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1-26 of 26
- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Olga Kurylenko is a Ukrainian-French actress and model, went from sharing a cramped flat with her aunt, uncle, grandparents and cousin to starring as a Bond girl opposite Daniel Craig.
She was born Olga Konstantinovna Kurylenko on November 14, 1979, in Berdyansk, Ukraine, Soviet Union. Her mother, Marina Alyabysheva, divorced her father, Konstantin Kurylenko, soon after her birth. After the divorce her mother struggled to survive as an art teacher. Young Olga was brought up by her mother and her grandmother, Raisa. During her youth Olga had the humbling experience of living in poverty; she had no choice but to wear rags and had to darn the holes on her sweater. During her years in Ukraine she studied art and languages and spent seven years studying piano at a local school of music in Berdyansk. She also went to a ballet studio until 13.
At age 13 Olga and her mother made a trip to Moscow. There she was spotted by an agent, who approached her at a subway station and offered her a job as a model. Initially Olga's mother was suspicious, but she checked the agent's credentials and eventually allowed Olga to accept training as a model in Moscow, which turned out to be a good career choice.
By age 16 she was ready for the next step. She moved to Paris, learned French in six months and was signed by the Madison agency. At age 18 she appeared on the cover of Glamour, and in short order graced the covers of Elle, Madame Figaro, Marie Claire, and Vogue. She also became the face of Lejaby lingerie, Bebe clothing, Clarins and Helena Rubinstein cosmetic companies.
In 1999 Olga married French photographer Cedric Van Mol, but divorced him 3-1/2 years later. One day Olga presented herself to an acting agency. Eventually she swapped the catwalk for the movie screen, and her acting career took off. In 2005 she made her film debut as "Iris", a sensual beauty, in The Ring Finger (2005), by director Diane Bertrand.
Olga's cinematic roles have been notably steamy, and her natural beauty and explicit nudity attracted the attention of the male audiences. She appeared opposite Elijah Wood in Paris, I Love You (2006) and as "Sofia" in The Snake (2006), then co-starred as Russian beauty "Nika Boronina" opposite Timothy Olyphant in Hitman (2007). She also appeared as "Mina Harud" in the indie surveillance-thriller Tyranny (2008). On Christmas Eve 2007, Olga was offered to play what will become her biggest hit: co-starring as "Camille", the Bond girl, opposite Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace (2008), a sequel to Casino Royale (2006).
With the international success as Bond Girl, Olga also made appearances on various TV productions in Russia and Ukraine. In 2012, Olga Kurylenko was cast as Julia, supporting role in the Sci-Fi adventure Oblivion (2013) opposite Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman.- Stanislav Bondarenko was born on 2 July 1985 in Dneprorudnoe, Zaporozhye oblast, Ukrainian SSR, USSR [now Dniprorudne, Zaporizhia oblast, Ukraine]. He is an actor, known for Street Racer (2008), Stiker (2022) and Krasota trebuyet (2008).
- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Gosha Kutsenko is a popular Russian film and theatre actor known for his roles in such films as Mama ne goryuy (1998) and the vampire franchise Night Watch (2004) and Day Watch (2006).
He was born Yuri Georgievich Kutsenko, on May 20, 1967, in Zaporozhie, Ukraine, USSR (now Zaporizhia, Ukraine). His father, Georgi Pavlovich Kutsenko, was a manager of electronics industry. His mother, Svetlana Vasilevna, was a Medical Doctor. After graduation from high school, he studied at the Lvov Polytechnical Institute, then dropped out and served in the Soviet Red Army for two years. In 1988, Kutsenko moved to Moscow with his parents, because his father was appointed the Vice-Minister of Radio Industry of the USSR and the family moved to the capital. That same year he became a student of the Moscow Institute of Mechanics and Automatics. Eventually, two years later he dropped out of college in his pursuit of an acting career.
