How many people know who Olga Konstantinovna Chekhova is? TSB (Great Soviet Encyclopedia) contains brief information about this woman. What is known about her? Olga Chekhova is a student of the great Stanislavsky and a movie star. She was also the wife of the nephew of the writer Anton Chekhov. At one time, she was the prima of the Third Reich and the darling of Adolf Hitler. On the other hand, she is considered a Kremlin agent. She is a legend and a real mystery of the twentieth century. It is a pity that for a long time her name was hushed up ... How did Olga Konstantinovna Chekhova's life turn out? Family, children, biography - all this became the subject of our review. So, let's begin.
In the family of Russified Germans
Olga Konstantinovna Chekhova (nee Knipper) - born in 1897. Born in Alexandropol, in Armenia. She was named after the aunt, the famous actress Olga Leonardovna Knipper-Chekhova. Also, the latter was the wife of the genius writer Anton Chekhov.
The parents of the future star were Russified Germans. So, their ancestors lived in Saarbrücken in Germany.
Father was an engineer. And at that time he was engaged in the construction of one of the railways of the Russian Empire.
When little Ola was two years old, the Knippers family moved to Tsarskoye Selo.
According to the recollections of the actress, it was here that she often played with royal offspring.
Lecturer Stanislavsky
In Tsarskoye Selo, Erich Gollerbach was in love with Olga. In those days he was a famous art critic. However, this love affair did not receive any continuation. The fact is that in 1910 the Knippers family once again moved to another city. Now this time - to Petersburg.
At school, Olga studied pretty poorly. She received high marks mainly in disciplines related to art. That is why in 1914, parents decided to send her to Moscow in order to better master this subject. In the Mother See, she lived with her aunt, the widow of Anton Chekhov.
Thus, she, as a listener, began to attend classes at a theater studio at the Moscow Art Theater. And the first teacher was the brilliant K. Stanislavsky.
First marriage
In this educational institution Olga managed to quickly get comfortable. With success, she took part in many sensational productions of her teacher, among which were Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard.
After a while, she received the role of Ophelia in Hamlet. And the main character was played by Mikhail Chekhov, who was the nephew of the famous writer.
They developed a stormy romance. Although claimed to love Olga and cousin of Michael Ivan. But the actress decided to immediately end this relationship, and in September 1914, Olga and Mikhail secretly married. They say that she was more than proud of her new surname. Even after years, she did not succeed her.
Mikhail Chekhov subsequently became an outstanding director and teacher. In the United States, he set up his theater school. Among his students were Marlon Brando, James Dean, Yul Brynner, Paul Newman, Marilyn Monroe and many other celebrities.
Break with Mikhail Chekhov
When the newlyweds got married, Olga was only seventeen. Michael is six years older than his wife. In 1916, the couple also had their first-born - daughter Olya.
The actress still managed to continue acting in silent films. For example, she took part in the film "Cagliostro".
But here the marriage between Michael and Olga, unfortunately, was more than unsuccessful. They did not agree on the characters, and at the end of 1917 decided to leave.
But Olga Konstantinovna Chekhova, whose photo you have the opportunity to see in the article, managed to maintain not only a big name, but also good relations with her ex-spouse. They did not look back at the past and decided not to recall their mutual reproaches. In a word, they really wanted to live exclusively in the present.
In addition, Mikhail Chekhov was very attached to his daughter. Years later, she received an inheritance from her father, a ranch near the American city of San Francisco.
Trip to europe
Meanwhile, after the events of October 1917, Olga's comfortable life turned into a living hell. To feed her daughter, she was forced to sell her memorabilia and personal items. And she herself was starving.
In early 1921, she received permission from the authorities for a six-week trip abroad. The purpose of this voyage is to improve health. So she decided to go to Germany. She was 23.
It was there that she once again arranged her personal life. She became the wife of a certain Friedrich Yaroshi. True, this marriage was very short-lived. After the divorce, she decided to devote herself entirely to art.
German cinema debut
When she was 24, she made her first film debut in Germany. We are talking about the silent film Vogeled Castle. The premiere took place in April 1921 and was a huge success. Since then, she began to act regularly, in six to eight films a year.
