
We can say that from birth Lyudmila Marchenko used to hear compliments. At school, she was considered the first beauty and was spoiled by the attention of the boys, of course, she had almost no friends, since her peers were envious of the beauty of the future actress. It is also not surprising that all of Lyudochka’s relatives and friends were sure that she would definitely act in films, for this she had all the data.
Luda studied at the one hundred and thirty-fifth Moscow school, where there was an excellent theater group. It was not difficult for a talented beautiful girl to become the prima of a school theater, on the stage of which she played only the main roles, but in the future Lyudmila saw herself in the cinema, she dreamed of acting in films and becoming a famous film actress.
Students: The Beginning of the Path to Glory
School years are left behind, the biography of Lyudmila Marchenko tells us about college students and the first steps of a novice actress in the world of cinema. In 1957, yesterday’s schoolgirl submitted documents to two theatrical schools at once - Shchukinsky and Shchepkinsky. Despite the strong excitement, the girl was selected in both educational institutions.
At the last moment, she suddenly changed her mind and went to try her luck at VGIK.
Marchenko Lyudmila Vasilievna was enrolled in the acting faculty of VGIK, the famous Mikhail Roma became her mentor. Fellow students of the newly minted student were then still unknown to the audience Svetlana Svetlichnaya, Galina Polskikh, Alla Budnitskaya. These talented actors were waiting for a long road to fame, while Lyudmila Marchenko became famous, having just finished her first year. The girl was only 18 years old when she got a small role in the film "Volunteers", which was shot by Yuri Egorov. It was a small film debut, shortly after that she was waiting for the main role in the film, which raised her to the first step to fame. Lev Kulidzhanov noticed in time that the audience was tired of looking at collective farmers and workers, he decided to create a completely new image of a simple Soviet girl. In his painting Father's House, Lyudmila played a young Muscovite who lived in an ordinary Moscow house, but her image literally radiated romance and a desire for something sublime. The audience was fascinated by the beauty, the picture was a great success.
"White Nights"
When the film "Father's House" was released, Ivan Alexandrovich Pyryev turned 58 years old. The talented director was an influential person in the world of cinema. His work list included such well-known paintings as “Tractors”, “Kuban Cossacks”, “Pig and Shepherd”, and these are not all the films that this famous person created. When he saw Lyudmila for the first time, the director, respected by the people and authorities, fell in love with her at first sight and, as time has shown, it was not a simple fast-passing hobby. A nineteen year old snub-nosed girl forever “settled” in the heart of a far from young man.
Without thinking twice, Pyryev without any trial gives his beloved the main role in his next picture. "White Nights" became a real masterpiece, Nastya, who played in the film Marchenko, instantly won the love of the audience. Naturally, after the premiere, the young actress woke up famous throughout the Soviet Union. She was recognized on the streets, she received bags of letters from fans, in all the stalls were her photographs. Critics have called a young star - Our Audrey Hepburn.
Along with fame, envious people appeared. Ivan Pyryev and Lyudmila Marchenko became a find for gossip lovers, because at that time such a romance of a mature man and a young student could bring big trouble. Was there only this novel?
Famous director and young actress: love without reciprocity
A childhood dream come true! In the world of cinema, a new star named Lyudmila Marchenko appeared, films with her participation were extremely popular. Her patron did not hide the love for his protege at all, only could not achieve reciprocity. At first, the young beauty did not even believe that such a famous director was in love with her, in addition, he was married to Marina Ladynina, who was one of the most beautiful actresses in the USSR. Soon, Lyudmila no longer doubted that Ivan Alexandrovich's intentions were serious, but she could not reciprocate and refused.
Pyryev was sure that his Lyunechka could not resist him, so her refusal was completely unexpected. To all the troubles, the unfortunate lover was summoned to the Central Committee of the CPSU in order to make out at the meeting his immoral behavior. Ivan Anatolyevich did not begin to hide his feelings for the young actress there either and declared that he intended to marry her after he divorced his wife. Such heroism was left without a reward, Lyudmila did not change her mind and stubbornly did not want to accept the courtship of a gray-haired admirer.