Since his childhood Gosha Kutsenko has been suffering from a speech irregularity. Although he was named Yuri, after Yuri Gagarin, he could not pronounce his given name, so he was using the nickname Gosha. His speech disorder was also peppered with the Ukrainian accent which complicated his chances of becoming an actor in Moscow. However, in 1990, he made a diligent effort entering the famous Moscow Art Theatre School. There he was examined and accepted by none other than Oleg Tabakov, and became a student of the Acting School of Moscow Art Theatre (MKhAT). There he studied acting under Ivan Tarkhanov, and perfected his speech before graduating in 1992, as an actor. Kutsenko made his film debut in 'Chelovek is komandy Alfa' (1991) and in 'Mummy from a case' (1991). From 1995 - 1997 he hosted a popular TV show 'Partiinaia Zona' on TV-6, then hosted the popular Music-TV show in Moscow. From 1996 - 2000 Kutsenko taught acting at the class of Evgeniy Kindinov at Russian State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK).
Kutsenko shot to fame with the leading role as Arthur in Mama ne goryuy (1998), a popular Russian criminal comedy-drama. He earned much critical acclaim for the leading role as Lis (aka .. The Fox) in Antikiller (2002), a criminal drama by director Yegor Konchalovsky, which became a pivotal work in Kutsenko's acting career. He ascended to international success after co-starring in the first Russian-made vampire franchise Night Watch (2004) and Day Watch (2006), directed by Timur Bekmambetov.
Since 1990s Gosha Kutsenko has been a permanent member of the troupe at Moscow Theatre of Mossoveta. There he has been playing leading and supporting roles in popular stage productions. Kutsenko was acclaimed for his stage performances in a contemporary play 'Chapaev i pustota' and in the classical comedy 'Revizor' (Inspector-General) by Nikolay Gogol. In addition to his acting career, Kutsenko has been a partner in a film production company. He also developed a career as a singer-songwriter in Russia.
From 1992 - 1997, Kutsenko was married to actress Maria Poroshina, and they have one daughter. Outside of his acting career, Kutsenko has been an avid sportsman specializing in boxing and wrestling, he is also an amateur cart-racer. He is currently residing in Moscow, Russia.- Producer
- Additional Crew
Sir Lew (later Lord) Grade, the English entertainment impresario whom critics loved to disparage as "Sir Low Grade," was born Louis Winogradsky on December 25, 1906, in Tokmak, Ukraine, in the former Russian Empire. His parents, Olga and Isaac, who were Jewish, emigrated to England in 1912 to escape the pogroms of their native land. They settled in London's East End, where Isaac managed a movie theatre. Lew and his two brothers, Leslie and Bernard (who later took the name Bernard Delfont), attended the Rochelle Street School in Shoreditch. After his formal education ended, he became an agent for a clothing firm at the age of 15 but soon went into business for himself. His fate was changed when he won a Charleston competition at the Albert Hall in 1926. He took the name Grade (which was also adopted by his brother Leslie) when he became a professional dancer, and as Lew Grade, the World Charleston Champion of 1926, he made his way into show business.
Lew Grade and his brother Leslie Grade founded a talent agency in 1933 that grew into the largest in the UK. With partner Joe Collins, father of Joan and Jackie Collins, the agency eventually represented some of the biggest and most prestigious stars in British show business, including Sir Ralph Richardson and Lord Laurence Olivier. His brother Bernard (later Lord Delfont) also made his way into show business, later becoming the head of the music industry behemoth EMI. (Lord Grade's own interests included Pye Records.)
Entering television, Grade's production company ITC Entertainment was responsible for the iconic 1960s British TV series The Saint (1962) and The Prisoner (1967). In 1962 he acquired the independent production company AP Films, which produced the popular children's marionette adventure series Thunderbirds (1965), among others. AP Films also produced three feature films and the live-action sci-fi series Space: 1999 (1975).
As a movie producer, Grade helped finance the big-screen incarnation of The Muppet Show (1976), for which he was immortalized by Jim Henson, who made a Muppet in his image, Dr Bunsen Honeydew. Henson also used Grade for the character of movie mogul Lew Lord (played by Orson Welles) in The Muppet Movie (1979).
