Interview with Bezrukov about his work. Sergei Bezrukov gave a frank interview about Vysotsky, children and Internet aggression

In a previous interview with TN, you said that your wife gave you a surprise for your birthday: she invited craftsmen, and they renovated your dressing room overnight Provincial Theater. That story happened three years ago. What other surprises have there been since then on October 18?

I can’t imagine a bigger surprise than the one I’m giving myself and my fans now! I sing with my group at the Crocus City Hall! If someone had told me a year ago, I wouldn’t have believed it.

- True, it looks a little like april fools prank. How did you get the idea to get into rock music?

Perhaps the filming of the film “Reserve” based on Sergei Dovlatov influenced it - it will be released this year. While vacationing in France, Anechka and I (Sergei’s wife is director Anna Matison - TN note) one evening decided to read Dovlatov aloud. Usually you read it silently and for yourself - you conduct your own dialogue with the writer. And we tried to see how convincing Dovlatov’s word would be when the artist pronounced it. Will it still remain funny and poignant, like Dovlatov’s? Anya listened and liked it. That's when the idea for a film adaptation arose. But we decided, preserving the Dovlatov spirit, to move the action to the present day, and make the hero not a writer, but a musician. Here it would have been better to ask Anya, but I think they decided to do it this way, because showing a writer’s inspiration in film is much more difficult than the inspiration of, say, a musician. After all, cinema is visual art. My hero became a rock musician, and I think this just added to the image modern sound. And the hero was named not Boris, as in the book, but Kostya: Anya believes that the name Borya does not really suit him. Naturally, we approved the script from the heirs of the work of Sergei Donatovich Dovlatov - everything is legal with us.

With his wife Anna Matison (2018). Photo: Timur Artamonov

While filming, did you listen to a lot of rock to tune in to the right wavelength? Have you talked to musicians to perhaps borrow some traits?

I always listen to rock, regardless of whether it sounds in a film or a play where I play. One of my favorite bands is Muse. Regarding the musicians, I know Yura Shevchuk, Slava Butusov, Volodya Shakhrin, and Lenya Agutin, who, by the way, starred in our “Reserve”. I know a lot of people, but I haven’t played anyone in particular, Kostya is a completely fictitious character. Like the ballet dancer Alexey Temnikov, whom I played in another Anya film - “After You”. Everyone thought I played another historical character, but in fact Alexey Temnikov was invented from start to finish. Everyone is also trying to look for analogies with Kostya, to compare him with one of the rockers, but in fact this is Dovlatov’s hero, only not the writer Boris, but the musician Kostya. And besides their names and occupations, they have everything in common: creative unfulfillment for ten years, depression, family problems - his wife is leaving for Canada, and a great desire to start all over again...

With Leonid Agutin on the set of the film “Reserve” (2018). Photo: instagram.com

-Have you learned to play the electric guitar?

I had to relearn it a little. I have a classic hand position, I'm done music school in guitar class, but I have six string guitar, but an electric guitar is something else. This was my first time playing with a pick. Of course, playing the electric guitar is an incomparable pleasure. The instrument is loud, but you can turn it on so that only you can hear it with headphones. I often played like this at home without disturbing others.

So you liked playing a new instrument - and from this it was one step to creating your own group?

I don’t know what prompted this step. Maybe it really is a role. Maybe I just tried to sing one thing, then another, and that’s how I ended up with rock. These were mainly, of course, songs for films and performances. I have a play “Hooligan. Confession” - in it I sing my songs based on Yesenin’s poems. There is a play “Vysotsky. The Birth of a Legend” - there is a whole block in the finale where I sing Vysotsky’s songs in a rock arrangement, and it sounds quite convincing. So I tried myself a little in this area, searched for my timbre, tested my vocal abilities for the ability to strain - and in the end I became so bold that I decided to record songs not for performances! He put together a group, called it “The Godfather”...

I remember one heroine of yours and our beloved Dovlatov, who asked what the name of the river was. They answered her that it was Neva, and she was surprised: “Neva? What suddenly? So, “The Godfather”? What suddenly?

I won’t tell you, this is secret information! But I can say that my musicians are really wonderful, good groups play and tour all over the world. We released three singles in the summer, the first - “Not about us” - was released on June 1, on the same day it entered the Russian “Top 5” of the iTunes music chart, and then entered the European “Top 100”! Next was the song “What Planet Are We From”, and now they have released “Hard Day”, which opens my first solo album. They are also popular, with hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube!

