Shuranova Antonina Nikolaevna - actress of the Soviet and Russian theater and cinema. She became a People's Artist of the RSFSR in 1980. Antonina Shuranova was born on April 30, 1936 in the Crimea, and died on February 5, 2003 in St. Petersburg.
Roles
Her heroines have always been intelligent and strict, seemingly not too emotional. But they always had a strong character. Actress Antonina Shuranova did not seek to please everyone, but at the same time she was kind to people. It was easy to recognize her without even glancing at the stage - her voice was so famous.
Career began for Antonina Shuranova with the film "War and Peace", where she played Princess Mary.
A family
She was born into a peasant family. Her father was a Belarusian, who in 1917 became a real activist of the revolution, a participant in the battles in the Civil War. In 1929 he became a graduate of the military-political academy of the Red Army named after Tolmachev in Petrograd.
Mother Atonina Shuranova was from a merchant family in Moscow. In 1916, she graduated from the vocational school of Varvara Lepeshkina, and in 1923 she moved to the Crimea with her husband. There, the father of the actress became a military commissar at the coastal facilities.
The family of Antonina Shuranova loved literature, studied foreign languages. It is known that her father had a good voice, played the piano and sang.
By 1939, the actress Antonina Shuranova already had two sisters. It was then that the father of the family was repressed, expelled from the party. He was arrested, questioned, and eventually fell seriously ill and died in 1940. After this story, the mother of Antonina Shuranova received an anonymous letter with the message that she urgently needs to leave the city if she wants to leave the children alive. Without losing a minute, she left for her sister in Leningrad. Soon the war began, and the family was evacuated. Now they lived in the village of Nifontovo, Vologda Oblast, where a kindergarten was organized for those in evacuation. During this period, Shuranova Antonina had to endure hard work, hunger. Nevertheless, there were positive moments in this life. Thus, a drama circle was opened by the forces of women evacuated. It staged plays for local residents. The actress was often the mother of Antonina.
After the war
The Shuranovs returned to Leningrad in 1944. Two years later, Antonina was already in third grade, and her mother became a seamstress. They lived in poverty, but the future actress brought home good grades, was fond of biology, and loved going to drama circles.
In order to help her mother, she began to study at a technical school, and then work in gardening. So three years have passed. Then she was visited by the idea of entering both the Faculty of Biology and the Theater Institute. How much different could the biography of Antonina Shuranova be, choose her first option! However, having entered both there and there, she opted for the theater. At the entrance exam, Tonya read the monologue Nastasya Filippovna, the heroine from Dostoevsky's Idiot, as well as Lefontaine's fable Young Widow. Since 1962, she studied at the Leningrad Theater Institute.
First movie
According to the recollections of classmates, from the very beginning she was distinguished by professionalism, she could continue the school of her brilliant teachers. This stood out on her course, and once she was noticed by an assistant Sergei Bondarchuk, who recruited actors in the film "War and Peace."
Antonina Shuranova herself did not dream of filming in films, she was sure that she was not photogenic. In addition, the institute did not like to let students go on set. She herself wanted to perform on the stage. But once, a woman of unusual appearance visited the lectures and asked students if they would like to try themselves in War and Peace.
The hype began, and students joked, distributing roles among themselves. Antonina said loudly about Princess Mary that she was a “crybaby with a bony back,” which her classmate needed to play. However, the assistant heard this and suddenly recommended Tony herself to play this role. But she refused. The woman insisted on her own, she followed Tony into the tram, and then went to visit her. Taking a few of her photos, she left.
Soon from Moscow, the future actress received a telegram inviting her to go to the screen test in the film "War and Peace" for the role of Princess Mary.
But Tonya herself did not take it seriously and laughed it off. The teachers were surprised at the telegram, not seeing Princess Marya as a student. Nevertheless, filmmakers began to shower the dean with invitations addressed to Shuranova. And in the end, she was released to "see Moscow."
Already on the spot, according to Tony’s recollections, she played in film screenings, being dressed in a small dress that literally “bursted at the seams”. On her hair was a chignon, whose locks stuck out in all directions, makeup, according to the recollections of the actress, was "stupid." Nevertheless, she participated in the samples at least 4 times, however, without enthusiasm and diligence.
Each time the partners were different, but the "sheepskin coat" worn on her remained the same. Soon it was announced that 17 applicants remained in the selection, and Antonina was among them. Then there were 11, 9, 5. And at that moment the excitement woke up in the actress. Competitors never encountered each other, this was intentionally adjusted: when one went to the test, the other went out of the far door. Once, Shuranova was in the dressing room when she heard everyone whisper: “Come, go!” And Sergei Fedorovich Bondarchuk appeared.
He went to the girl, examining her with all care. She fidgeted and crawled out of the chair, guided by the desire to greet the director, but then remembered that he was a man, and she was a woman, and stopped. Then she was pierced by the thought that she was a student, and again she began to slide. All this, smiling, watched the director. The actress became unbearably ashamed, and she blushed, embarrassed to tears. Exactly like a princess. In the end, she gave up, looking down, and remained on the chair.
