Irina Shevchuk Actress Date of Birth: 06.10.1951 Country: Russia

Biography of Irina Shevchuk

Irina Borisovna Shevchuk is an actress, born on October 6, 1951, in Murmansk, Russia. She is a distinguished artist of Ukraine (1973) and a laureate of the Lenin Komsomol Prize (1974). She is also a member of the Union of Cinematographers of the USSR (1974) and the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts "Nika" (1995). Since 2000, she has been the vice-president of the Guild of Film Actors of Russia.

Early Life:
Irina Shevchuk's early childhood memories are associated with the Arctic - the northern lights, white nights, and trips on snow-covered tundras with her father, who served in the Northern Fleet. She grew up as a dreamer and an avid reader. When she was 11 years old, her family moved to Kiev. It was by chance that Irina Shevchuk was introduced to the world of cinema: in the 10th grade, she appeared in a cameo role in the film "Nu i molodezh" directed by Rezo Chkheidze (1968). These three weeks of shooting were enough for her to fall in love with the acting profession. During the summer nights, she prepared for admission to the Kiev Theater Institute, studying Ukrainian repertoire. However, a friend introduced Irina to the Union of Cinematographers, where the commission, led by the renowned actor from the Moscow Art Theatre, People's Artist of the USSR, and Professor V.V. Belokurov, was selecting actors for the national course. Successfully passing the exams, she was enrolled in the Moscow Film School (VGIK) in the workshop of V.V. Belokurov.

Film Career:
During her third year at VGIK, Irina Shevchuk played the role of Rita Ovsyanina in the famous film "A zori zdes tikhie" (1972) directed by S.I. Rostotsky. This role, as a round-faced soldier girl with chubby lips and big eyes, brought her instant fame and recognition, becoming her trademark. Working with the great S.I. Rostotsky was a significant experience for Irina Shevchuk, comparable to the education she received at VGIK from her teacher, V.V. Belokurov. Another memorable experience for the actress was her role as Dasha in the film "Belyy Bim, Chernoe ukho" (1978). This role remains one of her favorites. Shevchuk's filmography includes more than 40 films, such as "Golfstrim" (1968), "Mramornyy dom" (1972), "Povest o zhenshchine" (1974), "Novoselie" (1974), "Marina" (1974), "Prestuplenie" (1976), "Tam vdali, za rekoy" (1976), "Muzhchiny sedeyut rano" (1976), "Eralashnyy reys" (1976), "Pravo na lyubov" (1977), "Pobeg iz tyurmy" (1977), "Ya budu zhdat" (1979), "Inache nelzya" (1980), "Mednyy angel" (1983), "Gosudarstvennaya granitsa" (1984), "Tetya Marusya" (1985), "Na temnoy storone Luny" (1989), "Kodeks molchaniya" (1990), "Yar" (1991), "Kodeks molchaniya - 2" (1992), "Muzhskoy zigzag" (1992), "Volchitsy" (1993), "Perekrestok sudby" (2001), and more.

Film Festival and Activism:
Irina Shevchuk is the founder of the popular Russian film festival "Kinoshow," which takes place annually in Anapa. Since 1991, she has been the general director of the Creative Center "Kinoshow" and the Open Film Festival of CIS and Baltic countries. In 1996, the festival was registered as an Open Film Festival of CIS and Baltic countries. The festival aims to support and promote not only Russian but also national cinema from other countries. Over the years, "Kinoshow" has gained increasing prestige, attracting renowned films and filmmakers from various countries. In addition to traditional awards, the festival introduced a unique prize called "Madame Luck," named after the legendary actor P. Luspekayev. This award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the arts. Some recipients of the "Madame Luck" award include O. Efremov, N. Sazonova, and L. Smirnova.

Personal Life:
Irina Shevchuk is married to composer Alexander Afanasiev, and they have a daughter named Alexandra, who is a student at the Economic Faculty of VGIK. Apart from her film career, Shevchuk is passionate about literature, theater, and writing poetry. She also enjoys Russian banya (sauna). Her motto in life is to do as many good and useful things as possible. She currently lives and works in Moscow.