Childhood
Vera Alentova, nee Bykova, was born on February 21, 1942 in the Arkhangelsk region, in the acting family of Irina Nikolaevna Alentova and Valentin Mikhailovich Bykov.
Both served at the Kotlas Drama Theater. The girl, named after her grandmother, was born 8 months after the start of the war. Vera’s mother continued to perform in the theater, and after work she went to the factory shift, after which, already at home, she sewed buttons on soldiers’ clothes.
Vera Alentova's mother was a theater actress
In 1945, Valentin was transferred to the theater in Grozny. The family followed him. Soon he caught a bad cold. In the hungry post-war period, this was enough for a 28-year-old man to suffer a complication in the form of pneumonia and die. On January 4, 1946, he passed away.
Vera Alentova's father died very early
Vera practically did not remember her father, all that remained was the elusive feeling of someone close nearby. But she remembered her mother’s words: “Everything will be fine with you, because God helps orphans.” Soon after the death of the head of the family, Vera and her mother left their native Kotlas and settled with relatives in Ukraine.
Actress Vera Alentova in childhood and now
Childhood was not easy: there was food, but it was very simple; Vera didn’t even know the taste of sweets, and her mother made all the toys from cardboard with her own hands. While the girl went to kindergarten, Irina Alentova worked tirelessly. She served in the Krivoy Rog theater, and in the evenings she picked up a thread and a needle. Working as seamstresses helped them not die of hunger, because salaries at the theater were delayed for months.
The little girl went to school in a dress made from her mother’s flannel robe. For many years, her only blouse was an old turtleneck, which Vera washed every evening.
The saddest memory from this period is the double theft of money from my mother’s wallet. Vera stole a ruble and bought ice cream with it, and the next day she did the same. Irina noticed the loss, because at that time the amount was serious, and gave Vera a thrashing. But the worst thing was not the reprimand, but the tears that flowed down my mother’s face. The woman reproached herself for not being able to make her only child’s childhood happy.
Vera Alentova. My hero However, Vera Alentova never considered her childhood unhappy. Children know how to find happiness in little things, even when deprived of material goods. Little Vera had a loving mother, friends, and games.
Vera was eight years old when she first appeared on the theater stage. One day her mother took her to work. They staged a play in which a little girl played one of the roles. And just that day the young actress fell ill. Vera was asked to go out in her place. It was then that Alentova, in her own words, caught the “theatrical bacillus.”
Vera spent her evenings after school alone, mostly reading books. This taught her to be independent and disciplined. Having fallen ill with malaria, she meticulously kept time on the clock to take the medicine exactly on time. The actress never considered loneliness a vice; on the contrary, she knew how to find a common language with it and use it to its advantage: analyze the text, learn the role.
We grew like grass in the yard. Today I understand that we, without meaning to, caused damage to your generation. We, wartime children, grew up in terrible conditions.
During her school years, Vera constantly came up with incredible stories and began staging plays together with the yard children. Costumes were made from flowers, leaves, old curtains and even pots with holes.
Vera Alentova's acting talent showed up at school
Mother and daughter wandered across the expanses of the Soviet Union: Vera went to school in Ukraine, studied in Uzbekistan, and received a certificate in Altai. When Vera was 15, Irina married for the second time. Alentova’s stepfather was an actor at the Barnaul Drama Theater, Irina’s colleague. It was he who recognized the makings of an actress in Vera, since Irina insisted that after school her daughter enter a medical institute in Barnaul. A woman who went through war and widowhood understood that art is not capable of supporting her family, but the profession of a doctor is another matter; doctors are always needed. Irina did not want her daughter to repeat her fate.
Secretly from her mother, Vera decided to try her hand at acting and came to audition at the Barnaul Drama Theater. She was accepted into the troupe as a supporting actress. At the same time, for a long time the girl herself was sure that she would become a doctor. But during the preparatory courses for the university, she saw a live operation, and not the most serious one, but Vera felt bad and lost consciousness. After this incident, Alentova realized that she would not be a doctor. Irina listened to her daughter’s experiences and reconciled herself to the choice of acting profession, but, being a principled woman who does not tolerate profane people on stage, she ordered Vera to enter the Moscow theater school.
