Top 20 Russian Actresses

Top 20 Russian Actresses

Originally published by Lilian in May 2020 Updated by Ruth in August 2022 Updated by Charity K in  May 2023 and Updated by Nellian in February 2024.

When you think of Russia, a few things may come to mind; cold weather, vodka, politics, or bears.

Russia is a beautiful country with beautiful historical sites and many more interesting bits about it.

It is one of the biggest European countries in mass in the world, this is even after the former USSR was dissolved.

Culture and art are part of the Russian lifestyle. When watching movies and TV series, they rarely miss a Russian character or a Russian storyline.

Some of the greatest acts that have graced our TV screens are Russian actresses who have made back in it through to Hollywood.

Here is our pick on the top 20 Russian actresses.

Click here to read more about famous actresses from different countries.

1. Nastasya Samburskaya

The first actress is Nastasya Samburskaya born in Priozersk, Priozerskiy rayon, Leningradskaya oblast.

She is known for the movies Women VS Men (2015), Verni moyu lyubov (2014) and Kanikuly prezidenta (2018).

Other than acting, Nastasya is a singer and sings mostly in the chanson genre.

Her fans were awed when she did a duet with a fellow artist Vladislav on radio chanson. She later received the Chanson of the Year award in 2019. ⠀

Before her debut in acting, Nastasya started at the Moscow Drama Theater for plays. She later featured in the TV series Univer (2008) which was her big break.

She has won several awards and got nominated for several films too.

2. Svetlana Khodchenkova

By Veprev, Alexander Ivanovich, wikimedia

Svetlana Khodchenkova is the next Russian actress who is known for her roles in Bless the Woman and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

She grew up on the outskirts of Moscow city and attended a public school with the hope of becoming a medical doctor when she grew up.

She ventured into fashion modeling when she turned 15 in Moscow, with several international shows too.

After a short career in modeling, she went back to school; she joined the Moscow Institute of World Economics although she only stayed for a year.

Stevlana went to Shchukin Theatrical School of the Vakhtangov Theatre in Moscow in the year 2001 to study acting.

She was able to feature in TV series and movies while studying, She graduated in the year 2005.

Other than being involved in many independent films; she was featured in two plays; Moulin Rouge Hospital and Theatre With and Without Rules.

She is not only a stellar actor, Stevlana loves horseback riding and is quite skilled, and she is also a big fan of winter sports.

Some of the movies that she debuted in were Bless the Woman in 2003, Talisman of Love series in 2005 and Kilometre Zero in 2007, Love in the Big City in 2009, Love in the Big City 2  in 2010, Our Time in 2011.

In 2013 she was Viper the antagonist in the film The Wolverine alongside Hugh Jackman. Later in 2016, she was the leading act in Vikings as a Greek woman called Irina.

3. Yanina Studilina

Yanina Studilina is a 34-year-old Russian actress born in Omskaya Oblast Russia. Her famous movies are Russian Room, Stalingrad, and Ostrov.

She graduated from theatre and music school in 2000 then went on to join Boris Shchukin Theatre Institute and graduated in 2011.

Yanina has been taking up leading roles in most of the Russian television series like Ranetki while also working for RU a leading TV channel as a host for a travel guide show.

She is big on staying and living healthy. Through her social media pages, Yanina has been sharing recipes and tips on eating healthy.

She has shared her reactions on how she felt when she got an invitation to audition for a big film Stalingrad which meant a lot to her and fellow Russians. The film was based on the Second World War.

This was an exciting project for her because, like many Russian people, her family was affected by the war too.

She is married to Aleksandr Rodnyanskiy, Jr and they have a daughter Anna Rodnyanskaya.

4. Yuliya Dzutseva

Yuliya Dzutseva is another Russian actress who is famous for her role in Gogol. A Terrible Vengeance (2018)

When she graduated in 2014 from VTU and became a certified actress she joined the TV series Univer on its 8^th season and immediately became a favorite of many.

Yuliya was brought up by a single mother after her parents divorced when she was 4 years old. This separation affected her and she always hoped that he would come back.

She was mentored by Vladimirovich Klyuyev, a famous Russian actor who shaped and nurtured her amazing acting skills.

Yuliya had finally made a reality her dream of being a movie actress, not a theatre.

