How do our actors live in emigration

Irina Shmeleva starred in the films “Kin-Dza-Dza”, “Accelerate”, “For beautiful ladies”, “Trap for a lonely man”. Photos from the personal archive of Irina Shmeleva

People who talk about moving from one country to another are divided into 2 categories: some say that everything is for the better, while others sigh with the words “well, who needs me there”. After long years of living in America, actress Irina Shmeleva has formed a clear position and answer for everyone who is in thought now: “If a person thinks that he is not needed by anyone, he is right. If he thinks he will be successful, he is also right. I absolutely believe when a person says that he will be a champion or President. It’s a pity that when I first moved to the USA, I didn’t tell myself that I would be acting in Hollywood. ”

Irina Shmeleva - Soviet and Russian theater and film actress, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation. You saw her in the films “Kin-Dza-Dza”, “Acceleratrak”, “For beautiful ladies”, “A trap for a lonely man” and others.

20 years ago, Irina Shmeleva emigrated to the United States. Irina told in an interview with ForumDaily about the difficulties she had to face, how difficult it was to change her profession, and if she did not regret having to abandon her stellar career.

20 years ago, the actress emigrated to the United States. Photos from the personal archive of Irina Shmeleva

Getting ready to wash the floors

As Irina notes, the flowering of her film career coincided with the decline of Soviet cinema. AT 1995 year Shmeleva was awarded the title Honored Artist of Russia, and in 1998, she had already moved to America with her husband, who by then had lived and worked in the States for several years.

“I was ready for anything, I even learned to sing professionally in order to earn extra money in restaurants,” says Irina. “I thought I’d wash the floors too.” It didn’t work out: my husband had already prepared a comfortable existence for me, so I immediately went to study.”

Role in the film “Kin-dza-dza!” (1986). Photo kino-teatr.ru

First, Shmeleva mastered English, then studied at NYU, and then opened a company that was engaged in marketing, worked on Russian television, and on top of that, she mastered the profession of a realtor. I tried myself in different areas and prepared, so to speak, for all occasions.

“The fact is that I stopped saying that I am an actress,” explains Irina. — Moreover, no one here understands the term “deserved.” Of course, in America you need to sell yourself and tell them how wonderful you are. In general, in this country everyone is an artist: whoever gets it in their head is an artist. I have a friend who retired and at the age of 70 decided that he was an actor. In Russia, to become an artist, you must receive a special education, otherwise they won’t take you to the theater, they won’t film. And here... Gwyneth Paltrow, for example, didn’t study this, but the actress is amazing.”

Irina was ready for anything - washing floors and singing in restaurants, but her husband prepared a comfortable existence for her. Photo from the personal archive of Irina Shmeleva

Soviet advice and regrets

When Irina moved to the USA, she had a simple plan: if it works out, I’ll stay, if not, I’ll come back. Irina had no intention of pursuing a career as an actress in the States. As she admits: everything is to blame for the stereotypes imposed in her homeland.

“I came from Russia, where they always said that “our” person could never be an actor in America,” says Shmeleva. “And now I understand how stupid this is.”

I listen to Schwarzenegger speak - this is some kind of horror! Crazy accent! And Salma Hayek? I just can't believe it.

It was necessary to calmly engage in acting, because I decided this in my childhood. But my message that you need to learn and master different professions, confused me, despite the fact that there was no need to sing and wash ”.

Photos from the personal archive of Irina Shmeleva

Cinema present ticket

Despite the fact that Irina decided to put an end to her career, she received offers to act in Russian films and TV shows. She took on roles, but confesses: to be in the frame, you need to be in a party, always be friends and spin in the right environment. Moreover, according to the artist, now many new directors have appeared who do not know who Ira Shmelev is.

Role in the film “Accelerator” (1987). Photo kino-teatr.ru

“I remember a few years after I moved, they called me and invited me to shoot one picture, but then they said that the entire budget of the film was equal to my plane ticket,” says the actress, smiling.

Shmeleva admits that she flew to filming in Russia several times at her own expense, and in America, for example, it’s generally customary to do this: work is what you need, but no one cares how you get there.

