Lydia Vertinskaya on screen and in life

• Lydia Vertinskaya on the screen and in the life of

April 14 marks the 94th day of the birth of the actress, artist, wife of singer Alexander Vertinsky, one of the most beautiful women of the Soviet cinema Lydia Vertinskaya. She played only five films, but these roles have brought her fame and viewers love. Most memorable of her phoenix from "Sadko" and Anidag of the "Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors". Her beauty and fairy-tale images created on the screen real magic. However, despite its success, the actress left the cinema and no longer appear in public, and never regretted it.

Lidia was born in 1923 in Harbin (China), where her father, a descendant of the ancient Georgian princely family Tsirgvava, served in the management of the Chinese Eastern Railway, and his mother was a housewife. At the time, hundreds of immigrants lived in Harbin, opened Russian schools, there are newspapers, restaurant, served by Russian artists.

and Lydia Alexander Vertinsky

After his father's death, the family moved from Harbin to Shanghai, where Lydia worked as a secretary in a shipping company. Her mother dreamed that she was married to one of the English captains, takes care of Lydia. But once she got to the concert Vertinsky, and this encounter changed her life. She later recalled: "I was his performance made a huge impression. His thin plastic amazing and expressive hands, his way of bowing - are always a bit sloppy, a little down. The words of his songs, where each word and phrase uttered them sounded so beautiful and elegant. I've never heard of so beautiful it sounded Russian, the words hit its rich tone. I was fascinated and captured in the sweet captivity. "

Lydia and Alexander Vertinsky

Alexander Vertinsky with his wife and daughter Anastasia 1945

Vertinsky Lydia also liked at first sight, and he began to take care of it. However, at that time she was just 17, and he was - already 51, and the girl's mother was totally against this relationship. Vertinsky went on tour, and sent letters to the gentle darling, "I adore you, my little Georgian", "LOVE, despite the prohibitions of the Georgian society and your family!". And in 1942 they were married.

Vertinsky and his daughter Marianne

Alexander Vertinsky

In 1943, after an appeal to the Molotov Alexander Vertinsky was able to get permission to return to the USSR. He continued to perform and tour, and Lydia took care of two daughters. In addition, she attended art lessons, and in 1955 graduated from the Faculty of Painting of the Moscow State Academic Art Institute.

Lydia Vertinskaya film Sadko * *, 1952

In the movie, she came quite by accident - once on a non-standard beauty Lydia Vertinskaya noticed Ptushko director Alexander, who was then working on the fairy tale "Sadko". The role of the magic bird Phoenix was her debut, after which it began to invite the directors on the role of characters, endowed with magical powers. A total of 1950-1960-ies. she played in 5 movies. Despite the fact that her film career was very short, all these films have become classics of Soviet cinema.

A still from the movie * * Don Quixote 1957

Lydia Vertinskaya in the movie * * From Kiev, 1960

Lydia Vertinskaya movie * New adventures of a cat in boots * 1958

In 1956, Vertinsky wrote to his wife: "Honey Lilichka and pekuly and Munichka and Honey! And the "Phoenix Bird" ... and finally, "The Duchess"! Lack of sweet words in our relationship - it is also the result of our gray dog's life, where love and tenderness - not in favor where human soft, deep feelings - something alien, "fossil", which are introduced only from books, and only in order so as not to seem conclusive fools and ignoramuses. And we have become accustomed to hesitate. Sometimes I'd like to write you all the sweet and tender that I have in my heart to you, my first and true love, the mother of my wonderful children ... But does it write? ". The following year he died. Lidia became a widow at age 34 and never married, devoting himself to the children.

Lydia Vertinskaya film * Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors * 1963 and * New adventures of a cat in boots * 1958

Lydia Vertinskaya film * Kingdom of Crooked Mirrors * 1963

She earned selling his paintings and film decided not to return - plays a central role, she always thought the role of mother. Actress led a secluded life and did not give an interview recently in the press about her rarely remembered.

The actress and artist Lydia Vertinskaya

and Lydia Alexander Vertinsky

She lived a long life and died at the age of 90 years. She died December 31, 2013 They say that the last thing she heard - Vertinsky song "Your fingers smell of incense."