"Don't Be Born Beautiful" 12 Years Later: Why The Series Was Called a Factory of Office Romances, and How the Actors Have Changed

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

12 years ago the show of the series "Don't be born beautiful" ended. The final episodes with the miraculous transformation of Katya Pushkareva, the female half of the population of the entire country, waited for 2 years, and then, probably, they discussed the novels of the heroes on the screen and behind the scenes for as many more - the good thing, the actors gave a lot of reasons for this. A romantic atmosphere reigned on the set, and after filming several young families appeared. True, after 12 years everything has changed dramatically …

Don't Be Born Beautiful was a 1999 version of the Colombian telenovela I Am Betty Ugly, which has been successfully adapted in 30 countries. This series was incredibly popular with us, and Nelly Uvarova, who played the main role, immediately became a popular favorite. All 200 episodes of the spectator followed her transformation and her relationship with the hero of Grigory Antipenko, while real passions were boiling off-screen. In fact, in 2006, the actress married one of the directors of the project, Sergei Pikalov, but this marriage did not last long - after 3 years, her husband left Uvarova for a young costume designer. Family problems began after the actress's career took off, - Pikalov could not come to terms with her popularity and employment at work.

After the release of the series, famous directors drew attention to Nelly Uvarova, and she starred in more than 15 films and TV series. In addition, she took up a charity project and took part in the choreographic show "Dancing with the Stars". After parting with her first husband, Nelly Uvarova plunged into work, and in 2011 it became known that her daughter was born, after which the 30-year-old actress married the child's father, actor Alexander Grishin. In 2016, the couple had a son.

During the filming of the series, the actor Grigory Antipenko, who played the main male role, also met his love. The heroine of Yulia Takshina on the screen was the antipode of Katya Pushkareva, and in life she became the civil wife of her chosen one. The couple had two sons, but in 2012 their family union broke up. For the role of Andrei Zhdanov in the series "Don't Be Born Beautiful" Antipenko received the "TV Star" award and continued his film career. To date, the 43-year-old actor has more than 40 works in his filmography, he continues to act in films and perform on the stage. In addition, he is engaged in dubbing cartoons.

Yulia Takshina's career began far from filming a movie. She was a member of the dance group of Oleg Gazmanov, was engaged in the modeling business and starred in the videos of Dmitry Malikov and the Strelki group. After that, directors drew attention to her, and in 2005 she was invited to the TV series "Don't be born beautiful", which became her film debut. The actress more than once said that she had nothing in common with her heroine Victoria Klochkova, and lamented that after this film the directors offered her roles of the same type for a long time. In her subsequent works, she proved that she can play not only stupid beauties, but also act in a different role - for example, a prosecutor, a fairy-tale heroine or a loving mother. Today, the 38-year-old actress has more than 50 works in her filmography.

Another office romance began on the set with actors Maria Mashkova and Artyom Semakin, who played a friend of Katya Pushkareva, Kolya Zorkin. His film career began in his student years, when he played in the series "Simple Truths", and popularity came to him after roles in the military drama "Star" in 2002 and in the TV series "Kamenskaya" in 2003. But national fame fell on him only after "Do not be born beautiful." The actor admitted that in many ways he was similar to his hero, and that in his youth he also looked like a provincial simpleton. However, Maria Mashkova saw completely different qualities in him. At that time, the actor was married, but for the sake of his beloved he left the family. The new marriage lasted only 3 years - in 2009 Artem Semakin left Mashkova for a new darling.

The daughter of the famous actor Vladimir Mashkov Maria began acting in films at the age of 11, but real popularity came to her during the filming of the TV series "Don't Be Born Beautiful". After that, according to her confession, the directors finally ceased to perceive her only as the daughter of Vladimir Mashkov. She was able to prove that she can be an independent creative entity, having played more than 35 roles in films and TV shows. After parting with Artem Semakin, the actress remarried. Musician and businessman Alexander Slobodyanik became her chosen one. The couple had two daughters, after which the marriage broke up in 2012.

During the filming of the series, not only romantic, but also friendly relations were established. So, the actress Olga Lomonosova became a close friend of Yulia Takshina and Grigory Antipenko and the godmother of their eldest son. The role of Kira Voropaeva became a landmark for the actress, although she had been filming since 2001. After that, she received many new proposals from directors, and in 2008 alone she starred in 10 projects, in 8 of which she had the main roles. At the moment, there are more than 50 works in her filmography. Although she initially did not intend to become an actress - as a child, Olga was engaged in rhythmic gymnastics and ballet and even at one time performed in the ballet troupe of the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Theater - until she was injured. For more than 10 years, Olga has been in a civil marriage with actor and director Pavel Safonov and has three children.

Actor Pyotr Krasilov, who played Andrey Zhdanov's best friend in the series, began his career in the theater, and before filming in "Don't Be Born Beautiful" he was known for the role of Prince Repnin in the TV series "Poor Nastya". Today the actor continues to act in films, performs on the theater stage and participates in television projects ("Dancing on Ice", "Ice Age").

Actor Ilya Lyubimov, who played in the series the main villain, Kira's older brother, has been one of the leading artists of the P. Fomenko Workshop Theater for many years. After "Don't Be Born Beautiful," he was often offered the roles of cynics and intriguers, which he did not refuse. The actor admitted that in his youth he tried everything - from gambling to drugs, until he started attending church. Today he is a deeply religious person, lives in marriage with actress Ekaterina Vilkova, with whom they got married, and has two children.

All the heroes of this series are still happy to talk about filming, unlike their colleagues from another cult film of the early 2000s. Scandalous glory of the "Brigade": Why the actors are reluctant to remember their participation in the project.