Inna Churikova passed away

Inna Churikova died. People’s Artist of the USSR was 79 years old. charming, popularly loved, “indecently” talented, — such She will remain in the memory of all theater lovers.

Over the years, theatergoers and moviegoers racked their brains over the phenomenon of Inna Mikhailovna. Sitting in a crowded hall, hundreds of spectators each time fell under her charm, under the magic of her stage existence, which seems so simple and natural. The audience forgot that the Lenkom stage was in front of them, that the actress uttered the same words every evening: not a single extra gesture, not a single stamped blank! On stage, Inna Mikhailovna thought, felt, acted – and each time spontaneously, giving birth to something real, important, vital.

Is that how she did it?! Seems like no one has ever answered this question. will be able to answer.

Is this not an attribute of the Great Actress?

– Young! Good by yourself! Mil! – patronizingly pronounced her arrogant Mamaeva.

– Why are you being so rude? – menacingly asked, sitting in a wheelchair overbearing Antonida Vasilievna.

“But you can stay if you want. I’ll leave myself, and you’ll come back later, in a week,” capricious Arkadina proclaimed triumphantly.

“Children are children!” – smiling happily, whispered loving Filumena Maturano.

Born at different times, not similar in anything, these characters were united for the viewer into the image of a Woman, which Inna Mikhailovna created for the audience from role to role.

“There are normal artists, – wrote in his book “Contacts at Different Levels” about the phenomenon of Churikova, the artistic director of Lenkom Mark Zakharov, – there are decent, decent, average, reliable. There are very good, even brilliant ones. But it rarely happens that an actor is a spokesman for a certain social stratum of society, a “plenipotentiary representative” not just of his generation, but of an entire social class. This is Inna Churikova. She entered the art of the film “Beginning” brightly and expressively. Like a man representing millions average girls who will not take prizes at beauty contests that are not spectacular, and it seems that nature has not awarded them with any special data. Nevertheless, they are interesting, curious, original and require close attention and study by means of art. In the first years of Inna Mikhailovna’s work in our theater, I received angry letters. Sometimes you get such letters when some spectator is dissatisfied with something and comes out with rather sharp criticism. I received letters that “how can such an artist be released in the central female role ?!” This was when she played the role of Nelly in the play “Till”.

But the thing is the thing is that Inna Churikova has a secret: this actress is subject to the magic of the Transfiguration. Before our eyes, gradually, visibly, she can become a beautiful, peculiar, unique, Female Individuality – a creature with some special charm and some special beauty.

Did the actress Churikova always agree with the director? When you work with an actress of this level, there can be no absolutely serene and harmonious coexistence. A talented person is always a ruffian, overwhelmed by all sorts of complexes, ideas and doubts. But between Churikova and Zakharov there was always mutual creative trust, and long-term sympathy.

Speaking of Churikova, it is impossible not to mention her extraordinary talent, hard work and enormous nervous potential, which she so interestingly managed to realize in theater and cinema.

– What I liked about her work, – says Alexander Zbruev, – that’s what she couldn’t be “in passing”. The aphorism “Art does not tolerate fuss” is about Churikova. She was detailed to such an extent that the partner had to come up with something that would be interesting to exist next to her. She was different. Sometimes very harsh for someone who is in a hurry. She could even be obnoxious. But she needs to be heard, because she just didn’t do anything, she must was to justify everything in itself. Scrupulously accurate.

So much has been said about Inna Mikhailovna that to add something new is difficult. She played a variety of roles, a lot, ranging from heroic roles to sharp character ones. Churikova’s star has risen very high, it manifests itself unusually. On the stage next to Churikova, the partners had to be always on the alert, feel and be prepared for the fact that now the actress will present some unexpected gift. And this will have to match.

Friends, acquaintances, the husband of Inna Mikhailovna Gleb Panfilov said that her most important quality was that she naturally loved everything living, everything being. From this, the rest was born. And in everyday life I constantly forgot about myself. I forgot to dress warmly, and during the meal, and relax.

– Her inspiration, – says Gleb Panfilov, – was based on the gift of God. In life, she was an unusually stable, major, bright and kind person. Peculiar, as the critics said. Kindness and Love were always present in her.

A whole era has gone with Inna Churikova.

Light memory, dear Inna Mikhailovna!

Elena Bulova.

Photo of the author.

Farewell to Inna Churikova will be held in Lenkom on January 17, 2023.