It was already too late: enrollment in all theater universities had ended. So for the next year, Vera worked as a worker at the Barnaul melange plant, where they produced yarn. Every morning the girl got up early, traveled to the factory on a crowded bus, and then spent the entire shift wearing metal bars. There was such a noise from the machines in the workshop that it was impossible to hear your own thoughts. “I gritted my teeth and worked,” the actress recalled.
In 1961, Vera Alentova became a student at the Moscow Art Theater School.
The following summer, Vera went to Moscow and entered the Moscow Art Theater School, taking the course of Vasily Markov. The moment when Alentova saw her name on the list of applicants divided her life into before and after.
Meeting Vladimir Menshov
Vera plunged into a new life: endless rehearsals, run-throughs, volumes of memorized lines and read literature.
There was no time for personal life, but the student was happy. In her first year, she became close to classmate Vladimir Menshov. At first she did not have romantic feelings for him. They became close friends, but even then Vera noticed that Volodya has three qualities that, in her opinion, are necessary for a good actor: inner core, sincerity and his own view of things.
Alentova, Menshov and comrades from the Studio School
Meanwhile, the teachers did not notice these qualities and quickly labeled Menshov as mediocrity, in contrast to Vera, who was considered one of the best students on the course. Vladimir was not trained in good manners and chronically made a bad impression. Andrei Myagkov, who lived in the same room with Menshov, was considered the most talented guy on the course. But Vladimir did not give up hope of improving the situation, he was constantly learning, rehearsing, writing. Later, he realized that his soul lay more in directing than in acting.
When Vera chose him at least as a “friend,” Vladimir was in seventh heaven. His comrades hinted to him that his appearance was too unprepossessing for an actor. Vera was, according to him, dazzlingly beautiful. They whiled away the evenings with long conversations, Vladimir courted her for a long time and beautifully, trying to surprise Vera with something new.
Vladimir Menshov and Vera Alentova in their youth
By the end of the second year, the young people announced their decision to sign their names, which surprised their friends at the Studio School. Menshov made the offer, but Vera was skeptical. And not because she didn’t love, but because of her innate love of freedom. Since childhood, her mother told her that she needed to rely only on herself. And the hasty marriage seemed to her a big mistake. But when Vera found out that if they got married, they, as a young family, would be given a separate room in the dorm, she agreed.
The wedding was modest - the newlyweds did not have even three rubles to pay the photographer. The celebration continued in the hostel, with sausage sliced on newspaper and champagne.
Wedding of Vera Alentova and Vladimir Menshov
As her relatives and classmates convinced her, Vera signed a “sentence” for herself - many said that Menshov had no prospects. However, the fact that Alentova chose a “unpromising” student, although she could easily have found a professionally established husband, inspired Vladimir and gave him strength and confidence.
Vera Alentova in her youth (still from the film “Flight Days”)
In 1965, they graduated from university and set off into truly adult life, which over the next ten years repeatedly presented them with unpleasant surprises.
First roles
After graduation, Menshov could not find work in the capital and went on assignment to the Stavropol Drama Theater, already realizing that his acting career would most likely end before it really began.
Alentova ended up in the Moscow Pushkin Theater. At the theater, Alentova encountered the dramaturgy of Bernard Shaw, John B. Priestley, Friedrich Schiller, R. Ogaard, and Eduardo de Filipe. She played in the plays “Slave Woman”, “It Shines but Doesn’t Warm”, productions of “The Zykovs”, “Children of the Sun”, “The Last Days”, “The Pulpit”.
Vera Alentova on the stage of the theater
Their separation lasted a year, after which Menshov returned to Moscow and entered directing courses at VGIK. They lived separately: Vladimir lived in a student dormitory, Alentova’s room was allocated by the theater, and she shared it with another actress. “Family” rooms were prohibited in the theater dormitory.
Vera Alentova in a performance at the Pushkin Theater
Menshov’s name was unknown, while Alentova became known already in 1966, after her role in the film “Flight Days,” where she got the role of the young teacher Lydia Fedorovna. In 1967, she appeared in the Soviet-Hungarian film Stars and Soldiers in the cameo role of a nurse. Vera devoted almost all her time to serving in the theater.
