Lubov Orlova

Lubov Petrovna Orlova, Russian language: Любовь Петровна Орлова (January 29 (new style), 1902 - January 26, 1975) was the first recognized star of Soviet cinema, famous theater actor and a gifted singer.

She was born to an middle class family in Zvenigorod (Moscow region). When she was seven, Fyodor Shalyapin predicted her future as a famous actor.

Orlova graduated from Moscow conservatory. Her first husband, CPSU apparatchik Andrei Berzin, was arrested in 1930, however this did not reflect on her successful career.

Orlova's performance in a very popular 1934 comedy Jolly Fellows earned the young star sympathy of Stalin and the title Заслуженный деятель искусств РСФСР (Honorable actor of RSFSR). Soon she married the movie director, Grigori Alexandrov.

In the next years, she starred in many popular movies that also became instant Soviet classics. Later she switched to playing in theater productions.

List of Movies

• Петербургская ночь (Petersburg Night, 1933)
• Веселые ребята (Jolly Fellows, 1934)
• Цирк (Circus, 1936)
• Волга-Волга (Volga-Volga, 1938)
• Светлый путь (Shining Path, 1939?)
• Весна (Springtime, 1946) (Special award for female role, Venetian movie festival)
• Встреча на Эльбе (Meeting on Elba, 1950)
  

  External links

• Photogallery, biography (in Russian)