Irina Shmeleva on the set of the series “Hour of Volkov”. Photo Ruskino.ru

“I would love to go filming, I’m very easy-going,” says Irina. — By the way, I just flew. I’m sitting and reading a book.”Money” and suddenly they call me: “Come to film, we need a girl who lived in America for a long time and can write half the script in Russian and half in English, the name of the film is “Money.” I gladly rushed over and filmed. Moreover, this time we paid for both travel and hotel. The organization on site was amazing!”

Random show off

Shmeleva says that when she enters the frame, in addition to the main text, she is asked to add American slang. “I remember before, when the Russians came from the USA, I didn’t understand why they were scared to insert English words. What kind of show-offs are these? - Irina laughs. - Now I understand perfectly. I myself, when I’m in Russia, stand in front of the seller in a store, and remember how this or that word is in ours, in our native language.”

Role in the film “Womanizer” (1980). Photo kino-teatr.ru

New role

The actress admits that cinema for her now is like a hobby, more for the soul. For many years now, Irina has been working as a realtor in Manhattan and New Jersey, receiving great pleasure from the profession.

“When I first arrived, my husband immediately advised me to unlearn my studies and start working as a real estate specialist. I brushed it off and said that only idiots do this. Now I understand how wrong I was! A very difficult profession. It's easy to get there and very difficult to do anything. People invest the most money of their lives in apartments and houses, and this is a lot of stress for them,” says Shmeleva.

Anyone who moves to the USA and thinks what to choose: immediately experience the shock of a big city (the actress believes that Moscow is 10 slower than New York by the pace of life) or choose “One-story America”, Irina advises to settle in the megalopolis:

“All the work is in the city, the entertainment is too, so real estate prices here are rising quickly,” she explains.

Shmeleva herself has lived in Jersey City with her husband for many years and is very happy about it: just one stop to Manhattan, clean and calm. “I’ve been living here for 12 years,” says Irina. — Nobody spoke Russian before. Now there are a lot of our people, because they always settle where it’s better.”

Irina has been living in Jersey City with her husband for many years. Photos from the personal archive of Irina Shmeleva.

Made in the USSR

When the USSR collapsed, America began to seem even more like a paradise for many, and both artists and singers, who were dissatisfied with the fact that they were not appreciated at home, were leaving there. Having learned what fees are paid in Hollywood, movie stars, dissatisfied with unworthy living conditions, looked for ways to leave. They left their home country in search of a better life and new experience, but it’s hard to say if any of them found what they were looking for.

Savely Kramarov, Oleg Vidov, Natalia Andreichenko, Viktor Ilyichev, Elena Solovey emigrated to the United States.

Star of Soviet cinema of the 1960-1970s. Oleg Vidov (“The Snowstorm”, “An Ordinary Miracle”, “The Tale of Tsar Saltan”, “The Headless Horseman”) was forced to flee the USSR, because his ex-wife - the daughter of a KGB general - influenced him not to be invited to act in film anymore. In 1983, a friend takes him from Yugoslavia to Austria in the trunk of a car, then he goes to Italy, and then to America. He rarely acted in films, but this was enough for him to be among the 10% of Hollywood actors who annually confirm their professional status, writes the publication “Culturology«.

Natalya Andreichenko (“Sibiriyada”, “War Romance”, “Mary Poppins, Goodbye!”, etc.) emigrated to the USA in 1991 to join her husband, Maximilian Schell. She starred in several Hollywood films, but these roles can hardly be considered a worthy realization for an actress accustomed to working with the best directors. In her memoirs, she wrote: “They tried to convince me that I should change - speak without an accent, play American roles. But then, without my Russian roots, I will be completely different - a converted, “broken” Russian, and at the same time I will not become an American.” In 2005 she returned to Russia.

Viktor Ilyichev became famous for his roles in Soviet cinema of the 1970s and 1980s. (“Sincerely yours”, “Green Van”, “The most charming and attractive”). The role of Fabio in “Dog in the Manger” brought him the greatest popularity. In the early 1990s, there was no work, and his wife was invited to teach at an American ballet school. And although the actor never found a job for himself and was deeply affected by the lack of demand, he never returned.