Vera Alentova's first film role (“Flying Days”)
In July 1969, the couple had a daughter, Julia. At the registry office, while filling out documents for the newborn, Vera learned that she could change her last name to whatever she wanted. She had never even suspected such a possibility before. At that time, the actress bore her maiden name - Bykova. After the wedding, she did not change it to “Menshova,” but now she is seriously thinking about taking her mother’s surname – Alentova.
The surname Alentova is of Greek origin; Translated into Russian, “alentia” means “truth.” On the maternal side, there were 4 generations of priests in the actress’s family, and it is the occupation of the ancestors that she explains the etymology of the surname.
In 1973, Vera was finally allocated a two-room apartment next to the theater. The Menshov-Alentov family was finally reunited.
Young Vera Alentova with her husband and daughter
In 1975, the actress appeared in the 8-episode film “Such a Short Long Life,” which tells about the fate of ordinary Soviet families, in the role of Nastya Ovchinnikova. Moscow, not spoiled by TV series, watched with bated heart the fate of its heroine. And on the screen, Vera was not afraid to appear ugly: she allowed herself to slick her hair and stick out her ears.
Vera Alentova was not afraid to look ugly
Interesting Facts
- The actress looks great today, her height is 172 cm, weight – 67 kg.
- The actress often uses the services of a plastic surgeon to prolong her youth. Vera performed her first operation in 1998.
Vera Alentova after plastic surgery
- Since her youth, she regularly adheres to proper nutrition. By nature, she is closed and reserved, and does not know how to flatter.
- Vera knows how to knit, sew, keep an apartment clean, and make any home, even a hotel room, cozy. And the actress doesn’t know how to cook at all. Doesn't know prices in stores or on the market. I never knew what it cost. The actress says that she is not very adapted to life. He believes that one marriage is for life - this is correct.
- There were four generations of priests in the actress’s family.
- The actress has a dacha where a large blue spruce grows. For the New Year, the whole family decorates this tree.
Moscow does not believe in tears
The actress’s finest hour came in 1979, when Vladimir Menshov shot the film novel “Moscow Doesn’t Believe in Tears.” Without exaggeration, this story about three friends who were limiters has become a folk picture. Along with Vera, the cast included Irina Muravyova, Raisa Ryazanova and Alexey Batalov.
Vera Alentova in the film “Moscow Doesn’t Believe in Tears”
Alentova got the main role - Katya Tikhomirova, who, thanks to her strong character, rose from a factory worker to director of the enterprise. Batalov was chosen first, and the actress for the role of Katya was already “selected” for him. Paired with Batalov, Alentova looked more convincing than Terekhova, Kupchenko or Telichkina. The role was not easy: almost forty-year-old Vera had to play not only her own age, but also an 18-year-old provincial girl.
Vera Alentova and Alexey Batalov
In 1980, the film came out on the big screen and began its march around the world. It was bought for distribution in 100 countries at once, and in Russia almost 85 million viewers watched the film in a year. The film “Moscow Doesn’t Believe in Tears” became one of the few domestic films to be awarded an Oscar.
Vera Alentova as Katya Tikhomirova
How did Vera Alentova’s film career develop?
Vera’s film debut took place in the film about military pilots “Flying Days” (1965), where she starred in a small role as a teacher. Since then, the actress has occasionally appeared on screen in minor roles. The most memorable of them are the nurse in the drama of Soviet-Hungarian filmmakers “Stars and Soldiers” (1967) and the cleaner Nastya, who became a teacher in the serial film story “Such a Short Long Life” (1975). She missed out on some roles (not all theater directors let actors go on set), and simply refused others. The theater was much more important for Alentova, and there she had no shortage of bright roles.
“Flight days” 1965
Vera considers her real film debut to be the role of Katya Tikhomirova in the melodrama “Moscow Doesn’t Believe in Tears” (1979). This was the first leading role of the actress and the second directorial work of her husband, Vladimir Menshov. The film brought him an Oscar, royalties unprecedented at that time in the amount of 40 thousand rubles, and the USSR State Prize. All the leading actors received the same high domestic award: Alentova, Raisa Ryazanova , Alexey Batalov and Irina Muravyova (by the way, Muravyova was worried for a long time that she agreed to play such a “rude and vulgar” heroine). Love and Doves,” will subsequently earn no less popular love, although the awards will not be so impressive.
