Sofia Vladimirovna Sotnichevskaya was a Soviet and Russian theatre actress.
Background
Sofia Vladimirovna Sotnichevskaya was born on April 25, 1916, in Petrograd (now Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation) in the family of a nobleman by birth. Soon after her birth, the family moved to relatives in Voronezh. In childhood, doctors diagnosed her with tuberculosis.
Education
At the age of 13, Sofia Vladimirovna graduated from seven-year school № 8 and entered Voronezh Economic School to become an economist. At the age of 16, she received a diploma and was assigned to work in Trust of green building.
Once attending the entrance exams at Voronezh Teatral College, the future actress was asked to try her hand at theatre art. Sofia Vladimirovna showed herself brilliantly and was immediately taken in. She quit her job as an economist and devoted herself entirely to the theatre. In 1940, she graduated from the College.
Career
In 1938-1940, Sofia Vladimirovna worked as an actress at the Young Theater. She played the roles of Bianca and Olivia (The Taming of the Shrew and Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare) and many others. At the same time, she was a radio announcer in Voronezh. During 1940-1942, she worked at the Voronezh Drama Theater. During the war, Sofia Vladimirovna worked in theaters of Tambov, Tula, and then in theaters of Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Lviv, and Omsk.
In 1944 Sofia Vladimirovna was accepted into the troupe of the Tula drama theater. The first successful roles followed immediately. Among them are Larisa from Without a Dowry (1949), Elena Andreevna from Uncle Vanya (1951), Nina Arbenina from Masquerade (1952), Queen Mary from Mary Stuart (1963) and many others. The actress became a favorite of the public.
In 1978, the actress had a disagreement with the management of the theater and left the stage. From 1978 to 1990, Sofia Vladimirovna was elected several times as a Deputy of the regional and city Soviets of People's Deputies.
In 1991, Sofia Vladimirovna returned to the stage. In December 2008, the actress said goodbye to the audience and announced the end of her acting career. During 1993-2008, she was in charge of the Studio of classical drama at the Veresaev Museum.
Sophia Vladimirovna possessed the souls and minds of the audience for many decades. The audience was captured by her beauty, natural aristocracy, and charm. She couldn't live without the theater even a day. However, beyond the stage, Sofia Vladimirovna was a closed and lonely person. She had no friends except Olguna Karnovich.
Connections
Sofia Vladimirovna was married to an artist Vladimir Grigoryevich Shildkret (1907-1976). Their only daughter, Elena, was born on December 17, 1940.