Inspecting her with affection, Bondarchuk asked the girl about her career, and then left, whispering something to the assistants. And from that moment around Tony fuss began. The period of relations with the film crew has come. A whole hurricane fluttered around her: someone took off the "sheepskin coat", someone carried new clothes, someone combed his hair, and someone made up.
Then Ktorov, old Bolkonsky, appeared from the open door, announcing that he was now Tonin's father. He became the teacher of the girl on the set. He reminded the happy naive actress, rejoicing that she was taken away by car, that they were busy around her while she was needed in the movies. And when the shooting ends, they won’t buy a return ticket. This actress recalled in her interview.
Summary
When Tonya played the role of Marya, it made a splash. She managed to create a special image that went beyond the boundaries of a simple retelling of human fate. He became a story about a life full of inner dignity and self-confidence.
After the film
Having already graduated from the institute, Shuranova, at the invitation of Zinovy Korogodsky, went to work in the Youth Theater named after Bryantseva. This era was golden for Leningrad theaters. 3 greatest directors - Tovstonogov, Korogodsky and Vladimirov staged magnificent performances in the 70s.
Theater-goers from different parts of the country gathered at them. Nevertheless, Tonya had prejudices regarding the children's theater. But soon she took his spirit. She succeeded when she realized that it was worth communicating with the audience of childhood with the whole integrity of the emotions of adults. Thanks to this, she achieved success and satisfaction in the theater.
Korogodsky himself spoke about Antonina, that she became the star of the generation of the 60s. He served in the Northern Fleet when a film was released with her participation. Then, sailors were encouraged to buy tickets for performances with her participation. She illuminated each heroine with her own eyes, talent, and extraordinary purity of soul. She always carried a secret in herself.
Roles in the Youth Theater
Roles Anthony are especially distinguished in Gibson’s play “Who Miracle”, Olshansky’s play “Timmy, the Age of a Mammoth”. She very sensually played Annie Sullivan, who was a strong-willed, strong personality, but also got used to the role of the soft and touching Miss Fellows. They were united by a great desire to become a defender of adolescents, helping to defend their human dignity. Shuranova herself noted that in this theater she was attracted to the fact that she played the most unexpected roles.
Movie career
In 1970, Antonina Shuranova starred in the film "Tchaikovsky." Initially, a refusal sounded from an invitation there, but then she agreed, being attracted by the fact that her heroine was complex and contradictory. Tonya added to the woman, experiencing desperate love, aging, unhappy, but proud, outstanding features. She showed her complete tenderness and spirituality, which were unclaimed. There was a painful intellect in it, in fact no one needed. Tonya was glad that Smoktunovsky became her partner in the film.
Rarely she was the leading person in films, but the reward from Antonina Shuranova for each of her heroines was the inner world, the integrity of the individual. Therefore, in them was an unsolved attraction.
In 1974, Antonina Shuranova was noted in the film "Strange Adults." There she played the teacher of the orphanage.
In the film "Engineer Graftio" Antonina Shuranova was the wife of the protagonist.
Her partners noted the special, noble beauty of the actress, her firmness. She noted with her presence Mikhalkov’s film “An Unfinished Piece for a Mechanical Piano”. Tonya played the role of Anna Voynitseva, and it was extremely successful. The film "Unfinished Piece for a Mechanical Piano" was released in 1977.
Personal life
Having worked in the Youth Theater for almost 20 years, Tonya played numerous roles, became acquainted with all the actors. Including with his future husband - Alexander Khochinsky.
Antonina Shuranova and Alexander Khochinsky met when both already had spouses. But they were attracted to each other. The meeting took place when Alexander participated in the graduation performance “The Little Humpbacked Horse”, playing Sleeping, and Shuranova became Tsar Maiden in him. Friendship was made between the families: Antonina with her husband, whom they had signed in their first year, and Alexander and his wife Ira Asmus, who later died under tragic circumstances: the clowness broke from the circus top. Together they spent a lot of time.
Then Alexander went to serve, where his artistic talent was revealed. At first he was considered a singing young man, but then became an actor. He became famous blowing with Victor Fedorov. They sang excellently, but not a single tape was left with his recordings.
Having divorced his wife, he signed with the artist. And Tonya married a doctor a second time.
While serving in the army, Khochinsky came to the Antonina family, staying overnight. Her husband was unhappy with this. And Sasha left after breakfast, disappearing for the whole day. He tended to arise unexpectedly and also disappear. It was as if he sailed through life, along one guided current.
This went on for some time: future spouses converged with others and divorced in front of each other until one moment. Together they staged a performance by Kipling "The Cat, which walked by itself." The roles of the actors were sensual: Sasha was a Wild Man, and Tonya was a Wild Woman. This brought them closer.
And at one point, Shuranova took her things and moved to Khochinsky. She already understood that with her ex-husband, who did not understand her or the theater, she did not want to stay. He was indignant that she was late in the theater. And she said that the theater is not a machine that can be turned off by a beep and leave. The husband became a stranger.
