Russia is famous all over the world for its cultural figures. Actors of Russian theaters want to see on the best stages of the world. Opera singers glorify the art of the former USSR country far beyond the CIS. Russian actors are also very popular abroad. Among them is Alexander Baluev. The filmography of the talented artist consists of many diverse paintings. He is one of the most sought-after actors in the film industry of his country. He is loved by millions of people. Films with Baluev are broadcast on many television channels. His skill of reincarnation is sometimes amazing: how can so many different characters get along in one person? How did Alexander Baluev reach such heights? What was the starting point for making such an important decision in his life to become an actor? Parents? Friends? Or something completely different? Let's figure it out.
Childhood
On December 6, 1958, Alexander Baluev was born in the capital of the USSR. The first years of his carefree childhood passed on Kotelnicheskaya embankment. After some time, the family moved to the Smolenka area. The boy’s dad is a career officer, and his mother is an engineer, although he was also directly involved in military affairs.
From an early age, Alexander had a difficult relationship with his father. He did not believe that anything good would come out of his son. Perhaps this was what prompted the boy to prove to his parents that he could achieve more.
Choosing a future path
In childhood, Alexander dreamed of becoming an athlete: he played hockey very well. Baluev wholeheartedly wanted to achieve high results in this field. However, priorities soon changed, and he decided to plunge into the financial world. Ratings, bets, vouchers, venture projects and many other terms quickly bored the future actor. And he left the world of calculators and stock exchanges. Nor was he attracted to the military career that his father had predicted for him. Relocations, charters, uniforms - all this was alien to the young man. The only thing that really attracted Alexander was art. His mother was an ardent fan of theater, opera and ballet. From childhood, she took her son with her to the premiere. The intriguing process of reincarnation of artists on stage is so exciting for the young man that he decides to devote himself to the art of acting.
Thorns and successes
The first attempt to enter the Shchukin school ended in failure. However, this did not affect Baluyev’s desire to become an actor. For a whole year he has been working as an assistant to the illuminator at the famous Mosfilm.
A year later, Alexander tries his hand again. This time he gives his preference to the Moscow Art Theater School. Having successfully passed all the exams, Baluev becomes a first-year student. Its curators are Ivan Mikhailovich Tarkhanov and Pavel Vladimirovich Massalsky. In 1980, Alexander completed his studies.
Immediately several theaters invite Baluev to join their troupes. However, service in the Armed Forces of the USSR was already looming before him. Therefore, the artist gives his preference to the Theater of the Soviet Army. Baluev’s professional career began with productions such as “The Lady with Camellias” and “Clock without Hands”.
And while in the theatrical field, everything turned out perfectly for Alexander, then there was a lull in the film industry. The directors for a long time did not notice the talent of the young actor.
Movie debut
In 1984, movie fans will recognize a new name: Alexander Baluev. The filmography of the actor begins with participation in the film "Egor". Then came the surreal drama The Wife of a Kerosene Maker. Since that time, theater and cinema have been closely intertwined in the life of a talented artist. He is becoming more and more in demand in two fields at once.
In 1987, the young man left the hospitable walls of the theater of the Russian Army and transferred to the troupe of Valery Fokin, who worked in the Yermolova Theater. There, he plays the main roles in the productions of “Snow, Near the Prison”, “Caligula” and “The Second Year of Freedom”. However, soon the artist leaves this theater. “One place and one director enslave a creative personality. The artist’s attachment to one theater, by nature of a free and independent person, is a kind of slavery, ”Alexander Baluev admits in an interview. The filmography of the actor is gradually replenished with new works. In 1989, he takes part in the filming of two paintings. The first tape is a drama by Sergei Gazarov entitled "Crazy." “Love with privileges” became the second picture, where he starred in the leading role Baluev. The filmography of the actor by the beginning of the new millennium totaled more than ten paintings. It is worth noting that even at the beginning of his career, Alexander was invited only to important roles.
Creative way
In 1992, the military-historical film of Yevgeny Gerasimov “Richard the Lionheart” was released. Both the public and critics were delighted with the talent of the actor. His partners on the set were Armen Dzhigarkhanyan, Irina Bezrukova, Sergey Zhigunov, Svetlana Amanova and many others.
