Kynna Ignatova Actress Date of Birth: 26.09.1935 Country: Russia

Biography of Kunna Ignatova

Kunna Ignatova was born in Moscow into a family of a ballerina and an academician. She was baptized with the name Galina. In 1953, Kunna enrolled in the Shchukin Theater School, studying under Cecilia Mansurova. During her time as a student, she starred in the leading role in the musical comedy "Lyana" directed by Boris Barnet. The film depicted a group of amateur artists who traveled to Kishinev for a show, and it had all the typical elements of optimistic movies of that time: music, fun, and love.

The following year, Kunna appeared in another film called "The Long Way" where she portrayed the character Raisa Fedoseeva. By the time she completed her studies, Kunna was already a well-known actress. Their course was then led by Joseph Rapoport, and Kunna's diploma performances included roles in plays such as "Three Fat Men" by Olesha, "Talents and Fans" by Ostrovsky, and "The Eccentric" by Hikmet.

While still studying at the institute, Kunna Ignatova married actor Vyacheslav Sokolov, but the marriage was short-lived. During the filming of the movie "The Long Way," she met Vladimir Belokurov, a famous actor who captivated her. In 1958, after graduating from the theater school, Ignatova began working at the Moscow Drama and Comedy Theater. She quickly established herself as a leading actress, portraying characters such as Fellowes in "The Quiet American," Oksana in "Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka," and Lerochka in "Neighbors in the Apartment." However, her career took a different turn under the influence of Belokurov.

Under Belokurov's influence, Kunna moved to the Moscow Art Theater (MXAT) in 1961 and soon married Vladimir Vyacheslavovich. At her new workplace, the actress made her debut as Kalitina's wife in the play "A Nest of Gentlefolk." This was followed by roles such as Katya in "Point of Support," Varya in "Armored Train 14-69," and Milk, Nasmark, and Mother in "The Blue Bird." After that, she mostly played minor roles, including the role of a chambermaid in Chekhov's "Three Sisters" for 25 years. Her film career did not fare much better. In 1959, Kunna Ignatova played an interesting role in Sergey Sidelyov's drama "The Story of Newlyweds" as Shura Kulik. She also appeared as journalist Elena Sergeevna Ryabinina in the film "Morning Again," and as a member of the crew of the spacecraft "Vega" in the science fiction film "Planet of Storms," among others. However, she stopped appearing in films after the early 1970s.

In the early 1970s, Kunna Ignatova married for the third time. Her chosen partner was the young actor Alexander Dik, who was 14 years her junior and known for the film "Dangerous Turn."

In 1987, a well-known split occurred in the MXAT troupe. Some actors began working under the leadership of Oleg Yefremov, while Ignatova and Dik, along with other actors, chose to stay with Tatiana Doronina. However, this did not significantly impact Kunna Nikolaevna's career. Initially, she was cast as Frau Vermelskirch in the play "Coachman Genschel," but the production was later removed from the repertoire, and she once again played minor roles.

On February 18, 1988, Kunna Nikolaevna did not show up at the theater. She was also absent the next day. Worried colleagues went to her home and, breaking down the door, found her unconscious on the floor. She was rushed to the hospital, but doctors were unable to save her. Kunna Nikolaevna passed away on February 21.