“Moscow Doesn’t Believe in Tears” 1979
Having become famous thanks to filming in “Moscow”, Vera began to get leading roles. Sergei Ashkenazy ’s family drama (1982), she played Alla Borisovna, who entered into a new marriage after a divorce (the ex-husband was played by Yuri Bogatyrev , and the second husband was played by Menshov). In Yuli Raizman’s film “Time of Desires” (1984) - the energetic Svetlana Vasilievna, whose shameless interference in the life of her elderly husband ( Anatoly Papanov ) brought him to a heart attack.
Vera Alentova and Anatoly Papanov. “Wishing Time” 1984
The film adaptation of Boris Vasiliev’s story “Tomorrow There Was War” (1987) was a great success - Yuri Kara’s . Here Alentova played the role of the unprincipled and cruel class teacher Valendra in tandem with Sergei Nikonenko , Nina Ruslanova , Irina Cherichenko and Natalya Negoda (for Negoda this was a film debut, and a year later she would play the main role in the scandalous “Little Vera” ). The film, for which a meager budget was allocated, won the main prizes at the International Film Festival in many countries around the world. All actors worked for free.
“Tomorrow there was war” 1987
In the 90s, Alentova starred in only a few films, of which the most successful was the film story “Unexpected Visits” (1991-92), and from the beginning of the 2000s she began appearing in TV series ( “Balzac’s Age, or All Men Are Theirs...” , “Gift of God” , etc.).
Vera played her husband in films twice more. In the comedy-farce “Shirley-Myrli” (1995) she appeared in four faces at once: a musician’s bride, a baron’s wife, a thief’s girlfriend and an American. Valery Garkalin played the roles of three twin brothers separated after birth . The film found its audience, but it’s hard to believe that this is the work of the same director who shot the legendary “Moscow”. It turned out to be a typical comedy of the 90s - primitive, not funny and vulgar.
Valery Garkalin and Vera Alentova. “Shirley-Myrli” 1995
And in the next melodrama, “Envy of the Gods” (2000), the old Menshov is visible. This is a story about the sudden outbreak of love between two unfree people - a television editor Sonya (Alentova) and a French journalist Andre ( Anatoly Lobotsky ). They broke up with their families in order to be together, but Andre was expelled from the country for criticizing the actions of the Soviet government. The actors portrayed passion so convincingly against the background of Viktor Lebedev’s wonderful soundtracks that headlines appeared in the yellow press: “Alentova took Lobotsky away from the family.”
A trio of famous announcers (Igor Kirillov, Anna Shatilova, Nina Eremina) and Vera Alentova. “Envy of the Gods” 2000
By the way, when Vera played in these rather explicit scenes she was 58 years old, and her partner was 17 years younger. The press often quoted the actress as saying: “A woman should be 39 and not a day older” (she borrowed the phrase from the English actress Patrick Campbell). Alentova preserved her youth and beauty for a long time with the help of plastic surgery. Unfortunately, the result of her latest surgeries was just the opposite.
“Envy of the Gods” 2000
Currently, Vera Valentinovna is filming a film about... vampires “Empire V” based on the novel of the same name by Pelevin with the American-Russian film director Victor Ginzburg . The premiere should take place in 2022.
Further career
In 1983, Yuli Raizman’s film “Time of Desires” was released. Here Alentova got the role of a lonely woman who, out of despair, became the wife of an elderly man. And for her work, the actress was given the title of laureate of the State Prize of the RSFSR. And in 1992, Vera Valentinovna was given the title of People's Artist of the RSFSR.
Still from the film “Wishing Time”
And another notable role of Alentova is that of a wayward teacher in the 1987 film “Tomorrow There Was War.” Well, in 1995, Menshov decided to prove that Vera Valentinovna was not only a social heroine, like Katya Tikhomirova, by calling her to play the role of 4 characters at once - an American, a gypsy, a black girl and a passenger of the liner - in his farce comedy “Shirley-Myrli” "
4 roles of Vera Alentova in the comedy “Shirley Myrli”
In 1993, theater director Leonid Trushkin invited Vera Alentova to join the enterprise. The actress also continued to serve in the Pushkin Theater, where she was involved in the performances “The Leaning Tower of Pisa”, “Honoring”, “Emigrant Pose”. By the way, in “The Leaning Tower of Pisa” Alentova plays together with Vladimir Menshov - they played spouses.
