Anna Shatilova celebrates her anniversary: ​​“There is no time for banquets”

If Anna Shatilova’s anniversary fell on a weekday, the famous TV presenter would most likely meet him at work. However, even on Sunday, Anna Nikolaevna is clearly not interested in the idea of ​​a big holiday. Instead of a banquet, she has to pack her suitcase and have serious plans for the next few days. “MK” miraculously found some time in the birthday girl’s schedule a couple of days before the anniversary to chat.

“I don’t like this pathos at all,” Anna Nikolaevna noted in a conversation with MK. — Anniversaries are not my thing, and the fact that the country suddenly shook up like this is a big surprise. Television, radio, newspapers – so much of everything. And at the end of the year I have so much broadcasting work to do. A huge concert dedicated to Andrei Dementiev, some official events, in general, are busy almost all days. I can talk now because one event was cancelled.”

Such a rhythm of life, at first glance, does not really correspond to Anna Nikolaevna’s age, but everyone who is well acquainted with one of the most famous announcers of Soviet TV will, of course, say that the overflowing energy, combined with the desire to be on time everywhere, helps the TV legend remain in excellent tone.

“At all my master classes and meetings with students I say: “Choose something you like, and your life will be wonderful.” I succeeded, although against my will,” says Anna Shatilova and adds her favorite quote from Anatole France: “Chance in our lives is everything.”

The incident that became the beginning of the path to the television and radio world for a little girl from the Moscow region can correctly be called not only happy, but also completely atypical for those times. It can be assumed that being a radio announcer is not exactly the profession that children dreamed of in the post-war devastation. But Anya had a black radio dish at home, from which the voices of Olga Vysotskaya and Yuri Levitan sounded, and in the orphanage where the mother of the future TV presenter worked, teacher Rebekah Borisovna Nudelman worked, who inspired the little girl to learn the poems “Birch Tree” and “The Ballad of Zaslonov and His Adjutant.”

“My theory is that the earlier you learn poetry or prose and read it out loud, the faster your voice develops. And this happened to me,” says Anna Nikolaevna. — Probably, then the story of my movement towards the business that I wanted to do began. At that time, I often made a mistake in the word “announcer” and pronounced it as “dictator,” but in the end I was not mistaken with the profession.”

The second lucky chance fell on Anna Shatilova, already a student at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of the Krupskaya Pedagogical Institute. “I remember this date exactly. The fourth of March 1959,” says Anna Nikolaevna. “That day, on the bulletin board at the institute, I saw a piece of paper with handwritten writing: “The State Radio Broadcasting Committee is announcing a competition to fill vacant positions as trainee announcers.” And a phone. I called and came.”

After the third round of selection of future announcers, out of five hundred applicants, only five remained, and among them were Anna Shatilova and Svetlana Morgunova, future idols of millions. Further events unfolded before the eyes of the entire Soviet Union. Anna Nikolaevna became the first presenter of the “Time” program, musically enlightened people in episodes of the “Music Kiosk” program, without having a specialized education, went to Japan to host a program about the Russian language, without having a CPSU party card.

In those days it was not at all easy to get into television, but it was even more difficult not to be disappointed in the work, which always took more than it gave. Anna Shatilova went through a tough, stagnant dictatorship, did not give up her profession in a situation when Ostankino decided to get rid of everything that was in one way or another connected with the USSR, and finally did not lose herself in the era of new technologies and burning nostalgia for the past. But even on all these Ostankino roller coasters, which will be steeper than the American ones, Anna Nikolaevna, in her words, never wanted to give up everything and do something else. She also knew how to prioritize.

“With all the love for my work, family has always remained in the first place,” notes Anna Shatilova. — So that the house is clean and dinner is ready. I managed everything. I lived on Olimpiysky Prospekt and in the winter, before going to the broadcast of the “Time” program, I took skis, went to Catherine Park and drove several laps around the pond in any weather. And then on your own to Ostankino. I still like this state when there is nowhere to retreat. Come on, get ready, comb your hair, make your face and go ahead. The only way”.

With special warmth, Anna Nikolaevna remembers the legendary people with whom she met and became friends through her work. She communicated with her childhood idol Yuri Levitan until the last days of the famous announcer. And in memory of Igor Moiseev, she received a recipe for tea that gives cheerfulness and good mood. Herbs, hibiscus, a little ginger, dry bay leaf, three or four black peppercorns, apple. Brew for twenty minutes, drink with dried fruits and honey.

Perhaps Anna Shatilova will make herself just such a drink for her anniversary, because she hasn’t drunk alcohol for more than twenty years. True, there will be no feast this time. “We usually sit as a family: son, daughter-in-law, two grandchildren. But this year there’s nothing to do,” says the birthday girl. — Already on Sunday evening to Tyumen by train. Accompanied by my nineteen year old grandson. There I am hosting a big event dedicated to the sixtieth anniversary of one enterprise. So I don’t have time for banquets.”

The MK team wholeheartedly congratulates Anna Nikolaevna on her anniversary.