Grade was the force behind the private British TV broadcasting network ATV, which he wanted to rival the BBC. The network featured extravagant 'quality' productions such as a live broadcast of Tosca (1988) from La Scala starring Maria Callas, which took up an entire evening's broadcast time. He produced director Franco Zeffirelli's award-winning TV miniseries Jesus of Nazareth (1977), which provided a financial windfall when it was resold to the American market. The miniseries garnered a then-record $12 million licensing fee (approximately $39 million in 2005 when adjusted for inflation). On the downside, Grade's high-budget, 'all-star' film adaptation of Clive Cussler's bestseller Raise the Titanic (1980) proved to be a monumental flop. A self-deprecating Grade remarked about laying this big egg, "It would have been cheaper to lower the Atlantic." Subsequent flops led Grade to abandon motion picture production.
Grade was knighted in 1969 for his services towards promoting international trade and was made a life peer (a baron) in 1976, both times under Harold Wilson's Labour Government. He was married to Kathleen Moody for 56 years, until his death. Lew and Kathleen adopted a son, Paul Dancer. Of his wife, Grade said, graciously, "Marriage was the best business deal I ever made. After that, 'Jesus of Nazareth' and 'The Muppets.'"
His nephew, Michael Grade, was the Chairman of the BBC Board of Governors from 1984 to 1986. Lord Grade died on December 13, 1998. He was 91 years old.- Actress
- Producer
Liliya May grew up in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney, Australia, where she attended school, then University, followed by Screenwise Film and Television School.
While studying at the University of Sydney, Liliya modelled with some of the most prestigious modelling agencies in Australia, New Zealand and Germany, and soon starred in campaigns for brands, such as "Country Road" and numerous television commercials in Australia and abroad.
Within months of enrolling in acting school, Liliya was cast in award-winning short films, and later, an independent Australian feature film, followed by a role in 2012 alongside Josh Lawson and Rachel Taylor in "Any Questions for Ben?" directed by Rob Sitch.
Determination, talent and beauty have proved to be a recipe for success. Today Liliya is truly an international actress, having representation and credits in Australia, America and Russia.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Miroslava Karpovich was born on 1 March 1986 in Berdyansk, Zaporozhye Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, USSR [now Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine]. She is an actress, known for Mantikora (2011), The Bride (2017) and Vorovka (2024).- Aleksey Tritenko was born on 11 December 1981 in Zaporizhia, Ukraine, USSR. He is an actor, known for Poslednyaya rol Rity (2012), The Signpost to Destiny (2007) and Hutsulka Ksenya (2019).
- Alexander Sizonenko was born on 20 July 1959 in Zaporozh'ye, Kherson Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, USSR [now Zaporizhia, Ukraine]. He was an actor, known for Sedem jednou ranou (1991). He died on 5 January 2012 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
- Maria Pastukhova was born on 22 July 1918 in Melitopol, Aleksandrovsk Governorate, Ukrainian State [now Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine]. She was an actress, known for Andzamb tchanachum em (1958), Prolog (1956) and Rasskazy o Lenine (1958). She was married to Nikolay Kryuchkov. She died on 25 October 2003 in Moscow, Russia.
- Actor
- Director
Leonid Gallis was born on 11 January 1912 in Berdyansk, Berdyansk uyezd, Taurida Governorate, Russian Empire [now Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine]. He was an actor and director, known for Zheleznyy potok (1967), The Three Sisters (1964) and The Train Goes East (1948). He died on 19 August 1977 in Moscow, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia].- Tatyana Nazarova was born on 29 November 1960 in Berdyansk, Zaporozhskaya oblast, Ukrainskaya SSR, USSR [now Zaporizhia oblast, Ukraine]. She is an actress, known for Den rozhdeniya Burzhuya (2000), Kukla (2002) and Doyarka iz Khatsapetovki III (2011).
- Aleksandra Brazhnikova was born on 30 January 1969 in Zaporozhye, Ukrainian SSR, USSR [now Zaporizhia, Ukraine]. She is an actress, known for Uvidet Parizh i umeret (1993), Naparniki (2023) and Strasti po Anzhelike (1993).