Before breaking to the big screen, she continued with her theatre performances; among them Dostoevsky’sThe Brothers Karamazov, Shakespeare’s play Anthony and Cleopatra, and more.

5. Yuliya Snigir

By Alexey Yushenkovderivative Wikimedia

Yuliya Snigir is a Russian born in Donskoy, Tula Oblast. She studied English at the Moscow State Pedagogical University and majored in English Philology.

She went on to teach English as a kindergarten teacher as a part-time job.

This is when lady luck struck her, a friend shared a photo of her with a modeling agency representative.

She quit teaching and took on modeling while still studying and became a successful model.

This opportunity brought along with it a leading French jewelry brand that showed interest in working with her.

Before she could sign the contract, Snigir got spotted by a casting director who invited her for an audition which she agreed on.

Here is when her acting career started at the Vakhtangov Theatre Academy.

She made several debuts in the film The Last Slaughter, Vaccine, and Gloss.

In 2008, she was given a big leading role in the Russian sci-fi film The Inhabited Island and its sequel The Inhabited Island: Skirmish.

She also continued with her modeling and was the face of L’Oréal Russia, Mexx clothing, and Mexx perfume.

This multi-talented actress also played host to a TV show, The Theory of Revolution, and worked as a presenter on channel Petersburg-channel 5.

In 2013, she was featured in the movie A Good Day to Die Hard together with Bruce Willis. She was a Russian adversary named Irina.

Read more about other famous actresses here.

6. Kristina Myasnikova

She was born in Korolyov near Moscow and is from an athletic family. Kristina was very active in gymnastics and got to the level of Candidate for Master of Sports.

Her younger sister, Karina was also a member of Russia’s national gymnastics team.

Kristina started in theatre in a play called The Dawns Here Are Quiet. Then while in high school, she took part in the play Portrait of Mademoiselle Tarzhi at the youth theatre city of Korolyov.

After she graduated from high school, Kristina joined the Moscow Art Theatre School. She then modeled for the magazine MAXIM in 2010.

The year 2011 saw Kristina get the Actress of the Year award according to Glamour magazine. She also received the Fashion People Awards as a Fashion actress.

Some of the interesting roles that she has had to take up include a most recent role where she was required to gain weight.

She has been having 7 ‘unhealthy meals a day in the hopes of gaining the required weight for the film.

She currently works as an actress for the Moscow Drama Theater Yermolova.

7. Yekaterina Rednikova

This beautiful Russian actress is said to be one of the most famous in the country.

She started acting at the young age of 6 where she took up small roles in one of the biggest theatre companies in Moscow.

Her fame came about after she was featured in the movie The Thief (1997).

Her splendid performance drew American film directors who got interested in her acting. She got to act in the movie Death Visa.

Yekaterina received the Nika Award (known as the Russian Oscars) for her performance in the movie Thief where she was the lead actress.

The same movie got nominated for the best foreign-language picture in Los Angeles and at the Venice film festival, it’s here that she had her international break.

She operates between Moscow and Los Angeles.

8. Kseniya Rappoport

By Nicolas Genin Wikimedia

This is the most famous Russian actress in Italy, she has been featured in 7 Italian movies.

Her first break into the Italian film industry started when she acted in a psychological thriller, The Unknown Woman, where she was the lead actress.

That movie won the David Donatello Film Award, commonly referred to as the Italian Oscars.

Another drama movie that was a blockbuster was The Double Hour. This movie got her Volpie Cup of the Venice Film Festival.

She has won numerous awards for her prowess in acting in leading roles in both movies and Television series.

Kseniya has not only graced the Italian film scene but has also been in many movies in her home country Russia.

Other than acting, she is presently the director of the advisory board of the charitable foundation Butterfly Children.

9. Margarita Levieva

She is a Russian-American actress and dancer. Levieva was born in St. Petersburg, Russia.

She got training as a rhythmic gymnast at the age of 3. Later her mother took both Margarita and her brother to Brooklyn New York where she continued with her training.

she has appeared in many attractive-girl roles in Hollywood movies like the social satirical Noise (2023) alongside Tim Robbins and the thriller The Lincoln Lawyer (2011) featuring Matthew McConaughey.

Margarita has also made a guest appearance in the popular television series Law and Order, The Vanished (2020), The Invincible, and Billy’s Choice.

