Natalia Zaschipina Actress Date of Birth: 14.01.1939 Country: Russia

1. Childhood and Early Career
2. Breakthrough and "Elephant and a Rope"
3. Collaborations with Faina Ranevskaya
4. Rise to Stardom
5. VGiK and Film Career
6. Moscow Theater of Satire
7. Voiceover Work

Childhood and Early Career

Born during the horrors of World War II, Natalia Zashchipina's childhood was filled with uncertainty. Her mother, a member of a concert brigade, took her along on their tours to hospitals, unwilling to leave her young daughter behind.

At the tender age of four, Zashchipina's talent caught the attention of the director of the film "The Girl Who Lived." She was cast as Katya, a young girl enduring the hardships of the war alongside the adults.

Breakthrough and "Elephant and a Rope"

A year later, in 1945, Zashchipina starred alongside the legendary Faina Ranevskaya in Ilya Frez's children's film "Elephant and a Rope." Ranevskaya was deeply impressed by the young actress, calling her a "living miracle."

Collaborations with Faina Ranevskaya

Zashchipina and Ranevskaya reunited in 1949 for "They Have a Homeland," a film about Soviet intelligence agents rescuing Soviet children from a British-controlled orphanage in West Germany.

Rise to Stardom

Her roles in "The Girl Who Lived," "Elephant and a Rope," and "First Grader" made Zashchipina a household name throughout the Soviet Union. The young talent had found her calling.

VGiK and Film Career

In 1954, Zashchipina enrolled in the acting faculty of the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK), graduating in 1961. She continued to appear in films, including "Children of a Partisan" (1954), "Vanya" (1958), and "Eudokia" (1961).

Moscow Theater of Satire

After "Eudokia," Zashchipina joined the Moscow Theatre of Satire, where she has remained a member to this day. Since then, she has only made two film appearances, in "Mayakovsky Laughs" and "We Haven't Studied That" (both in 1975).

Voiceover Work

In addition to her stage work, Natalia Zashchipina has been active in voiceover, contributing to animated films ("Chip 'n' Dale: Rescue Rangers"), movies, and TV series ("Twin Peaks").