Actress Raisa Ryazanova: One of the most touching ‘Girls’ in the USSR
Straight from childhood, to the screen
At the age of four, little Raisa became interested in ballet and painting. A few years later, these hobbies were to determine her fate. Ryazanova began attending a ballet club and an art studio. But despite her perseverance and passion, her dreams were not destined to come true.
Ryazanova never became a ballerina. But she did find success in another performing art. While attending a drama club, she landed her first film role in the 1961 film Ogonki (The Lights). The young girl played the episode role of a pioneer, and it was enough to make her fall in love with the film industry for the rest of her life.
In 1963, Ryazanova graduated from high school and went to Moscow to enter the Boris Shchukin Theatre Institute. The competition was enormous - 300 people per seat. But Ryazanova had such a strong stage presence and charisma, that she was admitted immediately.
The path to the cinema
After graduating from the theatre institute in 1967, Ryazanova was accepted into the troupe of the Moscow Young Spectators Theatre. For several years, she acted in theatrical roles and “got her feet wet.”
In addition to the theatre, Ryazanova continued to audition for films. She got some episodes in various Soviet films: Eta strange girl (This Strange Girl), Starik Khottabych (Old Man Hottabych), V posleдний chas (At the Last Moment). In 1972 she starred in Eldar Ryazanov’s film Stariki-razboyniki (The Old Men-robbers).
Ryazanov's film quickly became a hit and brought Ryazanova fame. But despite the huge success of the film, Raisa Otryagnova still did not receive any invitations from filmmakers. She continued to work in the theater and occasionally appear in episodic roles in films.
The role of a lifetime
In 1978, Ryazanova started filming in the film Pokrovsky Gate by Mikhail Kozakov. Her role as Rita was not the main one, but it was very remarkable. The film was warmly welcomed by the public, and Ryazanova finally got the recognition she deserved.
In 1979, Raisa was offered to play the main role in Vladimir Menshov's film Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears. The film tells the story of three women who came to Moscow from the provinces in the 1950s. The role of Katya Tikhomirova turned Raisa Ryazanova into one of the most popular actresses of the USSR.
For her role in Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears, Ryazanova received the State Prize of the USSR and the title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR.
After the Triumph
After such a successful role in Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears, many new proposals fell on Raisa Ryazanova. She starred in such films as The Garage, Office Romance: Part 2, and Ryaba Hen.
In the 1990s, Ryazanova starred in only a few films. The collapse of the Soviet Union left her without a job. She remained an actress of the Moscow Young Spectators Theatre, playing on the same stage with the most famous Soviet and Russian actors.
In 1996 Ryazanova received the title of People's Artist of Russia.
Personal life
Raisa Ryazanova's personal life was not as successful as her acting career. She was married twice. Her first husband was the actor Yuri Grigoriev. The couple lived together for 10 years, after which they divorced. Ryazanova's second husband was the actor and director Valentin Bukin. They were married for 25 years, until Bukin passed away in 2011.
Raisa Ryazanova has no children. In 2001, she decided to adopt a 2-year-old girl, Masha, from an orphanage.
