Silent heartthrob: Than the emigrant from the USSR Mikhail Baryshnikov conquered Hollywood stars

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

He became one of the most famous and successful Soviet dancers abroad, who is called the greatest ballet dancer of the twentieth century and one of the most famous "defectors" who escaped from the USSR. Everyone knows about his professional achievements, but he preferred not to talk about his personal life. Why Mikhail Baryshnikov earned the fame of a silent heartthrob in the USA, and which Hollywood stars could not resist his charm - further in the review.

Mikhail Baryshnikov began to study ballet at the age of 10, however, at first the teachers, noting his talent and hard work, still doubted that he would ever be able to become a soloist. The main problem was his small stature and inconspicuous appearance. But when Baryshnikov went on stage, he was transformed - there was such power and energy in his dance that, instead of a shy young man, the audience, and especially the spectators, saw a brutal man, whom it was impossible to resist.

Mikhail Baryshnikov was a star of the Mariinsky Theater for 7 years, but there he did not see any prospects for development and did not have the opportunity to dance in the productions he dreamed of. 45 years ago, in the summer of 1974, he did not return from a tour in Canada and became a "defector". His close friend, the poet Joseph Brodsky, when asked what would have happened to the dancer if he had stayed in the USSR, answered briefly and succinctly: "". And Baryshnikov himself admitted that this decision was very difficult for him: "".

Shortly after moving to the United States, Baryshnikov became the premier of the American Ballet Theater and became an incredibly popular artist in the United States. Baryshnikov achieved considerable success both in classical ballet and in modern style, where he showed a new level of male dance. At the moment, he is called one of the most famous and successful immigrants from the USSR in the United States, who have achieved worldwide fame and recognition.

Since moving to the USA, the dancer has starred in 9 feature films, in 4 of which he played the main roles. For his work at Turning Point in 1977, he was nominated for an Oscar for his supporting role, and the image of the Russian artist Alexander Petrovsky, the beloved of the main character in the TV series Sex and the City, brought him worldwide popularity as an actor. Baryshnikov moved in the circle of stars, was familiar with the first beauties of Hollywood, and with many of them the artist was credited with novels. Among his chosen ones were Liza Minnelli, Sharon Stone, Isabella Rossellini. But he himself never confirmed this information. Isabella Rossellini stated: "".

Before moving to the United States, the dancer was not married, but lived in a civil marriage with the ballerina Tatyana Koltsova. Of course, he was worried about parting with her, but his position is explained by one of his words: "". In the United States, he earned a reputation as a silent heartthrob - everyone talked about his novels except himself. The only thing he allowed himself to say about his famous mistresses is: "". And when he was asked a question about how he lives in the status of a sex symbol, the dancer was embarrassed and answered: "". Because of this closeness, Baryshnikov was nicknamed "the man in the case."

2 years after his escape from the USSR, Mikhail Baryshnikov met Hollywood actress Jessica Lange, and they began a whirlwind romance. At that time she was already a star - her role in the film "King Kong" brought her worldwide popularity. At the party where they met, Baryshnikov was introduced to her just like that - "the girl of King Kong." Almost immediately they began to live together, and as soon as journalists found out about their romance, they became the object of the most close attention of the press. Since the "mysterious Russian" did not comment on these relations in any way, they immediately became overgrown with rumors: in the newspapers they wrote that the dancer mocks the actress, makes her wash the floor on her knees (as is customary in the USSR), cook Russian cuisine for him and does not give her sleep at night due to the constant visits of his friends.

They spent about 6 years together. All this time, attention to their pair did not wane. Jessica Lange was credited with romances with directors and actors, the dancer was convicted of infidelity when Liza Minnelli became his partner in the musical "Baryshnikov on Broadway". The star of the cult Cabaret really became more than a close friend to him. According to rumors, the initiator of the relationship was Minnelli. The artist was traditionally silent about this novel, but the actress was more talkative. She said that "", "".

True, this romance did not last long - the American star was never able to understand the “mysterious Russian soul”. He could read Brodsky to her for hours, put on the notes of Vysotsky and Okudzhava. According to legend, once Liza Minnelli asked Marina Vlady: "" However, there is a version that they themselves spread rumors about their romance for a joke.

Be that as it may, Baryshnikov returned to Jessica Lange, and in 1981 they had a daughter, Alexandra. But this did not save their relationship. the second attempt was again unsuccessful, after which the artist said: "". Nevertheless, the couple managed to maintain friendly relations, they continued to communicate, and once Mikhail said: "".

After parting with Jessica Lange, Baryshnikov found his happiness in marriage with Lisa Reinhart - not an actress and not an American. Her ancestors were from Austria and Germany, she, like Mikhail, devoted her life to dancing, but left the stage for the sake of her family. As time has shown, it was she who managed to curb the "silent heartthrob" and give him what he had been looking for for a long time - quiet family happiness and a reliable rear. The couple had three children, and Lisa devoted her life to their upbringing.

He is called one of the greatest dancers of the twentieth century. and a living legend: Mikhail Baryshnikov in the ballet "Carmen".