11 famous Soviet actors who changed their names or surnames for various reasons

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

Soviet films are a nostalgia for the time that is familiar to the older generation. Reviewing the works of the great actors of Soviet cinema, it seems that they could play a difficult role without batting an eye. So much has been said about them that it seems that fans know almost everything about their idols. But at the same time, few people know that at one time they changed their names or surnames for various reasons.

1. Andrey Mironov

Andrei Menaker was an ordinary schoolboy and bore his father's surname until he was ten. Over time, the parents realized that the society can treat the boy negatively because of anti-Semitic manifestations. At a family meeting, it was decided to replace the son's surname with his mother's. And so the famous Andrei Mironov was born.

2. Faina Ranevskaya

Fanny Feldman, while in the provinces, performed for a long time with a small theater group. Once, having received a money order and leaving the bank, the money was snatched from the actress right out of her hands. All that a woman could do was to look sadly at the fleeing thief and say: "At least the money flew away beautifully." A theater actor standing next to him noted the wittyness of his colleague, comparing her to Chekhov's Ranevskaya. After this incident, the woman decided to change her last name, becoming Faina Ranevskaya on the big screen.

3. Georgy Millyar

George de Mille never bragged about his father, a real aristocrat and Frenchman. Once his father came to visit Russia from Marseilles, remaining in his new homeland. The boy was born into a wealthy family and was watched over by servants. After the revolution, he decided to abandon the prefix "de" and completely hide his aristocratic origin, becoming Georgy Millyar.

4. Alexandra Yakovleva

Alexandra Ivanes was a smart and unusual girl. After the divorce of her parents, the upbringing of the future actress was handled by her grandparents, so she decided to pay tribute to her grandfather and took his last name. Soon the whole world learned about the beautiful actress Alexander Yakovleva.

5. Rollan Bykov

Rolland Bykov had an interesting name, which was given by his parents thanks to Romain Rolland, a famous writer. In Russia, they are clearly not used to such French sound. During the paperwork, one letter "L" was omitted in the name. By the way, in the future, the mistake with the name was made more than once. When the guy got his passport, it had a completely different name - Roland.

6. Rina Zelyonaya

Ekaterina Zelyonaya never thought that she would become known under a different name. Once during the compilation of posters, the artist said that it would not be possible to enter the entire name and surname because of the narrow canvas. Without thinking twice, the actress decided to shorten her name, leaving only Rina Zelyonaya.

7. Nona Mordyukova

Noyabrina Mordyukova did not like her real name. The name was given to her in honor of the month of birth, or it was associated with the socialist revolution. As an adult, the girl decided to get rid of the name, changing it to something more modern and recognizable. Thanks to the girl's determination, the famous Nonna Mordyukova appeared to the audience.

8. Svetlana Toma

Svetlana Fomicheva was not such a famous actress. Glory came only after the film "Tabor Goes to Heaven" under a different name. Svetlana Toma became very popular, many took the actress for a real gypsy. The surname, as the actress said, was taken from a distant relative on the mother's side.

9. Leonid Utyosov

Lazar Weisbein was not going to take a pseudonym, but these were the conditions for performing in one theater. The guy decided to be creative with the choice so that the name and surname were completely unusual and at the same time indicate a hill. Surnames such as Gorsky or Skalov were already familiar to the Soviet TV viewer. Then the actor decided that he would become Leonid Utyosov.

10. Innokenty Smoktunovsky

Innokenty Smoktunovich was born in the Tomsk region, but his ancestors came from Belarus. Many argued that the actor decided to change the surname so that it sounded more euphonious with the name and was easily perceived by society. There was another opinion, which was rarely voiced in Soviet times, it turns out that the grandfather and father of the star were fists, and their own uncle was even shot. Therefore, the actor decided to "hide" from society and not stain his honor, becoming Innokentiy Smoktunovsky, otherwise no one would have invited him to the shooting.

11. Zinovy Gerdt

Zalman Khrapinovich grew up in a small town and decided to move to the capital when he came of age. At this time, the guy became interested in the theater, deciding to get rid of his last name and first name. The choice fell on the famous ballerina, in the future the world recognized the great actor Zinovy Gerdt.

And sometimes famous people strive to change not only their name, but also their destiny, like these biographies 10 domestic celebrities who came up with their own.