Unsuccessful romance and a terrible sentence of doctors
It just so happened that the obstinate actress with an elderly director did not succeed in an office romance. Lyudmila Marchenko preferred a young actor to him. Oleg Strizhenov turned 31 at that time, he starred with Lyudochka in White Nights. Lovers carefully hid their relationship, since Oleg was married. Luda did not even tell her mother and sister about her love.
Strizhenov urged his mistress to remain silent and vowed to divorce. It is not known how long this novel would have lasted if it had not been for Luda’s pregnancy. Oleg was not at all pleased with the prospect of becoming a father, and his lover doubted whether she could combine work and motherhood. If this couple had created a family, then they would have neither housing nor livelihoods. The decision was made unanimously: Marchenko went to have an abortion.
The girl did not want to go to the hospital, so she terminated the pregnancy at home at some grandmother. After an unsuccessful operation, Lyudmila could no longer have children, the verdict of the doctors was undeniable. After all the suffering that the actress suffered, the relationship with Oleg lost all its charm and quickly ended.
Ivan Pyryev makes an official offer
The personal life of Lyudmila Marchenko from the very beginning of her acting career has been the subject of discussion both of her close circle and her many fans. It is not surprising that Pyryev knew all the details of her affair with Strizhenov and was almost the first to know that the relationship between Oleg and Lyudmila had ended. Ivan Alexandrovich resumed his courtship with a vengeance, but the girl was adamant. She refused Pyryev, explaining this by a huge difference in age, because her ardent admirer was her grandfather's peer.
Ivan Alexandrovich decided to enlist the support of the parents of his chosen one and went to marry her mother. The white-haired groom announced to the bewildered woman that he intends to urgently get a divorce and immediately sign with Lyunechka. Pyryev swore that he would make her happy by throwing all his wealth and all ties at her feet. He urged that he would open before the young actress the door to another life, in which she would not need anything. Mother did not approve of such a groom for her beauty and put him out the door. Ivan Alexandrovich left, but throughout his life he did not stop loving the rebellious snub-nosed artist.
The first husband of the actress
While love was raging around the beauty, she did not forget about her work and the career of the actress. One after another, films with her participation are being released: “Dmitro Goritsvit,” “Until Next Spring,” “Leon Garros Seeking a Friend,” and others. The girl is happy, despite her unsettled personal life. But in an instant, happiness collapsed, invitations to shoot ceased. This outcast Pyryev ordered not to give the actress a single role. The director wanted to tame the beauty and make her suffer, secretly hoping that the girl would ask him for help.
Lyudmila did not want to humiliate herself: instead of begging mercy for the angry man, she unexpectedly married everyone. Apparently, the actress went down the aisle at all out of great love, so she protested. The husband of Lyudmila Marchenko was a student at MGIMO. Vladimir Verbenko was madly in love with his young wife, but at the same time he suffered very much from jealousy. Around the newlyweds, gossip and gossip about the relationship of Marchenko and Pyryev did not subside. People could not believe that the girl refused to use the patronage of such a powerful person.
VGIK Lyudmila Marchenko graduated in 1963, after which she was enrolled in the troupe of the Experimental Theater - pantomime studio “Ectemim”. After a little time, in the same year, despite Pyryev’s ban, Alexander Zarkhi affirms Lyudmila for the role of Gali in the film “My Younger Brother”. Unfortunately, this was the last big role that the actress had a chance to play. After filming, her life became more and more painted in black shades. The beginning of an endless series of troubles was a divorce from her husband. The marriage did not last long, during the filming of the film "My Younger Brother" Vladimir left his wife - he was just tired of the jealousy and ridicule of friends who did not believe that Luda was not the mistress of the famous director.
The tragedy of Lyudmila Marchenko
For some time after the divorce, Lyuda was left alone, as if resting from family troubles, then her friend Vladimir Gusev, deciding to help her friend get out of this depressed state, introduced her to the geologist Valentin Berezin. The guy looked after Lyudochka very beautifully. Flowers, songs with the guitar, kisses under the moon played a role - the girl melted and reciprocated the fan in return. She introduced Valentine to her family, and the couple began to live together in a civil marriage.
For three years, the couple lived in perfect harmony. Friends often gathered in their house, Lyudmila could not do without communication for a long time. She was a very kind person, who at any moment was ready to support a friend in need, her optimism was simply contagious. Few of her entourage knew that a vulnerable heart was hidden behind a screen of well-being, the actress carefully hid all her experiences and tried to always be fun in public.