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Viktor Berkovskiy was born on 13 July 1932 in Zaporozhye, Ukrainian SSR, USSR [now Zaporizhia, Ukraine]. Viktor was a composer, known for Pochti smeshnaya istoriya (1977), Ali Baba i sorok razboynikov (1983) and A Hedgehog Plus a Turtle (1981). Viktor died on 22 July 2005 in Moscow, Russia.- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
Vilen Kalyuta was born on 22 October 1930 in Gulyaypole, Ukrainian SSR, USSR [now Huliaipole, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine]. He was a cinematographer, known for Close to Eden (1991), Proshchayte, golubi (1961) and Burnt by the Sun (1994). He died on 3 November 1999 in Kiev, Ukraine.- Composer
- Actor
Igor Mylenko was born in 1969 in Zaporozhye, Ukrainian SSR, USSR [now Zaporizhia, Ukraine]. He is a composer and actor, known for Prosnutsya v Shankhaye (1991), Proekt 'Alfa' (1991) and Budem zhit (1995).- Ludmila Toretzka was born on 29 May 1884 in Gulyaipole, Yekaterinoslav Governorate, Russian Empire [now Huliaipole, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine]. She was an actress, known for The Men in Her Life (1941), Camera Three (1955) and Naked City (1958). She died in May 1967 in Fort Pierce, Florida, USA.
- Arkadiy Gashinskiy was born on 29 July 1920 in Melitopol, Aleksandrovsk Governorate, Ukrainian SSR [now Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine]. He was an actor, known for Diamonds for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat (1975), Dmitro Goritsvit (1962) and Pochtovyy roman (1970). He died on 13 December 1991 in Kyiv, Ukraine.
- Mariya Sinelnikova was born on 10 August 1899 in Berdyansk, Berdyansk uyezd, Taurida Governorate, Russian Empire [now Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine]. She was an actress, known for Seeds of Freedom (1928), Gypsies (1936) and Skvoz slyozy (1928). She died on 11 March 1993 in Moscow, Russia.
- Production Manager
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Semon Babanov was born on 25 August 1898 in Alexandrovsk, Russian Empire (now Zaporizhia, Ukraine). Semon was a production manager and writer, known for Negr iz Sheridana (1933), Ya lyublyu (1936) and Aleksandr Parkhomenko (1942). Semon died on 17 June 1969 in Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union [now Kyiv, Ukraine].- Aleksandr Satsky was born on 16 November 1930 in Pologi, Ukrainian SSR, USSR [now Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine]. He was a writer, known for Zhenikhi (1986), Vsyudu yest nebo (1968) and Only Old Men Are Going to Battle (1974). He died on 6 July 1986 in Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, USSR.
- Composer
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Aleksandr Tsfasman was born on 14 December 1906 in Alexandrovsk, Alexandrovsk uyezd, Yekaterinoslav Governorate, Russian Empire [now Zaporizhia, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine]. He was a composer, known for Lyubovnik (2002), Russkiy vopros (1948) and Stranitsy zhizni (1948). He died on 20 March 1971 in Moscow, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia].- Director
- Actor
- Writer
Mikhail Tereshchenko was born on 10 May 1927 in Zaporozhye, Ukrainian SSR, USSR [now Zaporizhia, Ukraine]. He was a director and actor, known for Tsari (1964), Povernennya (1960) and Stranitsy iz rasskaza (1958). He died on 16 December 2008 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.- Music Department
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Samuel Kaylin was born on 18 January 1892 in Melitopol, Taurida Governorate, Russian Empire [now Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine]. He was a composer, known for Battle of Broadway (1938), It's Great to Be Alive (1933) and Speed to Burn (1938). He died on 7 July 1983 in Kern County, California, USA.- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Actor
Avenir Zak was born on 20 October 1919 in Berdyansk, Taurida Governorate [now Zaporizhia Oblast], Ukraine. He was a writer and assistant director, known for Dostoyanie respubliki (1972), Propavshaya ekspeditsiya (1975) and Lyubit... (1969). He died on 11 July 1974.- Lidiya Kompaniyets was born on 12 March 1914 in Novo-Grigoryevka, Russian Empire [now Novogrigorivka, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine]. She was a writer, known for Gody devichi (1961) and Sudba Mariny (1954). She died on 30 December 2003 in Kiev, Ukraine.