Biography, the cause of death of Elena Mayorova in the late nineties was often covered in newspapers. The prima of the Efrem Moscow Art Theater, one of the most sought-after actresses in Russian cinema, the beloved woman of a talented artist, and sudden death. Shocking, creepy and in a sense symbolic. Biography of Elena Mayorova ended at the entrance to the theater, where she played the best roles. The actress burned herself. There is a lot of obscurity in this story today.
The biography and cause of death of actress Elena Mayorova is the topic of today's article. We begin the story from the early years of the heroine. Not only because it was so accepted, but also in order to understand what prompted the very successful woman to set herself on fire on August 27, 1997.
early years
Biography of Elena Mayorova began in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in 1958. The family of her artists was not. Elena was born in an ordinary Soviet working-class family. Probably, from an early age, she was different from her peers. The biography of Elena Mayorova, like any other famous person, is composed mainly of the memoirs of colleagues and relatives.
Those with whom the actress played on the same stage at the Moscow Art Theater or appeared on the same set did not know what she was like in childhood. But Konstantin Raikin once said that in the first minutes of meeting Elena, it was clear that he was an extraordinary person with great talent. And they met during the entrance exams at GITIS.
After graduating from school, it was no coincidence that Elena went to Moscow to storm the best theater universities. She dreamed of an acting career since childhood. From the third grade she attended a theater studio, and at the age of twelve she first visited the capital. Moscow conquered a girl from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. This city made the same impression on her as it makes on many young residents of the province. They are striving for Moscow. Some manage to gain a foothold in this large, cruel city. And only a few become famous.
However, the point is not in the ability to become famous. Perhaps how great was the talent of Elena Mayorova, only her colleagues and the inveterate theater-goers who visited the Moscow Art Theater in the 90s know well. On the screen, she increasingly appeared in the image of simple, unremarkable women: conductors, police officers, single mothers. And for those who lived far from Moscow, it was difficult to imagine her in the role of the Chekhov heroine. That is why it caused sympathy among ordinary people. She was close, understandable, natural.
First try
The Moscow period in the biography of Elena Mayorova began in 1975. It is worth saying that she studied well at school, she was a universal favorite, an activist. That is, she is not used to doubting her own abilities. But metropolitan universities a little upset our heroine. She was not accepted into any of them - the type did not fit. Tall and thin then were not required. Soviet cinema needed girls with magnificent breasts and a thick blond braid. At least something similar the applicant heard from one of the members of the selection committee.
Construction work
In the biography of actress Elena Mayorova, there is a year of study at vocational school. This does not mean that after the unsuccessful passing of the entrance exams, she abandoned the dream of becoming an actress and decided to devote herself to the profession of an isolator. Elena needed to somehow stay in Moscow. Seeing an ad for students in vocational schools with a note: "a hostel is provided to nonresidents," the still unknown girl from Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, without thinking twice, went to the specified address.
A year later, Elena received a working specialty. Even managed to work a little at a construction site. If you do not go into details, the biography, the personal life of Elena Mayorova may seem quite successful. She had no children, however. There is an assumption that the actress undermined her health in her youth, when she worked at a construction site.
Today, as already mentioned, one can learn about key moments from the biography and personal life of Elena Mayorova on the basis of numerous interviews that her colleagues and friends gave to the press and television. Each of them had their own point of view. Which of them is closest to the truth is unknown.
Yet the childlessness of the actress explains the story provided by a reliable source. Elena, like other graduates of vocational schools, had to work in any weather. But unlike her colleagues, Mayorova refused to quilted jackets and feminine cotton pants. She worked in jeans and a short jacket. As a result, she became seriously ill. The girl underwent surgery, and after the doctor said that she would never have children. This is probably the first sad page in the biography of Elena Mayorova.
In the photo below, a shot from the film in which the heroine of today's article debuted. She managed to enter GITIS for the second year. This time the selection committee did not pay attention to the inappropriate type. Teachers understood - in front of them is a real talent. Among first-year students, then Mayorova became the first to be invited to act in films.
Theatre
Elena Mayorova graduated from GITIS in 1980. Then she was accepted into the troupe of the Sovremennik Theater. Here she worked only a year, until Oleg Efremov was the main director. Then she went after him to the Moscow Art Theater. Mayorova’s relations with Efremov were not always smooth. And at the beginning of her career, she already received quite significant roles. Mayorova played Masha in Chekhov's “Three Sisters”. At rehearsals, Efremov was dissatisfied with the young actress. However, there is one rather interesting story about relations with the famous director.