Valentine, as befits a geologist, often went on long business trips. When he returned, “kind” people began to whisper to him about his wife’s infidelity, the name of the director Pyryev persistently pursued Lyudmila. Berezin, of course, was well aware of this failed novel, but, like many others, he did not believe that Marchenko could resist such an influential person. Once the husband's patience snapped, and he, returning from another expedition, severely beat his wife. There was no living place on the poor woman, instead of her once pretty face, she had a bloody mess.
Having come to himself and seeing his wife covered in blood, Valentine was very frightened, but not for her, but for himself. Berezin persuaded Lyudmila not to declare him, the woman agreed and told everyone that she had an accident. At the hospital, doctors managed to save the life of the unfortunate, but her beautiful face was impossible to return. At that time, she was only 26 years old and she had to live on with scars, torn lips and a mutilated chin. Lyudmila withstood and did not lower her hands. She even starred in films, only her roles were episodic. In the film “Scouts” she played Marie, in “Gypsies” she got the role of Budulay’s wife, and in the film “The Man Drops Anchor” - the role of Ninochka.
Friends tried not to notice the girl’s mutilated face, because in her heart it was still the same beautiful Lyudmila Marchenko. After the tragedy, the actress did not retreat and became angry all over the world, she still strove to communicate. With her husband, Luda lived together for another two years. But in 1968 the truth was revealed to her that Valentin was cheating on her with another woman, besides, Berezin had a child from her lover. Forgiving the beatings to her beloved, this sensual fragile woman could not forgive him for treason and drove the unfaithful husband out of the house.
An attempt to restore former life
Left alone, Lyudmila Marchenko did not know how to live on. There were no roles in the movie, with her appearance there was nothing to rely on, fans disappeared, the audience did not recognize her, as before, on the street. Instead of old friends, new ones appeared who began to “support” Lyudmila with the help of alcohol. At this difficult time for the actress, a person appeared in her life who tried to return her to work and normal existence. Vitaliy Voitenko saved a woman from unnecessary friends. Then he found a surgeon for a lot of money, who agreed to operate on the actress in order to remove terrible scars from his face. Nobody was engaged in plastic surgery at that time in the country of councils, after the operation Lyudmila began to look even worse.
Vitaly, who worked as the administrator of the Moskontsert, did not give up. He gave Marchenko a tour of the country. The actress spoke to the audience, who greeted her very warmly for several years, but then she realized that she did not want to live stories of her former glory. In 1975, she broke off all relations with Vitaly.
Sergey Sokolov - actress last love
After breaking up with Voitenko, Lyudmila Marchenko met with the artist Sergei Sokolov, after some time they got married. Sergei became support and protection for Lyudmila's exhausted life, she hid behind him and enjoyed the calmness as a housewife.
Due to the fact that Marchenko was no longer invited to act in films, and there were no roles in the theater, in 1982 she was transferred to the position of assistant director in the production department. In the new position, the actress withstood only two years, then quit. It turned out that family happiness was not enough for Lyudmila, she could not live without a movie, without a stage, without spectators.
The husband supported his wife as best he could, with him she felt protected and tried to get used to the fact that cinema was in the past. The couple lived together for 21 years. In the summer of 1996, Sergei Sokolov suddenly died, the cause of death was a heart attack. For Lyudmila, the death of her beloved husband was a terrible blow, which finally broke her.
Lyudmila Marchenko: cause of death
In Marchenko’s apartment, strange people again began to visit every day, who brought alcohol with them. Alcohol helped Lyudmila to forget herself and not feel anything. Guests took out and sold things of the actress, so that there was something to drink.
For six months, Lyudmila Vasilievna lived in a fog. Then, having contracted the flu, she did not let anyone in; she told her family that she was fine and that the help of doctors was not required. The actress simply did not want to live anymore and was quietly waiting for death. In 1997, on January 23, Lyudmila Marchenko passed away. The Union of Cinematographers allocated 200 rubles for the funeral; only a few people escorted the once famous artist to the cemetery. It is unfortunate that fate so cruelly treated a talented and beautiful woman who soared to the top of fame with lightning speed, and then she was quickly forgotten.