10 world celebrities with Georgian roots: Zurab Sotkilava, Nikolai Tsiskaridze and others

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

Representatives of the Georgian people are known for their charm and beauty. But the Georgian land is also rich in talented extraordinary people who have a special view of the world and are able to convey their own vision of beauty to those around them. Among the most famous Georgians there are many talented actors and directors, choreographers and dancers, vocalists and musicians, designers and models. Our review contains the brightest representatives of the Georgian people.

George Danelia

He was born in Tiflis, prescribed by the sun in 1930, and throughout his life he generously shared the warmth and light that were absorbed by him with his mother's milk. His dad, Nikolai Danelia, grew up in a simple peasant family, graduated from the Institute of Railway Engineers and served in the Moscow Metrostroy for many years. Mother Mary Anjaparidze was a representative of an ancient noble family, which was mentioned in the 13th century. Their son was only a year old when the family moved to Moscow. After graduating from the institute, Mary Ivlivanovna worked as an economist, but in 1938 she changed her profession and became a director, first at the Tbilisi Film Studio, and later at the Mosfilm studio.

The great director never forgot about his roots, he always kept in touch with his Georgian colleagues, despite the fact that he constantly lived in Moscow from the age of one. Tbilisi remained the best city for him, where he wanted to return again and again.

READ ALSO: Georgy Danelia is a brilliant director who made you laugh when you wanted to cry >>

Zurab Sotkilava

The talented singer was born in Sukhumi and from childhood he listened to the melodious tunes of his mother and grandmother. His father, Lavrenty Sotkilava, a teacher-historian and school director, felt the happiest after the birth of his son. Mom Ksenia Vissarionovna, who worked as a radiologist, loved to sing in the evenings with the grandmother of the future star of the opera stage. However, at that time he did not think about music at all. On the contrary, he devoted all his strength to football, intending to make a brilliant career as an athlete.

Everything in his life changed after the injury. When it became clear that he needed to look for a new application of his strength, the young man, on the advice of a family friend of the pianist Razumovskaya, began to seriously study vocals. And he was able to become famous as an outstanding opera singer. Zurab Sotkilava has won many international awards and became famous as one of the best tenors.

READ ALSO: How the outstanding tenor Zurab Sotkilava almost lost his big family because of music >>

Maryam d'Abo

The British actress became famous for her role as James Bond's girlfriend in the movie "Sparks from the Eyes". She was born in London to a Dutch and Georgian family. The grandfather of the actress Georgy Ivanovich Kvinitadze was at one time one of the most famous Georgian generals, he commanded the Georgian army.

READ ALSO: Then and now: 31 photos of famous beauties who appeared on the screen with James Bond >>

Nikolay Tsiskaridze

One of the most successful and famous ballet dancers was born in Tbilisi. Nikolai Tsiskaridze is the late child of the physicist and teacher Lamara Nikolaevna Tsiskaridze, who doted on her son. When it became clear that Nikolai had every chance to make a name for himself in ballet, his mother moved to Moscow, where her son studied at the Moscow Choreographic School. Despite the fact that Nikolai lives most of his life in Russia, he considers Georgia his homeland, and himself - Tbilisi. At the same time, Lamara Nikolaevna did everything so that her son did not forget the Georgian language.

READ ALSO: Nikolai Tsiskaridze in a woman's dress performs "Dance in Clogs" >>

Tamara Tumanova

An outstanding ballerina, choreographer and actress on her mother's side was related to the princely Georgian family of Tumanishvili. Tamara Tumanova (real surname Khasidovich), as a child, was completely fascinated by the performances of the legendary Anna Pavlova and soon she tried on pointe shoes herself. Tamara Tumanova emigrated with her parents to France, later moved to America. She was called "the black pearl of Russian ballet", she danced on the best stages in the world and acted in films.

READ ALSO: Black pearl of Russian ballet: how an emigrant from Tiflis conquered La Scala, Covent Garden and Hollywood >>

Iveria Mika

The actress, who shone on the London stage in the twentieth century, at the beginning of her artistic career took the pseudonym Iveria Mika, at birth received the name Gayane Mikeladze. She was the heiress of the ancient princely family of Georgia and was born in 1910 in the Crimea. The parents of the actress were Iveriko Mikeladze and Sofia Latri. Miki Iveria was the great-granddaughter of Ivan Aivazovsky.

Maria Merico

Maria Alinikhashvili (the real name of the actress), who was born in Kutaisi, emigrated to France with her parents at the age of three. She served in the theater, acted in films and became famous after the role of Catherine de 'Medici in the series "La Dame de Monsoreau" based on the work of Alexandre Dumas.

Nikita Magaloff

The outstanding pianist of the 20th century was born in St. Petersburg in 1912. The family of the future pianist was international: his father was Georgian, his mother was Russian. On the line of his father, Nikita Magaloff belongs to the ancient princely family of Magalashvili. In 2018, the family emigrated from Russia to Finland, later they moved to France, and in 1939 to Switzerland. In Europe, Nikita made a brilliant career as a pianist, and in adulthood he was engaged in teaching.

Brandon Stone

Singer, musician, composer, producer, arranger Besik Shpetishvili (real name of the performer) was born in Tbilisi, where he began to seriously study music, to take his first steps towards success. In the early 1990s, he already actively participated in vocal competitions, invariably showing good results. Since 1992 he has been living and working abroad, which does not prevent him from building his career not only in Europe and America, but also in Russia.

Eteri Pagava

She was born in Paris in 1932 in the family of Levan Pagava and Asmat Jordania. Despite living far from his historical homeland, Eteri Pagava never forgets his origin. Today, the famous ballerina Eteri Pagava is the chairman of the Georgian community in France and has repeatedly performed with charity concerts, the proceeds from which went to help the ballerina's fellow countrymen.

When real pop icons appear on the same stage, you involuntarily feel the significance of the moment and understand that you will remember this grandiose action for a very long time. Not many people managed to see Nino Bregvadze, Valery Meladze, Vakhtang Kikabidze and Tamara Gverdtsiteli together on stage. But this Georgian quartet is a real miracle.