10 greatest female stars of Russian silent cinema

Vera Kholodnaya (1893-1919). At age 10, Vera Kholodnaya (née Levchenko) became enamored of ballet and persuaded her parents to send her to ballet school at the Bolshoi Theater. Graduating in 1910, Vera made the acquaintance of Vladimir Kholodny, a law student. They married that same year. Vera Kholodnaya made her screen debut in 1914. She rapidly rose to become the most popular actress in Russia. She appeared in several films in early 1919. The shooting took place in Odessa, where the "Spanish flu" pandemic was raging. The ailing actress could not be saved. The queen of Russian silent film passed away on February 17, 1919. She was only 25.

Vera Karalli (1889-1972), was a famous Russian ballerina, choreographer, and silent film actress. From 1906, she was a soloist of the Bolshoi Theater and participated in Sergei Diaghilev's "Russian Seasons" abroad. Vera Karalli made her movie debut in "Do You Remember?" She was partnered in the film by the great Pyotr Chardynin. In a very brief period, Vera Karalli rose to become one of the brightest stars of silent cinema. After the 1917 revolution, she left Russia. Vera Aleksyeevna Karalli died on November 16, 1972, in Austria.

Olga Knipper-Chekhova (1868-1959) was awarded People's Artist of the USSR (1937), and laureate of the State Prize of the USSR (1943). In 1898, she was accepted by the newly formed troupe of the Moscow Art Theatre. As the wife of Anton Chekhov, Knipper-Chekhova was the first to put flesh on the bone of Chekhov's female characters. She played Arkadina in "The Seagull" (1898, 1899), Masha in "Three Sisters" (1901), and Madame Ranevskaya in "The Cherry Orchard" (1901), just to name a few. She also appeared in silent films.

Galina Kravchenko (1905-1996). Galina Kravchenko was one of the brightest stars of the film studio Mezhrabpom-Rus. In the 1920s and 30s, Soviet towns and cities were plastered with posters of her portrait, and kiosks sold postcards with her photograph. But fashion is fickle, and images in demand in the 1920s lost some of their appeal in the 1930s. Kravchenko, who played female aristocrats and artists, was not ideally suited to the role of Komsomol member. After the family of her husband Alexander Kamenev was purged, she had to abandon her movie career.

Vera Malinovskaya (1900-1988). Malinovskaya hit the big time in 1925 in a film adaptation of Pushkin's "The Collegiate Registrar," directed by Yuri Zhelyabuzhsky. In 1927, Vera Malinovskaya appeared opposite silent film star Mary Pickford in the film "A Kiss from Mary Pickford." In 1928, the German film studio Emelka offered her a role in Karl Grune's film "Waterloo." The actress managed to convince the Soviet authorities of the need for her trip to Germany, and she left the Soviet Union — never to return. Vera Malinovskaya died in Monaco in 1988.

Alla Nazimova (née Miriam Leventon, 1879 -1945) was one of the most popular and extravagant actresses of silent film, and also a producer and screenwriter. Aged 17, she turned up in Moscow and began performing for the newly created Moscow Art Theatre. Gradually, the young actress found fame and began touring around the world. In 1905, Alla Nazimova emigrated from Russia. In 1916, producer Lewis Selznick persuaded the 37-year-old Nazimova to appear on screen in the movie "War Brides." Metro Pictures Corporation concluded a contract with Alla Nazimova worth USD 13,000 per week, making her the highest paid movie star in America. Not even Mary Pickford could match that! Two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame mark her contribution to the arts in the U.S.

Yulia Solntseva (1901-1989), a popular film actress, director, screenwriter, winner of the Cannes Film Festival in the category "Best Director" for her 1961 film "The Tale of Fiery Years." She studied at the History and Philology Faculty of Moscow State University. Yulia Solntseva starred in the movies: "Aelita" (1924), "Cigarette Girl from Mosselprom" (1924), "Earth" (1930), and others. She was the wife of the great director A.P. Dovzhenko.

Anel Sudakevich (1906-2002), a famous Soviet actress and costume designer. In 1927-1933, she worked as an actress for the film studio Mezhrabpomfilm, becoming a costume designer in 1934. It is said that the kokoshnik (headdress) that Sudakevich wore in the movie "A Woman's Victory" was presented to U.S. actress Mary Pickford during her time at the Mezhrabpom studio.

Nina Shaternikova (1902-1982). Nina Shaternikova was an actress for the Leningrad Comedy Theater and the Theater Studio of Cinema Actors. Nina Shaternikova starred in about 30 films, the first of which was "The Iron Heel" (1919).

Olga Chekhova (née Knipper, 1897-1980), an outstanding yet scandalous actress. She was the wife of the famous actor Mikhail Chekhov (a cousin of Anton Chekhov). Her aunt was Anton Chekhov's wife — Olga Knipper-Chekhova. She was admired by Adolf Hitler, who awarded her the title of National Artist of the German Reich after her immigration to Germany. At the same time, rumors and facts abound that Olga Chekhova worked for the Soviet secret service. But one thing is certain: Olga Chekhova was a very popular actress.