Persian princess of Soviet cinema: why one of the most spectacular actresses disappeared from the screens

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

Now they practically do not remember her, and the modern viewer is hardly familiar with her name. And in the 1970s. Irina Azer known as one of the most beautiful actresses, whose popularity was brought by roles in the TV show "Zucchini 13 Chairs" and the comedy "Big Break". Genka Lyapisheva, whose bride she played in this film, was envied by all the men of the USSR - her beauty was so bright and "non-Soviet" that it even gave rise to rumors about her foreign origin. And it turned out to be true - Irina's family moved from Tehran. And in the 1990s, the actress unexpectedly left the cinema and disappeared somewhere.

In fact, her name was Irene. She got an exotic surname from her stepfather. Reza Azer was a political emigrant from Iran. After the Second World War, the general joined the Communist Party and became a personal enemy of Shah Pahlavi, which is why he was forced to leave the country. Therefore, the legend that the spectacular blonde is a Persian princess was in fact half true.

Irene Azer could have played in the film "The Dawns Here Are Quiet", but she turned down the role, as she was going on a honeymoon trip. Later, she regretted her refusal, as the film had a deafening popularity, was nominated for an Oscar, and the actresses who played the main roles traveled all over the world. But then Irene made a decision without hesitation: she grew up in a family with oriental traditions, where her husband's decision was not discussed.

However, the acting profession was not the only one for the girl. While still at school, she began acting in commercials. It was thanks to this that Irene got into the cinema: at one of the model shows, the director and teacher of VGIK Sergey Gerasimov drew attention to her. She was admitted to the institute and began to be invited to the cinema.

Many envied the actress, because she led a completely non-Soviet lifestyle: she wore fashionable clothes and expensive jewelry, and dined in restaurants. It was rumored that she had a high-ranking admirer or foreign lover. Indeed, she was often looked after by influential men, famous actors and directors, but expensive gifts came from her father, who pampered his princess all his life. Although she was an adopted daughter, Reza Azer not only gave her his last name and even nationality (in the metric she is recorded as "Iranian"), but also surrounded her with love and care, like his own daughter. He called her Golyandam - "flower fairy".

Immediately after graduating from VGIK, Irina Azer was offered a role in the film "Big Break". It was this work that brought her fame and popularity. Although she played more than 30 movie roles, everyone still remembers her only in the image of Lyuska. Irina Azer dreamed of leading roles and serious films, but her acting potential remained unrealized. In the 1980s. she got mostly episodic passing roles, and in the 1990s. no proposals were received at all. Then the actress decided to leave the cinema and go into business. She even had to trade in underwear.

Failures seemed to haunt Irina at that time. Her marriage broke up, her film career ended, in 2002 her only sister committed suicide. From loneliness, melancholy and lack of money, the actress decided to flee the country to her daughter, who married an American and left for the United States. Since then, Irina Azer has lived in Los Angeles, does not give interviews, brings up her grandchildren and writes a book of memoirs. Only now does she feel absolutely happy and does not regret the unplayed roles, because she has the main thing - the family.

Spectacular actresses in Soviet cinema often became hostages of their own beauty. About the passion and strangeness of Svetlana Svetlichnaya - an actress who was considered the first sex symbol of the USSR there were legends.