She has also featured in an independent movie, inherent the Viper, shot in 2019.

Her most prominent role was when she featured in the television series Revenge between 2011 and 2015.

10. Anya Monzikova

By ToGlenn – Wikimedia

Anya Monzikova was born in Vologda, Russia to a single mother of two. After only living in the US for a year, she got spotted by a local talent agent who signed her as a young commercial actress and model.

Later when she was on vacation in Hollywood California, a friend introduced her to a group of young artists working on a pilot of a movie.

She got a role in the pilot and extended her vacation although it never got to be aired.

She later enrolled in college to study film production and theatre, she would audition for films while still in college.

Her first gig was in the show Deal or No Deal, was featured in magazines like Maxim, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and many more.

She has been featured in Television shows such as Iron Man 2, Surrogate, CSI, Kane, Life, and Knight Rider.

11. Miroslava Karpovich

Miroslava Olegovna Karpovich is a Russian actress and model. She is best known for her role as Maria Vasnetsova in Daddy’s Daughters (2007). She is now working as an actress in films. The film Dove, in which she played the lead, was released last year.

Miroslava Karpovich is still primarily concerned with her job, and she is one of Russia’s most well-known female superstars. She received the prize for the effective pursuit of the profession of an actor.

This Russian actress is fluent in English, French, Italian, and Ukrainian and aspires to have a big family.

12. Natalia Vodianova

Natalia Vodianova by Web Summit – Wikimedia Commons

Natalia Vodianova, nicknamed Supernova, is a Russian actress, model, and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. In 2012, she came in third on the Forbes top-earning models list, estimated to have earned $8.6 million in one year. 

She was cast as Medusa in the 2010 film Clash of the Titans. In addition, she played significant roles in the films CQ in 2001, Probka in 2009, and a 2012 film adaptation of Belle du Seigneur.

She also served as the narrator in a significant broadcast of Swan Lake from the Mariinsky Theatre in 2013.

Vodianova is the founder of the Naked Heart Foundation, a philanthropic organization committed to helping children with special needs and their families.

In 2010, Vodianova was awarded by Harper’s Bazaar as Inspiration of the Year. In 2014 Glamour recognized her as Woman of the Year and awarded her The Voice for Children award.

Read more about other famous actresses here.

13. Inna Korobkina

Inna Korobkina is a Russian Canadian actress. She has acted in Russian and English. Korobkina is known for her appearance in the 2004 remake film Dawn of the Dead.

She also appeared in several TV series like Beautiful People, Angela’s Eyes, and The Newsroom and had some minor roles in movies like How to Deal and The Ladies Man.

Inna Korobkina gained the title of one of the top famous Russian actresses in Hollywood after starring in the 2004 remake movie Dawn of the Dead.

14.  Asel Sagatova

Asel Sagatova is a talented Russian actress. Her birthplace is Kazakhstan. She worked on television and appeared in several films.

In Almaty, Asel Sagatova graduated from a Russian institution with a choreographic bent. She has been modeling since she was 14 years old.

Assel worked in Hong Kong and Thailand while he was in the ninth grade. She graduated with honors from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University’s Faculty of International Relations.

Assel was named Miss 31 Channel in 2000 and competed in the Miss Photo Model competition. She made her cinematic debut in 2004, and in 2010, she appeared in The Irony of Love.

Asel Sagatova is a serious young lady. She has a company in Kazakhstan, works in Russia, and, presumably, has huge aspirations for the future.

15. Eugenia Kuzmina

Photo of model Eugenia Kuzmina by Bill Block – Wikimedia Commons

Eugenia Kuzmina is a Russian-American actress, comedian, and model. Her modeling career took off when she appeared on the cover of Glamour and walked the runway for multiple designers including Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, and Thierry Mugler.

She appeared in advertisements for Hermes, Armani jeans, Dior sunglasses, GAP, and L’Oreal. Her first video appearance outside of Russia was in a music video Ange étrange by David Hallyday. In 2011, Kuzmina transitioned into acting.

Kuzmina is passionate about comedy and can frequently be seen doing stand-up at The Comedy Store, Flappers, and performing improv at UCB (Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre). She is also involved in tours around the US and the world with her stand-up group The Nobodies.