In the 90s, many films were released, where Baluev was involved. The actor was shot not only for Russian cinema. He was very well received and Hollywood. American films with Baluev “Peacemaker” and “Clash with the Abyss”, which were released alternately in 1997 and 1998, were greeted with applause not only in the United States, but also in the CIS countries. He happened to work with many western stars, including Nicole Kidman, George Clooney, Elijah Wood, Morgan Freeman and others.
However, the Russian public was closer to Alexander Baluev, who was already familiar and so dear in many films. The actor starred in many good films. In 1995, Vladimir Khotinenko’s drama entitled “The Muslim” appeared on the screens. The supporting role, performed by Baluev, brought the actor the prizes of the prestigious Kinotavr and Nika awards.
Two years before the release of this picture, a series with Baluev titled “White Horse” also appeared on the screen. This historical-military picture is a reflection of pre-revolutionary events. She tells of the difficult fate of Admiral Kolchak and the investigation of the mysterious death of the royal family.
One actor of various roles.
Films with Alexander Baluev are a collection of diverse paintings. There are adventure films (The Life Line), and military dramas (In August 44th, Holiday), and historical films (The Knight of Kenneth), and screen versions of the stories of Russian classics (Mu-Mu ), and action films, and detective stories ("Maroseyka 12"), and even comedy. In the last genre, Baluyev’s talent first appeared brightly on the set of Alla Surikova’s series “The Perfect Couple”.
Yegor Konchalovsky also made some films with the participation of Baluyev. Under the guidance of a talented director, the actor was involved in the films “Hermit” and “Antikiller”.
Public recognition
However, the artist received all-Russian love after participating in the series "Maroseyka 12", "Kamenskaya. Involuntarily assassin ”,“ Nina. Payback for love. " This stately and charismatic man easily copes with roles of any complexity. Especially successfully he manages to transform into the image of a fighter for peace and justice. Superhero and macho - this is how many viewers see Alexander Baluev. "Special Forces" is a series where the image of an unprincipled fighter against evil, played by the actor, can be traced most clearly. This tape tells about several special classified operations conducted by the GRU in Moscow, St. Petersburg, the North Caucasus, Tajikistan and Kosovo. The first episode of this film was released in 2002. A year later, a sequel appeared - Special Forces 2. Along with Baluev, both the first and second parts of the series are played by the wonderful actor Vyacheslav Galkin.
Talented “Silent”
It is worth noting that over the course of his career, Alexander has starred in more than fifteen series. The last of these is called Life and Fate. This military drama film was released in 2012. Before her, Baluev starred in the main role in the series "Zhukov".
To date, the filmography of the actor has more than eighty films. A significant proportion of them tells about the tragic and dramatic events of the war years. Alexander Baluev, whose photo adorns the covers of art almanacs, is a very sought-after artist in his age group. Everyone loves him: directors - for patience, beginner actors - for understanding and responsiveness, the audience - for vivid roles, critics - for the ability to transform. Among the cinema of art, Baluev is called "silent." In this one word lies the whole truth about a talented actor. Without words, with just one glance, he manages to convey to the viewer the importance and significance of the moment.
Personal life
In the early 90s, Alexander Baluev left for Koktebel to shoot the film "Richard the Lionheart." It was there, in this enchanted Mecca, where the literary bohemia still loves to relax, the actor met his future wife, Maria, who is a journalist by profession. At that time, she was divorced and raised two children. However, this did not interfere with the relationship between Alexander and Mary.
Soon the couple got married. However, even high feelings could not reconcile the Polish beauty with the constant ignorance of the Russians. She never agreed to move to Moscow. All the fifteen years of marriage Baluev lived in two houses: one in Russia, and the second in Warsaw. It is there, in the Polish capital, that Alexander’s daughter, Maria Anna, grows. In 2012, the couple divorced. According to the official version, the spouse of the actor became the initiator of the divorce. According to some sources, the woman is tired of the constant separation from her husband and his unwillingness to live in Poland. Moreover, Mary could not reconcile with the bohemian way of life of Alexander.