Mariya Zubareva
RussiaBiography of Maria Zubareva
Maria Zubareva was an actress who was known as the heart and soul of any company. She was often referred to as the sunny bunny and the cheerful brook. Men lost their heads over her beauty, while women were envious and sought her advice. She had tasted fame, experienced love, and savored the joy of motherhood, but was unable to continue living in this bliss.
Maria was born into a creative family, with her mother being a television director and her father an actor and children's writer. Despite their own experiences, her parents had other plans for her future. Maria's strict mother, who had encountered the moral deficiencies of young actresses in her work, strongly objected to Maria showing any interest in acting. Her father, on the other hand, told her stories about the challenges of this dependent profession, emphasizing the need to impress directors and fit in with difficult colleagues or simply look the part. Sometimes, actors would go months or even years without work. Maria was a dutiful and obedient child who didn't dream of becoming an actress. Instead, she would put on plays for the neighbors, using plays specially written for her by her father. She excelled academically, much to her parents' delight. In middle school, she developed a passion for mathematics and participated in Olympiads, earning prizes. In eighth grade, she became interested in journalism and enrolled in the Young Journalists School, studying under the popular Andrei Maksimov. As she approached high school graduation, she made serious preparations to enter the Institute of Foreign Languages. She could have become anything and had a brilliant career in any profession, but fate had other plans.
One day, friends of the Zubarevs, the Kalinovskys, who were teachers at the Shchukin School, came to visit. When Maria shared her future plans, they were surprised and asked her to recite their favorite poems. After receiving their enthusiastic approval, Maria, oblivious to her parents' shock and disappointment, was ecstatic. Two months later, she effortlessly entered the Shchukin School, studying under the renowned Yuri Katyn-Yartsev. It was during her first year at the institute that Maria realized how attractive she was. It was not just her classmates who were drawn to her, but also students from higher courses. However, her heart was captured by a boy with a guitar named Boris Kiner. Boris was charming, experienced, and musically talented, and he won Maria's love with his own songs and romances. They got married, and soon their daughter, Anya, was born. However, the marriage was not strong and ended after a year. Throughout this time, a fellow student named Igor Shavlak secretly admired Maria. When she chose someone else, Igor remained undeterred and was determined to make her his wife. Anya grew up considering Igor as her father, only to discover the truth later, which was a shocking revelation for her. Though this union was happy and long-lasting, it suddenly fell apart for no apparent reason. Maria went through a difficult time, but few people suspected it. Friends and colleagues believed that this beautiful and joyful woman could not possibly have any problems.
During this period, Maria's career flourished, and she experienced dizzying success. Her breakthrough role was as Yulia, the clumsy daughter-in-law of an alpha male in the comedy film "Mordashka." Despite the criticism, the film became popular among audiences due to its moral message, relatable characters, and unusual, albeit chaste, depiction of love. In the Pushkin Theater, where Maria joined immediately after graduating from the Shchukin School, she had many notable and memorable performances. Despite her professional success, Maria remained a favorite in the theater company. She never engaged in theatrical intrigues, preferring to speak directly to everyone. People feared her, but respected and listened to her criticism and advice. She had a strong sense of justice from an early age. In first grade, she asked her father why a boy named Vova was driven to school by his father, who was also the boss. She was puzzled why parents didn't know it was wrong. Later on, she was amazed that people could get into a university through connections, and in the theater, she was outraged when a talented actor was unemployed just because he didn't please the director. Despite her young age, experienced and wise people sought her advice. She patiently listened and helped people in need, whether it was getting someone out of a detox center, finding an apartment for an actress in need, or arranging medical treatment for someone. She was also the life of every celebration, known for her infectious laughter and storytelling. If the theater went on tour, everyone knew they would never be bored with Maria around, as she would always come up with some festive event. If she happened to be delayed on a shoot, the celebration would be postponed until her arrival. When she appeared, her cheerful voice and contagious laughter never ceased. Maria could tell stories for hours.
Fate continued to reward Maria for her talent and hard work. She gained popularity among viewers through her role in the TV series "Melochi Zhizni" (Life's Little Things) and found success in the comedy play "BLEZ" at the Pushkin Theater. Roman Viktyuk, a renowned director whom many actors dreamed of working with, invited Maria to his controversial production of "Madama Butterfly." Little did anyone know that this play would claim the lives of two beautiful and talented actresses, Maria Zubareva and Irina Metlitskaya. At that time, the play only brought fame and creative satisfaction. From this work, Maria could have fallen victim to "star disease," but she remained humble despite her success. She appeared unattainable, even though she was simple and friendly. It was impossible to see Maria in a crowd of fans, giving autographs and kisses left and right. She seemed unapproachable, yet she possessed an incredibly strong sense of dignity.
She believed that her true and great love was yet to come. They met by chance in a social gathering. The romance ignited instantly, bright and exhilarating. They were a stunning couple, and no woman could resist her chosen one. What more could one dream of?
Sometimes, happiness unexpectedly comes into our lives, genuine and unconditional. Maria was experiencing an unprecedented rise in her career, she was young and beautiful, and she was adored by her friends. And then, as the song says, "Love unexpectedly arrives:" immense, sublime, and beyond one's grasp. In her work, Maria soared to new heights, promising dizzying success. She was young and beautiful, beloved by her friends, and her future seemed bright. But this was just the beginning of the story. In the midst of this love, a wonderful result was born: the birth of twins, a boy and a girl named Roma and Liza. They lived in love and harmony, in prosperity and joy, until old age. The fairy tale ends here, and life begins. Yet, in life, there is no eternal happiness.
Maria had plans for the future. Until the last month of her pregnancy, she continued to act in the TV series "Melochi Zhizni" and performed in the theater. She thought that she would give birth and then return to work, as many actresses do. She dreamt of going on tour again. She even planned to open a bakery with a friend – perhaps it was just a joke, or maybe they would have actually done it. However, she never returned to work after giving birth. Something terrible happened to Maria – she felt very unwell and lost a lot of weight. Initially, she thought it was the aftermath of childbirth, but the doctors were at a loss. The diagnosis of cancer was like a death sentence for her loved ones. Maria was dying, and it was too late to fight for her life.
Until her last day in the hospital, Maria's friends took turns by her bedside, keeping her diagnosis a secret. She didn't want the men in her life to see her deteriorating. The TV series "Melochi Zhizni" never saw its leading lady again. When the director realized that Maria would not return, he had no choice but to change the storyline – her character died in a car accident. It was easy to change a script, but changing something in life was much more difficult.
When tragedy struck, Maria's theater, the Moscow Pushkin Drama Theater, organized a charity evening in her memory to raise money for the orphaned children. The friends performed the play "BLEZ" in which Maria had played the lead role for many years. The evening was grand and solemn, as befitting this remarkable actress. Despite the exorbitant ticket prices, the theater was unable to accommodate all those who wanted to attend. Fans would leave money and bring clothes for the children. A considerable sum was collected, but the 1998 financial crisis wiped out the funds in one of the bankrupt banks.
Today, Maria's eldest daughter, Anna, is studying at the Philological Faculty of Moscow State University, following a different path than her mother. The twins, Roma and Liza, are eight years old and are raised by Maria's parents. Friends continue to support the family and remember Maria. They still cannot believe that she is gone and confess that they would not be surprised if she suddenly burst through the door – vibrant, flourishing, showering everyone with infectious laughter and jokes. Perhaps it will happen, as Maria's children are still in this world, which means that Maria continues to live.