Savely Kramarov: the main contract in the end

In 70-s in the USSR, everyone loved him. It was impossible not to notice him: vivid images in the best films (“12 chairs”, “Ivan Vasilyevich changes profession”, “Gentlemen of luck”), quotes of his characters are still in language, and films with his participation want to be revised, regardless .

Kramarov’s career ended due to the political situation: he was Jewish and was also into yoga. It was not possible to move to Israel - Savely was not allowed in, “so as not to talk too much,” but things worked out with America.

Of course, in the USA Savely could only play Russians, namely, astronauts, KGB officers and other characters “from behind the Iron Curtain.” But we must give him his due - he did not sink into oblivion. In 84, notable films “Moscow on the Hudson” with Robin Williams and “2010: A Space Odyssey” with Roy Scheider were released, and then the actor could be seen in the popular comedy “Armed and Dangerous” and the action films “Red Heat” with Schwarzenegger and “ Tango and Cash" with Stallone. It's a pity that these were only cameo roles.

Savely Kramarov in the film "Armed and Dangerous"

They say he missed his homeland very much and even returned. But, having seen the situation with the Russian cinema in 90, he again went to Hollywood, where he signed a contract for the main role and ... passed away. Savely Kramarov died on June 6 of the year 1995, on the 61 year of life, in one of the clinics San Francisco from the second strokewell, after fighting cancer.

Grave of Savelia Kramarova in San Francisco. Photo pustgovorat2017.ru

Ilya Baskin: his among the "alien"

By the way, it was at the invitation of Ilya Baskin that Savely Kramarov left for the USA. The actors met and became friends on the set of “The Big Break” in 1972.

It must be said that Baskin is one of the few Soviet emigrant actors who had a successful career in the United States. But this did not happen right away. He worked in a restaurant, then as an insurance agent and at a Russian-language newspaper. But in the end, the actor achieved his goal - directors drew attention to Baskin.

Ilya Baskin. Photo: Irina Khozyainova

Now he is actively acting in films and television series, his partners were such stars as Sean Connery and Hellen Miren. Of course, basically, the actor is offered the roles of Russian or Soviet characters (for example, in 2011 year in “Transformers-3”He played cosmonaut Dmitry), but, nevertheless, Baskin succeeded - he firmly fit into the Hollywood workshop.

ForumDaily talked about how the artist lives now in the article “From “Big Change” to “Spiderman”: how Ilya Baskin became his in Hollywood»

Elena Solovey: the main role is in the family

The most feminine Soviet film actress left for America in 1991 year. The end of a career in its very prime ... In the first place, the actress always had a family. Troubled times have arrived in the country. Elena Solovey and her husband, artist Yuri Pugach, decided to move to the USA to be calm for their children.

Elena Solovey and her husband live in the town of Fairview, not far from New York. Photo kulturologia.ru

Elena without hesitation exchanged the life of a famous actress for the life of a housewife. Nightingale admits that she never harbored illusions that Hollywood would conquer. At first she was engaged exclusively in home, children, granddaughter. The family was provided by a husband, who settled himself as a stone artist in a jewelry workshop.

House of Elena Solovey in the United States. Photo kulturologia.ru

After some time, Elena began teaching acting at New York University, worked on Russian radio, and in 2001 organized a studio where classes in music, drawing and dance were held for children from Russian-speaking families. She starred in episodic roles in films and TV series, including “Klan Soprano«.

The actress spoke about her life in America in the article “Elena Solovey is 70: how the Soviet film star lives in the USA«.

Today, many Russian actors seeking to build a career in Hollywood - for example, the “Russian Schwarzenegger” Alexander Nevsky - admit that it is not enough to just move to the USA, you need to become a real American in your mentality and attitude to life. And our stars, if not 100, then 99 percent, were Soviet people, with a Soviet mentality and attitude towards the craft of an actor. And his artistic school was Russian, radically different from Hollywood.

Even younger singers and actors, who often leave for the “American Dream,” eventually return to their homeland to the audience who loves and appreciates them. Or, they take the crown that their fans have put on them, and, rolling up their sleeves, go into a new profession, playing a completely different role.

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