Menshov and Alentova played together in the Leaning Tower of Pisa
In 1993, the actress became president of the Social Protection Charitable Fund, a member of the Union of Theater Workers of the Russian Federation, which helped former and current theater workers who found themselves in a difficult financial situation.
Vera Alentova in the film “And Still I Love”
Among the actress’s latest roles are Anna Bronislavovna from the melodrama “And Still I Love”, Zinaida from the series “Balzac’s Age, or All Men Are Theirs...” (2004) and its sequels, as well as Galina Semyonovna from the comedy “Happy March 8th, men!" (2014).
Still from the film “Happy March 8th, men!”
What was the fate of Yulia Menshova
Julia grew up as an ordinary Soviet child. Her parents did not spoil her even after earning star status. They wanted their daughter to grow up to be an independent person and independent of them. From the age of 12, her father sent Yulia for “occupational therapy” to his sister near Astrakhan. There she spent one month during the summer holidays picking tomatoes in the fields. The girl studied well and obeyed her mother and father unquestioningly. Her parents did not give her any advice on choosing a profession. Yulia herself decided to become an actress and, without patronage, entered the Moscow Art Theater School-Studio on the course of Alexander Kalyagin .
Vladimir Menshov and Vera Alentova with their daughter Yulia. Photo stuki-druki.com
She graduated from the institute with honors in 1990. Oleg Efremov, who was present at Yulia’s graduation performance, took her to the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater . In the same year, Menshova made her film debut in the musical film “When the Saints March . She starred in a small role as a jazz singer with her mother, who played the leading role. Yulia's creative career began very successfully: in 4 years, the young actress played in 15 performances and in several films in leading roles. But the crisis in the political life of the country directly affected the arts - the theaters were empty, and the screens were overwhelmed by streams of “black stuff”.
Yulia Menshova. “When the Saints Go Marching In” 1990
Yulia saw no point in staying in the profession and left the Moscow Art Theater, deciding to make her way onto television. Alent’s daughter supported, and Menshov said: “Go and kneel in front of Efremov so that they take you back.” She managed to get a job as an editor in the new program “My Cinema”. Since then, Yulia’s life has been inextricably linked with TV, where she worked her way up to the head of the production center “Yulia Menshova Studio”. She is known to television viewers as the host of the popular programs “I Myself” on NTV, “Alone with Everyone” and “Tonight” on Channel One.
Still from the program “Alone with Everyone”
Igor Gordin and Yulia Menshova. Photo profi-news.ru
At the age of 27, the girl married the actor of the Moscow Youth Theater Igor Gordin . Their children were born in the marriage : Andrei and Taisiya . In the ninth year of marriage, the couple separated without an official divorce, and after 4 years they got back together, exactly repeating the family history of Alentova and Menshov.
Yulia Menshova and Igor Gordin with their son Andrei and daughter Taisiya. Photo rustars.tv
In the early 2000s, Julia returned to the stage (playing in enterprises) and to cinema. She starred in several films, the most striking of which was the romantic comedy “Big Love” (starring Mikhail Porechenkov and Inna Makarova ). And such TV series as “Balzac’s age or All men are theirs...” (together with his mother), “The crime will be solved” , “Between us girls” , etc.
Yulia Menshova and Mikhail Porechenkov. “Big Love” 2006
In 2011, Menshova successfully debuted as a theater director. Especially for dad and mom, she staged the play “Love. Letters” , which was highly appreciated by viewers and critics.
Theater named after Pushkin. Performance “Love. Letters"
It’s not often that equally gifted children are born into families of talented people, but nature clearly didn’t “rest” on Yulia Menshova.
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Family
The family life of Alentova and Menshov knew not only ups, but also downs. At some point, after the birth of their daughter, grievances began to accumulate between them. “What is large and clean is overwritten by everyday life. We thought that if we weren’t together, it would become easier for us,” Alentova recalled, talking about four years of living apart. The spouses did not formally file for divorce, but they perceived the separation as such. Vera Alentova. Wife. Love story Both tried to build a new relationship, but it didn’t work out. The reason, according to Vera, was the feeling of this great and very pure love. At some point, the actress found her husband’s old letters and remembered her old feelings. It became clear to her that she could not have the same feelings for any man as for her husband. On the next September 1st, they took their daughter together, and together they returned to their home.