16. Alexandra Nikiforava

Aleksandra Olegovna Nikiforova is a Russian actress known for her role in the Turkish TV series Kalbimin Sultani. She became famous when she played her leading role in Detective Anna (2016).

In 2018, Nikiforava got a minor role in a minor role in the series Secrets of Mrs. Kirsanova. She was later allowed to become the host of the TV show Signs of Fate.

17. Kristina Asmus

Kristina Igorevna Asmus is a Russian actress known for her role in the medical sitcom Interns. She entered the Mikhail Shchepkin Higher Theatre School. She became TV Actress of the Year according to Glamour magazine in 2011. Later in 2013, she received the Fashion People Awards as a Fashion actress.

In 2016, she was named the sexiest Russian woman by Maxim magazine. From 2020 to 2022, Asmus has been in the films The Whaler Boy, Desparate for Marriage, Rolls, and December.

18. Chulpan Khamatova

Kremlin.ru, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Chulpan Nailevna Khamativa is a Russian film, television actress, and theater. She is known for her roles in the plays Three Sisters, The Storm, The Naked Pioneer, Anthony and Cleopatra, and Mamapapasynsobaka. 

Khamatova has been in numerous films 72 Meters, Garpastum, Bakhtiyar Khudoynazarov, and The Fall of the Empire. However, she is internationally known for starring in Good Bye, Lenin! (2003).

19. Natalya Varley

Natalya Varley is a Soviet and Russian film and theater actress who is known for her part in the comedy Kidnapping Caucasian Style. In 1967, she was cast in her first Soviet horror movie, Viy.

Varley graduated from the Theatre Institute and joined Moscow Drama Stainislavsky Theatre in 1971. She occasionally performed in the 2000s and she also hosted a couple of TV shows including Household Affairs, Delo Vashe, and Domashnye Khlopoty; Your Business.

20. Natasha Stefanenko

Natalya Dmitievna Stefanenko is a Russian and Italian actress, television presenter, and model. She is known for her role in the cinematographic film La Grande Prugna in 1999.

In 2009, she hosted Italia’s Next Top Model and had a role in Mediaset Canale 5’s police drama series Distretto di Polizia 9.

Click here to read more about famous actresses.

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Russian People

1. Hospitality Runs Deep in Russian People

Photo by Centre for Ageing Better on Unsplash

The immense hospitality of the Russian people reflects their cultural values and generous spirit. For Russians, welcoming guests into their homes and villages with open arms, overflowing tables, and warmth is not only a tradition – it is an integral part of who they are.

Moreover, Russians take pride in making sure every visitor feels comfortable and well-fed. Their hospitality knows no bounds for friends and strangers alike. This emphasis on hospitality and generosity reveals how community-focused and big-hearted Russian people tend to be.

2. Russian People Have a Great Love for Literature

Literature holds an elevated status in Russian culture and is beloved across generations. The Russian people are reading and writing people, who are often found enjoying the classics of Tolstoy or Dostoevsky on public transit or into the night.

Moreover, the literary arts shape and reflect the Russian spirit and identity. From poetic greats like Pushkin to the epic novels of the 19th century, literature is ingrained in the Russian consciousness. The reverence for the written word speaks to the intellect, passion, and depth of the Russian people.

3. Russians are Passionate about the Arts Sector

Zimin Vasily Gennadievich, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The arts hold a special place in Russian culture and identity. From a young age, many Russians cultivate a passion for the arts, be it music, dance, theater, or visual arts. The globally acclaimed ballet and theater productions at institutions like the Bolshoi Theatre and Mariinsky Theatre exemplify the prowess Russia has cultivated in the arts.

Additionally, Russians carry on cherished artistic traditions and styles, passing down this rich cultural heritage. The universal appreciation for aesthetics and artistic expression among Russians speaks to the creativity, intellect, and vision integral to the Russian people.

4. They Show Resilience in Adversity

The Russian people have proven their unwavering resilience and fortitude across history in the face of harsh challenges. Despite enduring bleak winters, political tensions, economic strife, and other hardships as a nation, the resolute Russian spirit prevails.

What’s more, their collective determination to withstand and overcome whatever comes their way is a distinctive cultural trait. By banding together with solidarity and perseverance to confront difficulties, Russians show profound strength and resolve. This unbreakable spirit reflects the underlying grit, power, and timeless resilience woven into the fabric of Russian culture.