When Shuranova went to Alexander, daylight began.
Friendship linked them for 14 years, she was 7 years older than him. And together they began to live in a communal apartment since 1976. The families living in it became one family. Before coming to Antonina Khochinsky’s apartment, the neighbor Lyusya was washing and feeding. When Shuranova arrived, she left notes for the residents: “Tonya, your pies are under the towel, and Sasha’s mash is in the bucket.” But the wedding between Tonya and Sasha did not take place, they only signed. It happened so. Once the hotel staff during the tour refused to put them in the same room, and Khochinsky suggested putting stamps in their passports. Until that moment, they lived together for 7 years, and then in between rehearsals they became husband and wife.
The duet of Shuranova and Khochinsky is one of the most striking. Alexander was violent, temperamental, and Antonina - closed, strict and purposeful. It seemed that there was an abyss between them, but all their contradictions swept away their feelings.
Their life on Pokrovka was enveloped in rumors and tales. Khochinsky was very sociable, and all Pokrovka knew him, he had a lot of friends. Their house was always filled with people, and everyone considered themselves Alexander’s best friend. Antonina and Alexander played in a theatrical duet, staged plays, and then left the Youth Theater together with the resignation of the director Korogodsky in 1986. He was falsely accused of sodomy, removed from office. In those years, perestroika began, many new theater studios arose, and in the period 1990-1993, Shuranova became an actress in Interactel. Especially for her was staged the play "Andromache" by Rassin. However, the audience did not appreciate it, and the performance took place no more than 10 times. In 1993, Interactelier closed.
Shuranova continued to work on radio and dubbing. In 1995, she played at the Satire Theater on Vasilyevsky. The years were difficult, the hall was never full, new performances were not staged. However, leader Vladimir Slovokhotov noted that Shuranova prayed for the theater, leaving a special feeling in it: when you enter it, you do not want to leave. Nevertheless, she played only in 3 performances here.
last years of life
On April 11, 1998, Alexander Khochinsky dies . About the cause of death, Antonina Shuranova told the following. Back in 1996, her husband went to hospital because of numerous ulcers and a doubled heart. He treated frivolity with health. He did not refuse to drink alcohol, but 2 years before his death he quit smoking. He was proud of it.
On April 11, 1998, he was going to a rehearsal and was already starting the car, but then he went home, saying that he was having difficulty breathing. Shuranova immediately realized what was happening, and called the doctors. They tried to pump Alexander to the last. And Antonina stood opposite 2.5 hours.
She once played in the movie "Cases of the Heart" and understood what was happening.
The doctor told her that her heart refused to start. The doctors tried, but then turned off the defibrillator and began filling out the papers. She never cried. During the funeral, some men with beards and a mustache cried soberly, and she sat calmly.
Then she did not want to leave home. Sometimes she was going to visit friends in the country, but she came and couldn’t find a place for herself. And then I left for the apartment, and when I sat down in a chair, I saw how the armrest was bending. And greeted Sasha. She believed that he was near.
She was surprised that after his death she was assisted by tramps with whom he walked. The artist with whom Khochinsky drank presented her with his portrait. During the life of her husband, she did not love all these people, considered them drinking companions. But when he died, they came and gave her envelopes with money. A wreath was placed on his grave with the inscription: "Sasha from Pokrovka."
Without her husband, Antonina became closed, she stopped communicating with many people, was not happy about working at the Satire Theater. And then she found out that she had cancer. She continued to work, was an actress in series, staged a play, but faded away. After a long struggle with the disease, she died. This happened on February 5, 2003. The grave of Antonina Shuranova is located at the Serafimovsky cemetery in St. Petersburg, her husband Alexander Khochinsky is buried next to her. She had no children.
Memories
Tonya never aspired to become legendary. She did not have to try to please everyone. She was respected for her ability to say no. And she quite allowed herself that. Once she was the only one who got up and left while watching the not very successful film of the young Roman Smirnov.
He was grateful to her for her honesty. Sometimes the theater, rehearsing with Smirnov, wants to hear her unique viola, wishing good luck and telling about her beloved Italy.
Many note her human decency and a kind of awe that always lived in her. This famous “Maryin” gaze with radiant eyes always remained with her. He hugged everything around with deep love. Antonina herself said that the princess taught her tears and pity, while at the same time giving her a lot of vulnerability. Traces of the role in which the actress got accustomed for a long time pursued her, leaving an imprint on her personality.
She needed to try to become different - weak and strong, great and insignificant in her roles. But always she was the queen of her actions and life. Surely she experienced the envy of others. While still a student, she became famous. Her roles were interesting, diverse. Men were drawn to her, and in husbands she had a handsome Alexander Khochinsky. But few understood that her strength was from complete suffering. Proud head landing - from humiliation. Wisdom comes from bitter experience, faith comes from loss.
Antonina Shuranova left her indelible mark in Russian cinema and theater. And in 2006, a documentary “About leaving the light in living hearts ...” was released about her.