In 1922, she took part in the filming of the film "Round dance of death." The picture received very flattering responses. In a word, Olga was recognized by German viewers and directors, they wanted to see her on the screens as often as possible.
After some time, Olga Konstantinovna Chekhova, films with the participation of which found her grateful audience, again appeared on the set, but now she already acted as a director. Alas, her film "Pagoda" did not win much success. By this time, Olga received German citizenship and, of course, no longer thought about returning to the Soviet Union.
She was chased by luck. So, she signed a contract with one of the theaters in Berlin. And a few months later, at the end of spring 1924, her mother, sister and daughter moved to live with her.
In 1927, Olga starred in the movie "The Burning Frontier." By the way, the future Fuhrer Adolf Hitler really liked this tape. Subsequently, he will always praise her for this role.
But still, the actress brought true fame to the film "Moulin Rouge", shot by a British director.
Then Olga managed to work on the sound tape, which was called "Three from a gas station." This picture has become a classic of world cinema.
And after this film, Olga Konstantinovna Chekhova went to America. Hitchcock himself invited her to star in his film Mary. Staying in the States and making a career as a Hollywood actress was a truly tempting offer. But she decided to return to Germany. The Germans were able to appreciate this act.
Meet the Fuhrer
By the beginning of the 30s, Olga Konstantinovna Chekhova-Knipper, whose photo was posted in the article, was already a real star of German cinema. And in 1933, the Nazis came to power. Because of this, many directors, writers, actors immediately left the country. But Olga stayed. She was officially introduced to the Fuhrer, Goebbels and Himmler. Hitler called her beloved actress and showered her with compliments. He patronized her in every way. According to Chekhova, Hitler was a very timid and awkward person. True, he always behaved with women with Austrian courtesy. However, she did not see in him something "demonic" and bewitching.
Subsequently, Chekhova will repeatedly have to attend official receptions at the National Socialists. She met Mussolini. She had a good relationship with the Goering couple. She also met with Eva Brown, who was considered the mistress of the Fuhrer. By the way, women more than became friends and began to communicate often.
State actress
By 1936, Chekhova had many offers from various theaters. She had a truly phenomenal success. Perhaps for this reason, the Fuhrer decided to award Olga the title of "state actress of the Third Reich."
In the same year, she became engaged to a millionaire Marcel Robins from Belgium. However, this marriage also failed. The couple broke up in 1938.
In 1937, the Moscow Art Theater troupe took a tour of France. The widow of Anton Chekhov took part in these tours. Soviet officials gave her the opportunity to call in the German capital to see her beloved niece. Relatives did not communicate for twenty years. As a result, Olga Chekhova gave her aunt a brilliant welcome. But Olga Leonardovna was in a state of shock. The niece decided to introduce her to the Nazi leaders. Goering shook hands with his aunt and smiled warmly. The Fuhrer was not present at this event. But he called her and greatly apologized that he would not be able to arrive because of urgent state affairs ...
In the early fall of 1940, during the battle for Britain, the actress arrived at the Luftwaffe base in Normandy. The pilots decided to hold a parade in honor of their beloved actress. A month later, the next issue of one of the most prestigious publications was published in the French capital, where on the front page there was a photograph of Chekhova surrounded by German soldiers.
In addition, the military called her as a guest in the garrisons of Lille and Brussels. She also performed songs for the wounded in the Tübingen hospital.
And at the end of 1940, Chekhov received a certain package from the Fuhrer. There was a photograph of Hitler with a dedicatory inscription. The German leader once again admired her talent.
Eastern front
When Nazi Germany decided to attack the USSR, Goebbels asked Chekhova what were the prospects for the Nazi troops to capture Moscow. The actress, not embarrassed at all, said that, apparently, they would not succeed. True, she added that maybe she was mistaken.
Meanwhile, the fascist army occupied Crimea as well. And in Yalta was the so-called. "Belaya Dacha", where the writer Anton Chekhov once lived. They say that this house was not destroyed and was not damaged just because the actress specifically asked the Nazi leaders to keep this building.
