Liya Mejidovna Akhedzhakova (; born 9 July 1938) is a Soviet and Russian film, stage and voice actress who received the title of People's Artist of Russia in 1994. She received two Nika Awards as the best supporting actress and the 2014 Nika Honorary Prize.
Biography Akhedzhakova was born in Dnepropetrovsk (modern-day Dnipro, Ukraine). She grew up in a theatrical family in Maykop. Her stepfather, Mejid Salehovich Akhedzhakov (1914–2012), was a Circassian nobleman who served as the Principal Director of the National Theatre of the Republic of Adygea. Her mother, Yuliya Alexandrovna Akhedzhakova (1916–1990), was also an actress at the same drama theatre. At the age of 10, when her mother and aunt were suffering from tuberculosis, she wrote a letter to Joseph Stalin with a request for help. In response, a rare drug was delivered to her family.Interview at Hard Day's Night, TV Rain, 5 March 2013 (in Russian)
In 1956, she entered the Moscow Institute of Nonferrous Metals and Gold where she studied for eighteen months. She first appeared on stage in 1961 at Moscow Youth Theatre. In 1962, she graduated from Lunacharsky State Institute for Theatre Arts (GITIS). Her first film appearance was in Ishchu cheloveka (1973) (Russian: Looking for a Man). Her debut in this drama was awarded several prizes at international film festivals in Locarno, Switzerland and Varna, Bulgaria.Film and Theatre Star Liya Akhedzhakova Turns 70 In 1977 she joined the Sovremennik Theatre. In 1986 she played four main roles in the play Apartment Columbine directed by Roman Viktyuk.
As a film actress, Liya Akhedzhakova became widely known due to her roles in Eldar Ryazanov's films, including Tanya in The Irony of Fate (1975), Verochka in Office Romance (1977), Malaeva in The Garage (1979), and Fima in Promised Heaven (1991). In the 2000, film Old Hags, she played alongside her stepfather.
Personal life Akhedzhakova's first husband was Valery Nosik, an actor of Moscow Pushkin Drama Theatre and Maly Theatre. Her second husband was artist and poet Boris Kocheishvili. In the summer of 2001, Liya Akhedzhakova married the Moscow-based photographer Vladimir Persiyanov.
Political views During the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis, on the night before the storming of the White House, Akhedzhakova and several other popular actors attended a live broadcast at the "reserve studio" outside of the Ostankino Technical Center. She expressed support to Boris Yeltsin while also criticized the army for "not protecting us" from the old Soviet Constitution and encouraged people "to wake up," or "the Communists will return."White House, Black Smoke documentary by NTV (Russia), archive footage at 57:50 (in Russian)Zheleznova N. L., Panova A. G., Surkov A. P. (1994). Moscow. Autumn-93. Chroincles of the Confrontation // From the speech by Lia Akhedzhakova given on central television on October 4, 1993. — Moscow: Respublika, p. 396-397 Yeltsin watched the broadcast in his office. He later wrote in his memoirs, "I will always remember Akhedzhakova – shocked, fragile, but firm and courageous."The Invention of Russia: The Rise of Putin and the Age of Fake News, by Arkady Ostrovsky, Penguin, Jun 7, 2016 - History, page 159. She was criticized for her speech by Alexander Prokhanov, Alexander Rutskoy, Stanislav Govorukhin and others who blamed intelligentsia for escalating the conflict.Dmitri Furman (2010). Spiral Motion: The Russian Political System alongside Other Political Systems. — Moscow: Ves Mir, p. 71-72 (Russian pdf at the official Dmitriy Furman's website)Alexander Rutskoy (1995). The Bloody Autumn: Diary of 21 September - 4 October 1993. — Moscow, p. 256 Personal Opinion with Alexander Prokhanov at Echo of Moscow, March 16, 2011 (in Russian)Yuri Saprykin. Council of Ancients: Lia Akhedzhakova interview at Afisha, February 4, 2013 archived (in Russian)Oleg Kashin (2013). Putin's Reaction. What Is Good and What Is Bad. — Moscow: Algorithm Stanislav Govorukhin. "People are protesting, that's good, but I don't trust the leaders of opposition" interview at Argumenty i Fakty, 10/02/2012 (in Russian)
Akhedzhakova is a critic of contemporary Russian politics. She has protested the law that prohibits adoption of Russian children by US citizens, the persecution of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and the incarceration of Vasily Aleksanyan. Together with Eldar Ryazanov, Yuri Shevchuk, Andrey Makarevich, Andrei Konchalovsky and others, she has expressed opposition to Russia's policy toward Ukraine. Following the shootdown of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, she publicly read a poem by Andrey Orlov, Requiem for MH17, where he apologized as a Russian for the incident. In 2013, Akhedzhakova received a prize from the Moscow Helsinki Group for "the protection of human rights by means of culture and arts." She spoke out in opposition to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
According to Eldar Ryazanov, "she sympathizes with the weak, and despises the cruel. In this, her artistic credo coincides with the stance of the great Chaplin."
In April 2023, Russian- and English-language independent news website Meduza reported that Vitaly Borodin, head of the Federal Security and Anti-Corruption Project, asked Russia's Prosecutor General to launch a criminal case against Akhedzhakova. He claimed that Akhedzhakova has criticized “the state organs’ and the president's decisions and policies with regard to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He accused the actress of "treason" and "discrediting" the armed forces. Akhedzhakova denied the allegations. Borodin recommended labeling Akhedzhakova a "foreign agent". As a result of these accusations, she had to leave Sovremennik Theatre, where she had been working for many years.
