The famous Russian actress, starring in the television film "Winter Cherry" Elena Safonova is a Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, as well as the owner of many other prestigious awards. Work in the cinema in no way affected the personal life of the star. She has been married three times and has two beautiful sons.
Childhood
Elena Safonova was born in the northern capital of Russia - St. Petersburg, in a family of actors. Father - Vsevolod Dmitrievich, played in the theater and cinema. Mother - Valeria Rubleva, director of Mosfilm. Little Lena had to visit the set very often. She watched with great interest the process of making films. In the 1960s, the family of the future famous actress moved to Moscow. Lena is sent to study in school with an in-depth study of French.
Youth
VGIK - this is where young Elena Safonova wants to do. The biography of the actress, as you can see later, is rather complicated. She succeeds in becoming a student at the Institute of Cinematography only the third time. Before entering the university, Elena worked as a librarian for two years. After studying two courses at the acting department, the young artist moves back to Leningrad. There she improves her skills at the Institute of Theater, Cinema and Painting.
First shoot
In 1974, Elena Safonova made her debut in the film "Looking for My Fate" in the role of Lyuba (director Manasarov). In the same year, the actress’s creative biography was replenished with a small episodic role in the television movie “3 Days in Moscow” (A. Korneev). As a student at VGIK, she starred in a film called the Zatsepin Family. After graduating from a higher educational institution, the young actress goes to work in the Komissarova’s theater. However, the main roles for Elena Safonova was not found. She was involved only in supporting episodes and extras. For a year of work in the theater, the actress played in the performances of “Running, ” “How important it is to be serious, ” “Ordinary History, ” etc. In parallel, she starred in films. In 1981, Elena played in the film “Thank you all, ” and in 1982 she played the role of Solomia in the biographical film “The Butterfly Return”. It was this work that brought Safonova fame and recognition of art critics.
Youth
We can assume that from this time on, the new talented actress, whose name is Elena Safonova, became known to the general public. Films in which she starred in her entire creative history are quite diverse in content and emotional load. In 1985, a film called Winter Cherry was released. The main role was played by Elena Safonova. This film immediately declared itself, having gained incredible popularity with the audience and collecting a huge amount of positive feedback. Thanks to Winter Cherry, E. Safonova became a truly real star of Soviet television. Soon, she was awarded the title of Best Artist of the Year, and also received an award for performing a female role at the film festival in Madrid and Alma-Ata. Her popularity could simply be envied.
The heyday of creativity
After such well-deserved awards, many eminent directors became interested in the talented actress, such as Pavel Lungin, Sergey Bodrov (Sr.), Sergey Mikaelyan and others. In 1986, Nikita Mikhalkov’s film “Black Eyes” was released. In it, Elena Safonova played the main role (Anna). Her partner in the film was the popular actor Marcello Mastroiani. Thanks to this picture, the name of a talented Russian actress became known in Europe. This period in her life is marked by another significant event - acquaintance with her third husband. After another tremendous success (the film “Black Eyes”), the directors had certain views on the actress’s repertoire. Basically, she is offered roles in melodramatic films. The filmography of Elena Safonova consists of such films as “Where is Nofelet?”, “Filer”, “Katala”, “Prostitution”, “Taxi Blues”, “Lucky”, “Butterflies”, etc.
Overseas period
Having married a French actor, Elena moves to Paris. She continues to act in films and play in the theater. In 1992, she was invited to star in the film director of the French director C. Miller's Accompanist. The films “Wind from the East”, “In the wake of the telegraph”, “A Woman in the Wind”, and “Mademoiselle O” are published abroad with her participation. In parallel with this, she visits Russia, where she starred in the second and third parts of Winter Cherry. Elena does not forget about theatrical art. Perhaps the most significant play with her participation can be called "What we are waiting for and what is happening" by Jean-Marie Besse. The production, in which the actress played the role of Sofia, is dedicated to the problems of gay culture. Her husband played in the same performance. Brilliantly conveying the image of the main character, Elena earned meritorious reviews in the media. After that, she began to be invited to the leading roles by leading French directors. However, personal life in France did not work out, and in 1997 the actress moved to her homeland.
Homecoming
Having moved to Moscow, Elena Safonova gets a job in the troupe of the popular Theater of the movie actor. A little later, in 1986, she becomes a full-time actress of Mosfilm. In the second half of the eighties, she played the main roles in many films: “Sophia Kovalevskaya”, “When they become adults”, “Someone else’s call”, “Face-to-face”, “Two under one umbrella”, “President and his woman”, “Princess” on beans ”, etc. Elena carries out all the work that is required by the script. That is why her heroines on the screen look so believable. In the film "Women's Property", she completely unexpectedly appears to the viewer in a completely new role for herself. With each film, the actress more and more reveals her multifaceted abilities, not tired of surprising the directors.
Theatrical activity
Upon arrival in Russia, E. Safonova again decides to return to the theatrical stage. She plays in freelance projects. Among the performances with her participation, “Cry Forward, ” “Flower Laughing, ” “Bachelorette Party, ” “How to Steal a Million, or Adventurous Family, ” and others are especially notable. The most fruitful collaboration between Elena Safonova and “La Theater” by Vadim Dubovitsky. There, the actress played in the productions of Glass Dust, Dangerous Communications, Rumors and Free Love.
Today
The popular actress continues to work in the cinema to this day. Together with Ekaterina Vasilyeva, Elena and Kirill Safonov starred in the television series "My Autumn Blues." Among the most famous films with her participation, I would like to mention “The Princess and the Pauper”, “The Empire Under Attack”, “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes”, “Atlantis”, “Enigma”, “The Man in the House”, “Willis”. “Diary of Dr. Zaitseva”, “Zhurov”, “Matchmakers-5”, “News”, Next – 2, “Pan or disappeared” - these are the latest films in which Elena Safonova played.
Personal life
While still a student at the Moscow State Institute of Cinematography, the young actress got married. Her chosen one was Vitaly Yushkov - a man of the same profession. Elena Safonova met her husband on the set of the debut film called “The Zatsepins Family”. It was Vitaliy who convinced Elena to quit the institute of cinematography and transfer to St. Petersburg. However, their marriage did not last long. Six years later, the couple decided to leave. In the late eighties, the talented actress again decided to tie the knot. The new union that she created with her second husband (also an actor) was again unsuccessful. In marriage, the couple lived very little. However, from her second husband, Elena gave birth to a son, Ivan. After the tremendous success of the film “Black Eyes, ” Safronova married a Frenchman. Another star of the star was actor Samuel Labart. He was a longtime admirer and admirer of Elena's talent. For his sake, Safronova leaves Russia and moves to Paris, leaving all at once all that she had - a house, a career, relatives. In a new marriage, Elena is born the son of Alexander. But this alliance was not destined to hold out for long. In 1997, taking with her eldest son Ivan, she returned back to her homeland. The younger, Alexander, remained with his father in Paris. The fact is that he is a child born in France, and according to local law is obliged to live in this country until he comes of age. Nevertheless, the children of Elena Safonova periodically see each other. The actress with her son often flies to Paris to meet with the youngest child - Alexander. For herself, the actress decided that their divorce should in no way affect the relationship of her husband and children.