Vladimir Menshov, Vera Alentova and their daughter Yulia
Alentova calls the secret of a happy family life, first of all, friendship between spouses. They were friends from the moment they met in the corridors of the dormitory of the Moscow Art Theater School and remained so to this day, even after the “golden” wedding.
Spouses consider themselves friends first
Subsequently, Vera Alentova and her husband settled in a small apartment in the center of Moscow. A huge number of Yulia's soft toys are still stored there. And until recently, the four-legged guardian of the family hearth lived here – Charlie the Cocker Spaniel. The dog died, which was a real tragedy for the family. There is still a photo of Charlie hanging in the hallway, and Vera Alentova loves to share her memories of her pet.
Family of Vera Alentova
The Menshovs lived in an “open house.” Colleagues often and easily came to them, sometimes even borrowing money. The couple were always happy to help, since they themselves experienced many difficulties in life. To many, the distribution of responsibilities in their family seemed strange: Alentova was mostly involved in men’s affairs: she could hammer a nail and choose upholstery for furniture, but Vladimir worked in the kitchen, since he was born in Baku, and there men cook everything themselves.
It seems that age has no power over the actress
In 2016, the media reported about an accident involving Alentova’s car. The victim said her Lexus RX rammed his car and fled the scene. The actress herself denied the accident.
Vera Alentova continues to play in the theater
Although the actress is in her eighties, viewers still admire her appearance, and her sense of style will give odds to many young actresses. By the way, it is not gyms that help Vera Alentova stay in excellent shape, but self-discipline. The actress is always careful about excess weight. By the way, the woman gained weight only once in her life - when she quit smoking at the request of her daughter. To lose weight, she followed the advice of her dresser: “If you want to lose weight, eat a third of your usual daily allowance.” And it helped.
Vera Alentova before and after plastic surgery
Personal life
Alentova’s fate is closely connected with Vladimir Menshov, whom she met within the walls of the Moscow Art Theater School. The young people got married while they were still students, after which followed a difficult test of everyday life and family life. They lived separately for some time, and after graduation they even went to different cities: Vera remained in Moscow, and Vladimir was assigned to Stavropol.
Vera Alentova with her husband
A busy work schedule and not the best financial situation of the family influenced the absence of a large number of children in the family of the acting couple. In 1969, their only daughter, Yulia Menshova, was born. But the tired spouses decided to separate. The official divorce did not take place, since it was unprofitable for both actors. They continued to write letters to each other, and Menshov visited his daughter every weekend.
Vera Alentova with her daughter
When the girl entered first grade, her parents got back together. Since then, they have never separated, despite the disagreements and conflicts that invariably arise in creative families.
Vera Alentova now
In 2022, Svetlana Proskurina’s drama “Sunday” was released, in which Alentova plays one of the main roles. The plot centers on a high-ranking official who received an anonymous note predicting imminent death, and Vera Valentinovna plays his mother. The film was nominated for a prize at the Moscow Film Festival, but the victory went to “Personal Growth Training” by Farhat Sharipov.
Vera Alentova in the film “Sunday” (2019)
The actress will also appear in the film adaptation of Victor Pelevin’s novel Empire V, in which a young, unremarkable Muscovite turns into a vampire and finds out that people like him actually rule the world. Alentova plays Ishtar Borisovna, the boss of the vampires. The premiere is scheduled for 2022.
On July 5, 2022, Vladimir Menshov passed away - the 81-year-old director died from the consequences of coronavirus. He was hospitalized at the end of June, and then Alentova was admitted to the hospital. But the actress’s illness progressed more calmly - as the media reported, when Menshov was dying, she had already been transferred from intensive care to a regular ward. It was reported that after the news about the death of her husband, Alentova became worse - she was allegedly transferred to intensive care again. Alentova’s daughter denied these rumors and said that the actress had already been discharged with a negative covid test. On July 8, she said goodbye to Vladimir Menshov.
Vera Alentova at the funeral of Vladimir Menshov