Honours and selected awards Year Award Category Work Result 1970 Honored Artist of the RSFSR 1973 Prize of the 8th International Film Screening in the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Varna 1975 Prize of the 8th All-Union Film Festival in Chișinău Sports Films 1979 Vasilyev Brothers State Prize of the RSFSR Laureate of RSFSR State Prize Office Romance 1991 Nika Award1991 Laureates at the official Nika Award website (in Russian) Best Supporting Actress Promised Heaven 1994 People's Artist of Russia 1999 Order of Honour 2001 "Olmypia" National Award National Prize of Public Recognition for Women's Achievements 2006 Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" Cavalière (4th class) 2006 Nika Award2006 Laureates at the official Nika Award website (in Russian) Best Supporting Actress Playing the Victim 2008 Star of Theatre Prize 2008 Award of "Star teatral" Civic Courage 2013 Award of "Star teatral" Best Actress 2013 Award of the Moscow Helsinki Group 2014 Nika Award2014 Laureates at the official Nika Award website (in Russian) Honorary Prize
Selected filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1968 The Retirning Petya 1970 The Blue Bird Young boy Voice 1970 Valiant Robin Hood Little John Voice 1973 Glasha and Kikimora Pioneer cyclist Voice 1973 Looking for a Man Anna Kuznetsova 1974 Tanya Mistress, housekeeper 1974 Ivan and Marya Princess Agrippina 1975 The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath! Tanya, Nadya's friend Television film 1975 Poshekhonskaya Starina Polka 1975 Near the Black Sea Viola Smyr 1976 In Secret to the Whole World (Po sekretu vsemu svetu) Yelizaveta Nikolaevna, geography teacher 1976 Twenty Days Without War Clock woman 1977 ZhikharkaZhikharka Voice 1977 Two Maples Ivanushka Voice 1977 Crane in the SkyRoza Kozodoeva 1977 Office Romance Vera "Verochka," secretary 1978 The Handsome Man Lupacheva Television film 1978 When I Will Become a Giant Julietta Ashotovna, nicknamed “Smiley,” English teacher 1978 Black Wizard's Gift Pugalitsa 1979 Speak My Language Claudia 1979 Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears Olga Pavlovna, club manager 1979 The Garage Malaeva 1980 Say a Word for the Poor Hussar Loulou Television film 1981 The Eighth Wonder of the World Yuliya Yermolina 1981 Where Did Fomenko Disappear to? Alina Television film 1981 Vacation at Own Expense Irina Television film 1982 Alice Through the Looking Glass The White Queen/The Sheep 1983 Something From the Provincial Life Merchutkina Television film 1983 Talisman Grandmother 1983 Mama Anush Anush 1984 Little Favor Toma Television film 1984 Copper Angel Rosita 1984 Fairy Autumn Gift Fairy of sorrow 1986 Ara, bara, pukh!Alla Voice 1986 Chameleon Game Irma 1986 Occasion Violetta 1986 Wingspan First-class passenger (herself) 1987 Dialog. The Mole and the Egg Egg Voice 1987 Another Life Roza 1988 Ferocious Bambr Mouse Voice 1988 A Sinner Zina 1989 Vagrant Bus Zina, administrator 1989 Sofia PetrovnaMaria Erastovna Kiparisova 1990 Should a Hedgehog be Prickly? Mother hedgehog Voice 1990 In the Footsteps of Bambr Mouse Voice 1990 Dope For an Angels Nina 1990 Sons of Bitches Nanaytseva 1990 Mordashka Zoya Nikolaevna, Yuliya's mother 1991 Glasha and KikimoraKikimora Voice 1991 Trap for Bambr Mouse Voice 1991 For a Rainy DayMother HedgehogVoice 1991 Promised Heaven Anthemia "Phima" Stepanovna Nika Award for Best Actress (1991) 1992 Birth of HerculesOlga's motherVoice 1992 I Wanted to See Angels Zhenya's mother 1992 Seven Forty Tkachuk 1993 Ant HedgehogMother Hedgehog Voice 1993 Abyss, Seventh CircleOlga's mother 1994 Tren bren Masha 1995 Moscow Vacation Speculator 1997 Dandelion Wine Lena Auffmann 2000 Old Hags Lyuba2005Gorynych and VictoriaVioletta Polikarpovna Lurie 2006 Playing the Victim Waitress in Japanese restaurant Nika Award for Best Actress (2007) 2006 Andersen. Life Without Love Gadalkal 2006 Strange Christmas Lucia Television film 2007 Potapov, to the Board! Taisiya Ivanovna 2007 Branch of Lilac Anna Sergeevna, Zverev's wife 2007 Thumbelina Mouse 2007 Photo of My Girl Lyubov Grigorevna, Paul's mother 2007 The Funeral Party Mariya Ignatyevna, healer 2008 Four Ages of Love Zima 2009 The Book of Masters Baba Yaga 2009 Bankrupt Matchmaker 2010 Love-Carrot 3 Yelizaveta Nikolaevna 2011 Ivan Tsarevich and the Grey Wolf Baba Yaga Voice 2012 Moms Svetlana Semyonovna2017 The MeekHuman rights activist2018SummerLandlady2021Halley's CometYanga Lvovna Artemyeva, mother of Yulia Borisovna, grandmother of Taisiya and Daria2022Golden NeighborsStepanovna
Television Year Title Role Notes 1977 Dunno In The Sunny City Bukovka Episode 7–8, voice 2003 Fifth Angel Sara 2004 Narrow Bridge Nina Petrovna TV mini-series 2005 Kazaroza Mariya Antonovna 2011 Dear My Man Ashkhen Ovanesovna Oganyan
References
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