8 Russian film celebrities who managed to become "their own" in Hollywood

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

To break into the world cinema is the rosy dream of almost every actor. However, not everyone succeeds in entering the circles of the elite and working with famous Western directors. Sometimes such ambitions remain just an unattainable desire. But still, there are such talented Russian actors who were able to get roles in foreign projects, and they will be discussed in this review.

Yuri Kolokolnikov

The young Russian actor was lucky to star in the acclaimed television series Game of Thrones. He played Stear, the Tenn magnar, who appeared in the fourth season. For a long time he had to keep silent about his participation - the contract did not allow. Another of his points was the need to shave his head. This trifle for the actor turned into a whole problem - at the same time, Yuri was filming in a Russian film, where he was supposed to have hair.

It was rather difficult for the actor to adapt to the filming process: despite the fact that he lived in the United States since childhood and speaks excellent English, however, he had to rebuild himself to the northern English dialect, since the whole film crew communicated in it. But, nevertheless, as the actor shared with journalists, it was great happiness and pleasure for him to work in a highly professional team. Interestingly, in the credits for a foreign film, you will find his somewhat abbreviated name - Yuri Kolokol.

Vladimir Mashkov

The American spy series, which was released on a wide screen in 2001-2006, was remembered by the Russian viewer not only for its famously twisted plot, but also for the number of invited Russian actors. At various times, Oleg Taktarov, Oleg Vidov, Igor Zhizhikin, Alexander Kuznetsov, Evgeny Lazarev were filmed here. However, perhaps the most significant role was given to Vladimir Mashkov. According to a long-standing Hollywood tradition, the Russian actor was entrusted with the role of terrorist leader Milos Kradic, who organized subversive activities throughout Europe. It is noteworthy that later the American producer JJ Abrams invited Mashkov to appear in the fourth part of the action movie Mission Impossible. In it, the Russian actor played the role of an intelligence officer Anatoly Sidorov.

Julia Snegir

Yulia, who was born in a provincial town with one cinema, managed the almost impossible - she got into the team of the famous Paolo Sorrentino and worked alongside Jude Law and John Malkovich. The director, having heard about the traditions of the Russian acting school, has long wanted to see someone from our country in his project. During the auditions, Julia showed such an impressive result that the director interrupted the casting and approved her. "An amazingly talented actress" - he said about her later.

In the second season of the acclaimed TV series "New Dad", she played in one of the episodes the inconsolable wife of a doctor, whose child had been terminally ill for many years. Jude Law's character was supposed to bring the "Russian Madonna" back to life. By the way, later it was with this actor that the girl was honored to represent the picture at the Venice Film Festival.

Igor Zhizhikin

Igor is actively involved in Hollywood projects. However, due to imperfect pronunciation, he gets the role of villains. But the actor does not complain - on the contrary, as he shared in an interview, he likes to play bad guys, because in real life he is “good, fluffy, kind, and the bad ones play against resistance”. At the same time, on the set, world celebrities are his partners. So, in the series "Spy" Igor worked in tandem with Quentin Tarantino, and in the series "Politicians" he had to play the Russian foreign minister, trying to charm the US Secretary of State in the image of Sigourney Weaver.

Meanwhile, Igor shared that he does not see a big difference between foreign and our actors. You can also have a heart-to-heart chat with them during a creative break, also have a drink in the bar in the evening, and if you find common interests, continue communication outside of filming.

Danila Kozlovsky

At one time, the Russian actor dreamed of an Oscar. Thanks to his agent, he managed to get several prominent roles in foreign films. So, on account of Danila the role of the vampire Dmitry Belikov in the fantasy action movie "Vampire Academy". The actor shared about this project that he was disappointed. He expected a better result, however, as the experience of filming with foreign colleagues seemed useful to him. This was followed by filming in the British crime series "McMafia" and "Vikings". In the sixth season of the Canadian-Irish action, the actor gets used to the role of the Russian prince Oleg (who was later nicknamed "The Prophet"), who befriends Ivar Beskostny (actor Alex Heg Anderson), another main character in the film.

They are united by common values: both are bloodthirsty and warlike. Critics liked Danila's work, they noted the charisma and sense of humor of the created image. However, the actor himself diminished the fervent desire to become the darling of the West. He plunged headlong into new projects of his own, and later said about his youthful dreams: "Oscar-winning" - at least it will sound beautiful at the funeral … At the moment there are things that are much more interesting."

Ilya Baskin

And this Soviet actor, after emigrating to the United States, certainly became a favorite of Hollywood directors. He was invited to many films and series: "Quantum Leap", "Cool Walker", "Murder, She Wrote", "West Wing", "Snoop", "Detective Rushe" and others. Basically, he got the role of either KGB agents or defectors. But in the series "Heroes" he was entrusted with the role of Ivan Spector, who became a mentor of superheroes.

Alla Kluka

The actress was lucky enough to get along with her course from the school of M. S. Shchepkin in 1990 to study at the New York theater school. And later, marry an outstanding scientist. The position of the American's wife and knowledge of the language allowed her to enter the national Guild of Actors. Therefore, her participation in Hollywood TV shows was natural. Soon, the talented Russian was invited to the popular television series Law & Order and The Sopranos. In the latter, Alla played a charming character - the Russian sister of the gangster's mistress.

Maria Shukshina

How can one do without the Russian theme in a crime drama? The creator of the series "McMafia" James Watkins has invited several stars of Russian cinema to play the roles at once. Alexey Serebryanikov became the main Russian gangster, Maria Shukshina played his wife - according to the script, they fled to London. Maria Mashkova, Sofya Lebedeva, Kirill Pirogov also starred in the film. As Maria Shukshina later shared, she was bribed by the plot - this is not a series "about nasty Russians" - this is a true and humane story from life.