People's Artist of the USSR Lyudmila Chursina has passed away at the age of 85.
"We regret to inform you that after a prolonged illness, the People's Artist of the USSR, Lyudmila Alexeyevna Chursina, has passed away. Beloved by millions of viewers, unique and incomparable, a true heroine, a great Russian dramatic actress," the statement reads.
According to several Russian media outlets, the cause of death may have been chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is reported that the actress smoked for many years and did not give up this habit even in the last years of her life.
The last year of Lyudmila Alexeyevna's life was particularly difficult. As her longtime friend and colleague Valentina Aslanova recounted, the actress underwent a complex hip replacement surgery. Despite the serious intervention, just two months later, Chursina returned to the stage.
"I saw her face — she was in excruciating pain, but she performed," Aslanova recalls.
Later, the actress was diagnosed with cancer. Treatment took place in St. Petersburg, where her beloved nephew lived. According to relatives, the initial results of the therapy were promising: test results significantly improved, and it seemed that the illness was retreating.
However, the artist's condition unexpectedly worsened. She fell into a coma, after which doctors recommended taking her home.
"Then again, a surprise: they called from the hospital and said — take her home. While we bought a bed, found a caregiver, transported her...," the actress's friend recounted.
Lyudmila Chursina was not only an outstanding actress but also one of the brightest and most beautiful women of Soviet cinema. Her talent and charisma consistently attracted the attention of viewers, and her personal life often became a topic of discussion. The actress was married three times, but she did not have any children. In one interview, Chursina admitted that in her youth she had an abortion because she was completely absorbed in her work and career at that time.
Despite not having biological children, the actress cared for her family for many years. After the death of her sister and her husband, she took her nephew Alexey under her wing and later became actively involved in the lives of his daughters.
"I have a nephew Alexey, his wife Katya, and two grandnieces — Sasha and Nastya. I love them very much, and they are practically my granddaughters. When Alexey's father died, and then his mother, my sister, I took on the responsibility for them. This is my meaning of life; it keeps me going, aside from roles and the theater," the actress shared.
Throughout her long career, Lyudmila Chursina created dozens of memorable characters in film and on stage. She gained wide recognition for her roles in films such as "The Shield and the Sword," "The Gloomy River," "The Crane," "Olesya," and many others. The new generation of viewers also remembers her for her role as the mother of Anastasia Kisegach in the popular series "Interns."
Lyudmila Chursina did not live to see her 85th birthday by just over a month.
Lyudmila Chursina belonged to a generation of actors whose works became part of the cultural heritage of several eras. Her roles will forever remain in the memory of millions of viewers, and her name will hold a special place in the history of theater and cinema.
