Stanislav Govorukhin had a unique gift: he could recognize true talent in unknown debutantes, helping their gifts to blossom and take a worthy place on screen.
On March 29, Stanislav Govorukhin would have turned 90 years old. His cult works — "The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed", "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn", "And Then There Were None", and many others — are forever inscribed in the golden fund of cinema, demonstrating the incredible scale of his directorial genius. Among the first-rate stars whose careers were launched by Govorukhin are Svetlana Khodchenkova and Larisa Udovichenko. They have repeatedly expressed deep gratitude to the master for helping them confidently take their first steps in the world of big cinema. Let us remember these and other outstanding actresses whose fates changed after working with Govorukhin. In our article, we will tell you about the women to whom the director opened the doors to the world of cinema.
Svetlana Khodchenkova
It is no coincidence that Svetlana is often referred to as "Stanislav Govorukhin's actress." It was he, back in 2003, who recognized the young talent and invited her to shoot the film "Bless the Woman." The 20-year-old Khodchenkova, then a first-year student at the Shchukin School, initially auditioned for a minor role as the sister of the main character, who was to be played by Maria Mironova. However, after the audition, Stanislav Sergeyevich was so impressed that he unhesitatingly approved Svetlana for the lead role.
The aspiring actress handled the task brilliantly, and the film won numerous awards. An interesting fact: it was at the director's insistence that Khodchenkova, a former model, moved away from modeling standards. Govorukhin needed an actress with more voluptuous forms for the image of the main character. Svetlana tried to lose weight, but each time faced categorical dissatisfaction from her film guru. Just two years later, the director invited Svetlana again for his project — the film "Not by Bread Alone."
However, after that, their creative paths diverged, and disagreements arose between the master and his student. There were rumors that the reason was Stanislav Sergeyevich's dissatisfaction with the actress's rapid weight loss. In his deep conviction, Khodchenkova was destined to become the new Nonna Mordyukova of Russian cinema, and by losing weight, in his opinion, she lost her unique individuality. Nevertheless, many years later, the director and actress resumed communication: the master invited Svetlana again for the lead role in his film "The End of a Beautiful Era."
Larisa Udovichenko
Larisa Udovichenko began her journey in cinema as a 15-year-old schoolgirl, and at this young age, incredible luck smiled upon her. During the filming of her first movie "Happy Kukushkin", Stanislav Govorukhin himself happened to drop by. The acting talent of the lively and charismatic Udovichenko did not go unnoticed by the master, and he offered her the role of a maid in his film "The Life and Extraordinary Adventures of Robinson Crusoe." However, unfortunately, all the scenes featuring Larisa were ultimately cut by the director...
A few years later, Govorukhin invited her again, this time to the legendary TV series "The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed", offering her the role of policewoman Sinichkina. Udovichenko was not too fond of this role — the character seemed too lyrical and bland to her. However, the image of the prostitute Manya-Obligatsiya was a completely different matter, much brighter and more interesting! Stanislav Sergeyevich hesitated for a long time, but ultimately gave Larisa permission to play this "woman of easy virtue." The actress has repeatedly fondly admitted that this role became one of the most significant in her life, essentially laying the foundation for her brilliant career.
Filming in this film marked the beginning of their strong friendship with the director. However, unfortunately, he did not invite her to his films anymore... "He calls other actresses. I feel uncomfortable asking why. I try to do this at every meeting. And... I can’t," the celebrity confessed with a slight sadness in one of her interviews.
Aglaia Shilovskaya
Aglaia Shilovskaya is a representative of a renowned theatrical dynasty: her grandfather, Vsevolod Shilovsky, is a famous actor and director, and her father, Ilya Shilovsky, is a screenwriter and director. The girl, deciding to continue the family traditions, enrolled in the Shchukin School. While still a first-year student, she, along with other young actresses, went for a photo audition for Govorukhin's new film "In the Style of Jazz" and immediately made an impression on him. Just a few days later, Aglaia and two of her classmates were already at Mosfilm.
"One girl came in, talked for fifteen minutes, the second — for five minutes. And I sat there for an hour and a half... At first, I didn’t know how to approach Stanislav Sergeyevich. He reacted negatively to the fact that I was only fifteen years old. And then I said that I could play the flute, play the piano, and sing. He said, 'Well, let’s see,'" Aglaia recalled with a smile in one of her interviews. The delighted girl put on a real improvised concert, after which the master unhesitatingly approved her for the lead role.
Many rushed to assume that Shilovskaya was helped by her famous grandfather, but the actress has a completely different opinion on this: "As if a director of such a level as Govorukhin can be imposed anyone. He chooses himself.