The last love of Oleg Efremov was Elena Mayorova. Their relationship was platonic. Nevertheless, once the director of his beloved actress made an offer. She refused, and after Efremov repeatedly frustrated her anger during a rehearsal. Perhaps there is fiction in this story. But according to the recollections of the friends of the actress, it was really difficult for her to play the role of the Chekhov heroine. There were moments when Mayorova even doubted that she had chosen the right profession.
First marriage
In Soviet times, the law on the distribution of university graduates was in force. Natives of the province went after receiving a diploma to their hometowns. Elena Mayorova did not dream of playing on the stage of the South Sakhalin theater. She entered into a fictitious marriage with Muscovite Vladimir Chaplygin, who, as it later turned out, was fictitious only for her. The young man long and unrequitedly loved Elena.
But there is another version. Elena did not marry Vladimir by calculation, but later could not find a common language with Chaplygin's relatives. The newlyweds moved to the hostel. Life was not easy for them. The love boat crashed into everyday problems that were well known to every inhabitant of the Soviet hostel. The native Muscovite was not able to get used to such conditions, and he soon returned to his native home. Elena, having become a Muscovite, got the opportunity to get a job in any metropolitan theater. But, as you know, for a long time did not touch. Having entered the Moscow Art Theater troupe, she worked here until the last days of her life.
The appearance of the prince
Theatrical career of a graduate of GITIS was developing quite successfully. But for female happiness, of course, this is not enough. Elena spent her free time in the company of her friends. Such parties were accompanied by well-known talk about the prince. Once, while visiting one of her friends, Mayorova complained of her loneliness, asking rhetorical questions: "Where is he? When will I meet him?" A friend replied: "Now! Here he is already on." Surprisingly, at that moment there was a knock on the door. Within seconds, Elena saw a young man who later became her husband.
Sergey Sherstyuk was the general’s son, a fashion artist. He had no end to the fans, but when he saw Elena, he fell in love at first sight. Then he found out where she lives, and came to visit. So Elena Mayorova met her fate.
Family happiness
Millions of Soviet women dreamed of marrying a general. Sherstyuk was not a general, but only his son. But this is not bad either. He owned a spacious apartment in the center of Moscow, in addition, he was quite famous in creative circles. And most importantly, he was a loving, caring husband.
For several years Elena lived in a dorm room, where bed bugs felt much more comfortable than the hostess. After marriage, she moved to the general's apartment. Sherstyuk's paintings in the mid-80s sold well. On his canvases, he depicted the realities of Soviet life, and this topic was popular abroad. The artist dreamed of emigration, but his wife did not support this. Outside the acting profession, Mayorova could not exist.
Depression
The strangest moment in the biography of Elena Mayorova is the cause of death. The photo in the article shows the actress with her loving husband, a well-known artist in those years. According to the recollections of loved ones, there was no disagreement between them. Despite the fact that each of them from time to time there were novels on the side. Nevertheless, Mayorova often suffered from depression - a disease that is familiar to many art people. But the point is not only in the excessive sensitivity characteristic of actors.
In the perestroika years, Sherstyuk made good money. After the collapse of the USSR, the topic of Soviet art abroad lost interest. Pictures bought less and less. At the same time, Mayorova acted regularly in films. In the 90s, when many artists quit the profession, she was able to play in 5-6 films in just two years. And in the theater, and on the set, she worked with great pressure. She even played a small role as if the whole plot was held on it. Elena was very tired, while she worked for two. Vladimir Sherstyuk was one of those who failed to adapt to a new life.
Fateful roles
One of the last roles played by Mayorova is a female killer in the film adaptation of Leskov's work. The actors are very superstitious. They believe that the characters played leave their mark on fate. Every day before the shooting, Mayorova went to the temple, lit a candle and prayed that this terrible role would not leave an imprint on her life. She played a lot of heroines with a tragic fate. But the connection between the film images and the life of the actress hardly existed. All this is probably speculation that takes place in the acting environment. Finally, we turn to the description of the last day in the biography of Elena Mayorova.
Cause of death
A few weeks before her death, Elena Mayorova purchased an antique kerosene lamp abroad. On August 27, 1997, she was alone at home. Why it was necessary to light a kerosene lamp on this day is unknown. But there is a version that, having done this, she accidentally spilled kerosene on the dress. Then she went out onto the landing and lit a cigarette. When it caught fire, I ran out of the entrance to the side of my native theater. There, at the entrance to the Moscow Art Theater, an ambulance came for her.
Elena Mayorova died in the hospital three hours later. Some believe that she set herself on fire intentionally. Others claim that this is an accident. What thoughts visited her on this August day? Nobody knew about this. Even a husband who passed away after nine months.