5. Russian Citizens Celebrate Nature

Photo by Leonid Privalov on Unsplash

Despite Russia’s vast urbanization, Russians maintain a deep connection with the beauty and serenity of the natural world. They seek out opportunities from hiking the Caucasus to strolling through Moscow’s parks to find communion with nature.

Moreover, tributes to the majesty of the Russian landscape permeate the nation’s arts, music, and literature. By weaving scenes of striking natural beauty throughout their folklore and creative works, Russians showcase their abiding reverence for the forests, fields, mountains, and waterways that shape their homeland. This celebration of nature reveals the Russian people’s profound spiritual ties to their environment.

6. Russian People Take Pride in Their Traditions

Traditions and cultural heritage are deeply cherished by the Russian people, who proudly carry on customs passed down through generations. Celebrating Orthodox holidays like Easter and Christmas is integral to preserving Russian identity and maintaining spiritual continuity with the past.

Besides, Russians also observe longstanding folk rituals and customs that connect them to their roots, be it traditional songs and dances or customs around events like births, weddings, and funerals.

Beyond holidays and rituals, traditional modes of dress, music, cuisine, and art are maintained to link today’s Russia to previous eras. For Russians, upholding these traditions is a point of national pride and an act of cultural preservation. Their steadfast commitment to tradition reflects the value they place on their distinct identity and storied history as a people.

7. Russians Thrive in a Spirit of Innovation

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While Russia has endured periods of turmoil, it also boasts an impressive legacy of ingenuity across fields like science, mathematics, engineering, and space exploration. From pioneering spacecraft to groundbreaking discoveries in physics, Russians have long been at the forefront of technological and scientific advancement.

Better still, this innovative spirit and drive for progress remains strong today, as a new generation propels Russia forward as dynamic thought leaders and inventors. The intellectual curiosity, creativity, and vision of the Russian people have yielded innovations that changed the world, showing how tenacity can thrive even in times of difficulty. Russia’s landmarks in innovation pay homage to the brilliant and resilient Russian mind.

8. They Love Cuisine Rich in Flavor

Food is profoundly important in Russian culture, which prides itself on cuisine that mingles European, Soviet, and Asian influences into unique flavors. Hearty staples like borscht soup and pelmeni dumplings mix with delectable baked goods to form the diverse Russian table.

To boot, meals are meant for sharing in good company, accompanying meaningful conversation. For Russians, food transcends sustenance, acting as a social glue that bonds people together. Through their inventive dishes and joyful mealtime rituals, the Russian people celebrate culinary abundance and life’s simple pleasures. Their vibrant food culture reflects a zest for flavor and appreciation of life’s moments large and small.

9. Russian People Appreciate Their Country’s Diversity

Photo by Amy Elting on Unsplash

Russia is a melting pot, home to over 190 ethnic groups with distinct traditions.  The Russian people take pride in this diversity and actively embrace the varied customs, dress, music, food, and more that enrich their culture. Vibrant festivals showcase this mosaic, from the ornate traditional Siberian dress on display to the colorful celebrations in cosmopolitan St. Petersburg.

On top of that, Russians understand that their nation’s cultural richness stems from the blending of different ethnicities over the centuries. By honoring each group’s unique identity while coming together in celebration of their diversity, the Russian people continue to nurture inclusion and harmony within their diverse society.

10. Russians Boast the Strength in Community

Photo by Jed Villejo on Unsplash

Community is profoundly important in Russian society, with people united by a shared commitment to supporting one another. Russians see the collective good as paramount and band together actively during hardships, rallying to aid neighbors and causes in need.

Over and above that, this solidarity fosters enduring bonds between people, binding them together around common values and purpose. It creates an unshakeable sense of belonging, with each person as an integral part of the whole. The Russian spirit of community reflects how individuals can achieve more together than alone. It demonstrates the power and comfort of unity for the Russian people.

Russian people are as diverse and multifaceted as the country they call home. From their legendary hospitality to their enduring resilience and passion for culture, the Russian spirit continues to inspire and captivate the world. By embracing their traditions, celebrating their diversity, and supporting one another, Russian People embody the timeless values of strength, unity, and community that have defined their nation for centuries.