A brilliant actress with no leading role

Could we easily name a really legendary and bright Russian actress who had never had a leading role? I thought that there could not be such an actress in history, but I was wrong. So, my essay is devoted to the amazing actress, the people's artist of the USSR and to the mystery woman - Faina Ranevskaya. I was first interested in this actress and her works when I ran into her statements. They have struck me with their wit and most surprisingly with their modernity although they were written in a completely different era. Despite this fact most of them are still relevant. While learning more and more about this extraordinary woman, I have realized that Ranevskaya was a very exciting, creative and multifaceted person. As you have understood from the theme of my essay, Faina Ranevskaya had not played any important leading role. Being mostly a supporting actress, she outshone many of the performers of the main roles. She was not playing but living on the stage and made all spectators to see not a play but reality. That is why I’d like to introduce my

favorite actress with you, revealing the most interesting aspects of her life using her own witty aphorisms (Hereinafter you are given author’s translation of the quotes.).

“I was smart enough to live this life stupidly” [2]

Legendary Fanny Girshevna Feldman, better known as Faina Ranevskaya, was born in a rich Jewish family on August 27, 1896 in the town of Taganrog. There were four more children: her sister Bella and three brothers (one of them died in infancy, when Faina was 5 years old). Faina's mother was a housewife and raised children. Her dad was an influential and wealthy manufacturer. Faina was not happy at her parents’ house. She suffered from loneliness. The girl had little in common with her peers and even begged her parents to take her from the elite women's gymnasium, Since then teachers came to the Feldmans and Fanny got very decent education. She played the piano, sang, knew foreign languages and read a lot.

When Fanny was ten she became interested in cinema and theater. At the age of thirteen she was greatly impressed by a performance "Cherry orchard" – a play written by A. Chekhov. The impression was so great that Fanny decided to attend classes in the theater studio. Soon the daughter told her parents that he was going to be a professional actress. This was the reason why Faina experienced a rupture with her parents. The father did not communicate with his daughter for many years. In 1915 Fanny Feldman went to Moscow and finally felt happy and independent. In these years she met lots of famous Russian poets like Tsvetayeva, Mayakovsky, Akhmatova and others [3].

Ranevskaya was not accepted at the Moscow theater schools, but with the help of well-known Russian ballerina Geltzer she was taken to one of the theaters near Moscow. The aspiring actress appeared only in extras. Later she worked in small theaters in Kerch, Kislovodsk, Feodosia, Baku, Rostov and Smolensk.

In 1917 the girl was invited to the capital “Theatre of an actor”. Finally, the young actress was appreciated. Her theatrical biography began with the play "Roman", where Ranevskaya played a significant role of Margarita. Then she was followed by other significant roles. Her most important role was her part in "Cherry orchard", where she played Charlotte. In this theater Ranevskaya served until 1931. In the early 50's Faina Ranevskaya moved to the Mossovet Theater, where her work was accompanied by frequent scandals. Her talent was often higher than the talents of the directors. Ranevskaya had her own vision of the play and acting. However, the actress had been playing on this stage for almost a quarter of a century. With this theater her theatrical biography began and it finished there in 1963[4].

“I don't know the word 'to play'… On stage we have to live” [2]

Few people know that London Yearbook "Who is who" included Ranevskaya in the list of the ten best actresses of the twentieth century. However, despite the grand talent and recognition, she was dissatisfied with herself during all her life. She wrote: “It is a terrible profession! You feel eternal self-dissatisfaction from the early age and even when success comes. I can’t help thinking: what if the audience is clapping because of politeness or because they do not understand? After the performance I suffer from the fact that I do not play well. I'm always surprised when people praise me." Moreover, she even had an idea to leave the theatre. It happened

after s curios case: "It was in the Crimea. I was acting a seducing young girl in the Sumbatov’s play. The action took place in the Caucasus mountains. I was standing on the mountain and saying in a disgustingly gentle voice: "My steps are lighter than down, I know how to slide like a snake..."And after these words I toppled the scenery depicting a mountain, and it hurt my partner. There was laughter in the audience. My partner was moaning and threatening to rip my head off. When I got home, I promised myself to leave the stage” [1].

From Fanny to Faina Ranevskaya

As for the pseudonym “Faina Ranevskaya”, the actress decided to take such a name because of her ability to make fun in all situations. Once Ranevskaya went to the bank to take money her mother secretly sent to her. The actress was with her colleague. When they got out of the bank, a gust of wind blew away all the banknotes. Faina stopped and watching the bills flying away she said: “Feel sorry for money, but they fly so beautifully!” Her colleague answered: “You are just like Ranevskaya. Only she could say that!” When later she had to choose a pseudonym, she decided to take the name of Chekhov's character. Ranevskaya noticed that they had something in common with her [3].

“The family replaces everything. Therefore, before you have one, you should decide what is more important for you: “everything” or a family”[2]

Faina Ranevskaya's personal life was unhappy. She was never married. Most likely, she avoided men because of the psychological trauma which she got in her early youth. Fanny was in love with one of the actors from her troupe. She thought he liked her, too. When she invited him to her house, he came, but not alone. He was with a woman. More than that, he asked Faina to have a walk. Since then, Ranevskaya began to avoid all relationships which could hurt her in the future [4].

“Loneliness is when there is a phone in the house, but the only thing that rings is an alarm clock ” [2]

Despite the fact that Faina Ranevskaya was a favorite actress of millions of viewers, she was a very lonely person. Theatre was the main thing in her life. The only thing that made her loneliness less miserable was a mongrel dog named Boy. After her death the figure of her beloved dog was placed on her tombstone [4].

“Thoughts are drawn to the beginning of the life. It means that the life is coming to an end” [2]

Being one of the most famous actresses of the XX century, she lamented the roles which she didn’t play and was ashamed of what made her famous. She did not like to play in movies. "Money will go away but shame will remain", - that was her refusal to act in something that seemed to her lightweight and not serious.

She was one of the brightest actresses of theatrical history. Her sharp and witty language is still a legendary one. Almost each her phrase immediately became aphorisms. She started her career at the age of 19 and finished it only at the age of 87, when she was deeply ill [4].

To sum up, I would like to say that Faina Ranevskaya was an extraordinary woman. She faced lots of difficulties but easily solved all the problems. She was a very strong person. But at the same time, it is clear that there was pain in her prickly

jokes - the pain of being misunderstood and the pain of eternal loneliness. More than that, Faina Ranevskaya is a good example of not a very beautiful, but a very charming woman. Her deliberate rudeness, sense of humor and manner just made this charm the real one. She was adored and admired. Films with her participation were reviewed many times, although most of her roles were not the main ones. She was not just playing. She was creating the role. She was ahead of her time. She expressed everything she thought and felt. Yes, she had not played any great role of the world repertoire. But she did not need them. Even with supporting roles she made people love herself and her acting as well. She was an exciting and extraordinary actress and woman. That is why lots of people love her as she is.

Used sources:

• 1.    Казеева И. И. Антон Чехов и Фаина Раневская: перекрестие судеб // Наш Чехов: колл. сб. Вып. 1. Ялта, февр. 2004

• 2.    Омар А. Фаина Раневская. Самые остроумные афоризмы и цитаты. М.: АСТ, 2012

• 3.    Плешакова А. Фаина Раневская: “У меня хватило ума так глупо прожить жизнь». URL: https://www.kp.ru/daily/26574.7/3589393/

• 4.    Щеглов А. В. Фаина Раневская: вся жизнь. М.: Захаров, 2008