Jana Sexte Theatre and film actress Date of Birth: 06.04.1980 Country: Lithuania

1. Early Life and Education
2. Move to Russia and Acting Debut
3. Moscow Career and Theatrical Success
4. Film Breakthrough
5. Personal Life
6. Social Activism
7. Recent Projects and Awards

Early Life and Education

Yana Sexte was born on January 29, 1980, in Riga, Latvia. Her last name translates to "rooster's comb" in Latvian, which earned her the nickname "Grebeshkova" from her Russian colleagues.

From a young age, Sexte excelled in the humanities and graduated with honors from the Pushkin Lyceum. Her interest in acting blossomed in high school, leading her to join the theater studio at the Riga Youth Theatre under the guidance of Andrey Garkavi and Tatiana Cherkovskaya.

Move to Russia and Acting Debut

After graduating high school, Sexte traveled to Russia under a program supporting Russian theaters abroad. Oleg Tabakov's School-Studio of the Moscow Art Theatre conducted a competitive audition in Latvia, and Sexte's talent impressed the examiners, securing her admission on her first attempt.

Upon graduating, Sexte returned to Riga and performed with the Riga Russian Theater for three years, receiving the "Best Young Performer" award in 2004. She played in productions such as "The Seagull," "The Cherry Orchard," and "The Magnificent Cuckold."

Moscow Career and Theatrical Success

Returning to Russia, Sexte joined Oleg Tabakov's Studio Theatre. Her repertoire expanded with roles in "Fathers and Sons" by Ivan Turgenev, "Uncle Vanya" by Anton Chekhov, and "The Senior Son" by Alexander Vampilov. Concurrently, she performed at the Moscow Art Theatre in "Old World Landowners" and "Forty-First. Opus Posth," which earned her the Oleg Tabakov Theater Award in 2008. In addition, Sexte received the "Triumph" award for her contributions to art and literature.

Film Breakthrough

Sexte's film debut came after her second return to Moscow, where she established herself as a theater actress. She appeared in a cameo on the detective series "Diamonds for Dessert" and had a supporting role in the crime melodrama "Trust Service." Sexte also participated in several filmed theater productions, most notably "Forty-First. Opus Posth."

She garnered critical acclaim for her roles in the legal drama "Heavenly Court" and the short film "Heavenly Wives of the Meadow Mari." Her breakthrough came with the biographical film "The Thaw," where she portrayed the determined and spirited female cinematographer Lyusya Polynina, a woman of short stature (the actress's height is 158 cm). The film propelled Sexte's career, earning her recognition and affection from audiences.

Subsequent film projects included the detective thriller "Farewell, My Love!" and the crime drama "Miracle Worker," alongside notable actors such as Filipp Yankovsky, Fedor Bondarchuk, and Oksana Fandera. She also appeared in supporting roles in the crime film "City" and the comedy "Wonderland."

Personal Life

Sexte's first marriage was to actor Maksim Matveev, whom she met while working on "Forty-First. Opus Posth." Their whirlwind romance quickly led to marriage, but their happiness was short-lived. Matveev left Sexte for his new love, Elizaveta Boyarskaya.

Sexte has been linked romantically to director Vasily Senin. In 2012, she met musician and composer Dmitry Marin, who wrote the music for a play they worked on together. Marin eventually moved from Canada to Moscow to be with Sexte. They married in 2013 and welcomed a daughter, Anna, in 2014.

Social Activism

In her spare time, Sexte enjoys dancing and horseback riding. She is also known for her involvement in the Russian hospital clowning movement. Since 2007, she has volunteered with the Doctor Clown charitable foundation, which provides laughter and support to hospitalized children. Sexte handles administrative duties and performs as a clown for the young patients. Her ex-husband, Maksim Matveev, is the artistic director of the foundation.

Recent Projects and Awards

Sexte continues to shine on both stage and screen. In 2017, she received the "Star of the Theatergoers" award for her supporting role in the play "The Garden of Love." Her film credits have also continued to grow, with notable projects such as Valery Todorovsky's "Bolshoi," Renate Litvinova's "St. Petersburg. Only for Love," and the detective series "Investigator Tikhonov."

Currently, Sexte is involved in several upcoming projects, including the comedy "Diplomat," the melodrama "Heart of the World," and the drama "Choir." She is also set to appear in Alena Zvantsova's "Particles of the Universe," which explores the dedicated efforts of those involved in space exploration.