The war went on. Olga Konstantinovna Chekhova, whose biography was not very simple, decided to refuse to speak on the Eastern Front. And when she was on the air, she performed not patriotic compositions, but only lyrical ones. She also continued to tour. She was in Prague, Munich, Vienna.
According to unverified sources, the counterintelligence of the USSR was going to attract the actress to the attempt on the Fuhrer. For obscure reasons, the Communist leader Joseph Stalin personally canceled this plan.
Many believe that Olga Konstantinovna Knipper-Chekhova generally worked for Soviet intelligence. So, Sergo Beria on the pages of his book writes that Chekhov was an agent of the USSR. But documentary evidence has not yet been submitted.
Perhaps it was all that way. In any case, there is information that in the beginning of 1945 Himmler intended to interrogate Chekhov. When his fighters arrived at the actress, they saw that she was drinking sweet tea with the Fuhrer himself. Thus, the arrest did not take place.
And at the end of April there was a battle for the German capital ...
Prima's arrest
When the terrible war ended, Soviet soldiers came for Chekhova. They found out who she was and arrested. At first she was interrogated in Berlin, and then sent to the capital of the Soviet Union in a military plane. There she lived in a two-room apartment. She was forbidden to see her relatives. In a word, she was still a captive.
She was visited by Soviet officers. They brought books for her, played chess with her. They talked about music, cinema, theatrical productions, and literature. And then the three-month interrogations began. The actress did not hide anything at all. Then, at the end of July 1945, Chekhov was returned back to Berlin. She, an accomplice of the Nazi regime, was not shot or arrested. Why - this question still remains unanswered ...
Post-war time
When Olga Konstantinovna Knipper-Chekhova returned to Berlin, she had practically no means of subsistence. Now her material condition almost no longer existed. In these difficult conditions, her fame as an actress helped. She said that many then asked for her photographs as a keepsake. For this, she received food, as well as cigarettes.
And in November 1945, a Berlin newspaper called The Courier, which was published by the French military authorities, reported that Chekhov was awarded a high award - the Russian Order. And he was handed over by Stalin himself. This message has been replicated in a number of well-known publications.
Four years later, Chekhov decided to go to West Germany. Moreover, absolutely no one interfered with this desire. It was there that she managed to establish her own film studio. Unfortunately, this project was not fully implemented, because the company went bankrupt.
Then Chekhov decided to return to the scene. In addition, she again began acting in films. She also once again decided to expand the range of her activities.
She sold her antique jewelry items to open her new company. She created a beauty salon called Olga Chekhova Cosmetic Gesellschaft. By the way, a cosmetologist’s diploma helped her in this regard. Back in 1937, she became a professional specialist. Received a diploma in Paris. By the way, Chekhova’s company has become one of the most famous in European countries. At the same time, branches of her company appeared ... So, one of the salons was in Milan.
In the late 50s, the actress took up the pen. The book of her memoirs was called "I am not keeping silent!" The work was very popular.
On the Sunset
Thanks to Chekhov’s revenues, in fact, she was able to secure a decent old age
In 1962, she was awarded the prize "For many years of outstanding contribution to German cinema."
Two years later, she wanted to come to the USSR in order to finally communicate with her relatives. But officials refused her.
In the same year, she broke up with her theatrical career. She was sixty seven. And she left the movie a decade earlier. By the way, her penultimate film was called "Talent to be happy." By the way, the actress played herself.
In 1972, German authorities awarded her with the Merit Cross.
And literally until she was very old, she loved to drive. Although she had her driver. Her favorite car was BMW.
The death of the actress
She died in 1980. Doctors have diagnosed brain cancer. She died at the age of 83. The great actress was buried in a cemetery in Munich.
In 1997, in Berlin, in the Spandau district, a street was even named after Chekhova.
Olga Konstantinovna Chekhova (years of life: 1897 - 1980) survived the death of her daughter. She crashed in a plane crash at fifty.
Granddaughter of Chekhova also became an actress.
And the last one. One of the paintings by Olga Chekhova was called "The Man Who Wanted to Live Twice." Apparently, she already managed to live two fates, two lives. She lived one in Germany, and the other in Russia ...