It must be so great to rejoice at the first achievements in a new business! After all, as an actor you achieved success very early - at the age of 23 you became a laureate State Prize, at 35 years old - People's Artist. What other awards can surprise you in this area? But with rock music it’s different: you excitedly monitor the number of views on YouTube, like a 20-year-old student, although you are soon 45 years old.

Yes, 45 - so what? I look, for example, at U2 - they are elderly people, I am a boy compared to them, but they perform so powerfully. Robbie Williams is my age, and he brings such drive from the stage! I am in no way comparing our achievements. I'm just saying that in rock there is no age as such. If you have an inner fire, no matter how old you are, you can play rock.

Anna wasn’t surprised by this turn of events? After all, she married an actor and artistic director of the theater...

She was the first to see a rock musician in me! She gave me a role in “The Reserve” - she believed that I could play this. She saw how I sing and exist in a song on stage, and said: “You have the makings! You are an absolute rock musician in your behavior, in your voice - you just need to develop it.” And I gradually, step by step, began to move in this direction. By the way, she gave me an electric guitar when we were filming “Reserve” - I just worked with it. Of course, I had an understudy: to become an electric guitarist, you still have to work and work. But I studied all the scores, so that both at the intermediate level and at the close-up it was like I was playing by myself.

Still from the film “Reserve” (2018). Photo: Press service of the Sergei Bezrukov Film Company

- Didn’t you want to become a rocker in your youth? Many guys dream of this, but you have been passionate about theater since childhood.

Of course, I sang songs by the groups “Nautilus Pompilius” and “Kino”! And there was one fantasy about the rocker, which is funny to remember now. At school on last call We staged in the assembly hall what is called a skit in the theater. In it we presented our alumni meeting ten years later. Then it seemed that in these ten years will pass life and we will already be old people. One decided that he would become a professor, another - a physicist, a third - a coach, someone even imagined himself artistic director theater But, imagine, I didn’t dream about the theater then. I came out looking like a rock star, just back from tour across America. I arrived at the meeting a little late, so tired and a little arrogant. The whole school greeted me, but I hardly recognized anyone. He sang a song and said: “Sorry, I can’t stay, I have work to do.” Parodied an artist infected star fever. Everyone laughed heartily, and who would have imagined that I would one day really touch this direction!

True, at 17 years old, 27 already seems like deep maturity. At that age, you had thoughts: I’m already so old, but I haven’t achieved anything yet! “But it’s sad to think that youth was given to us in vain”?

This was not the case, but I always thought that I worked too little. It seemed to me that I didn’t have time to do much. Although the volume was always colossal, it seemed to me that much more needed to be done! This is the impatience of the heart - I wanted everything at once, a lot, now! But this is typical of all young gambling people. And over time, I realized that everything happens for a reason and the timing when something happens to you is also not accidental - it just means that your path is exactly like this.

- Can you believe that it’s already 45? How much is in the shower?

That’s right - 45. This is already maturity, when a lot has been passed, a lot has already been experienced, but at the same time there is a wonderful spiritual drive. I am truly absolutely happy now. I have a feeling that now everything is the way I wanted. There is a job, a home, a family and a great desire to create. I don't stop - this is also one of the very important points. If at 45 you still have a lot of plans ahead of you and you have not yet fully realized yourself, this is a big plus. Life is still interesting to me.

- Now you will have a huge concert at Crocus. Have there been birthdays when you ran away from everyone?

Perhaps it wasn’t, although every time my family and friends insist that I should stop working on my own birthday! It always seemed to me that either filming or solo concert, or - for the last five years - a solo one-man show “Life. Theater. Movie". And this time I have a solo concert again! But I gave my word that next year I definitely won’t be working on October 18th, but will be relaxing with my family. And if I do a concert, a one-man show or anything else, I won’t go on stage and rock it right on that day. But I’ll light it up brightly and work my ass off, because I don’t know how to do otherwise.

“Crazy Birthday” Sergei Bezrukov and the group “Godfather” October 18 at 20:00 | KZ "Crocus City Hall"

Sergey Bezrukov

Family: wife - Anna Matison, director; daughter - Maria (2 years old)

Education: graduated from the Moscow Art Theater School

Career: since 1994 he served in O. Tabakov’s “Tabakerka” theater, in 1995 he became a laureate theater award“Moscow Debuts”, in 1996 - the “Chaika” and State Prizes, in 1997 - the Moscow City Hall Prize and the “Idol” Prize. He starred in films and TV series: “Brigade”, “Azazel”, “Plot”, “Reserve”, etc. In 2014 he became artistic director of the Moscow Provincial Theater

Sergey Bezrukov is currently cult actor Russian cinema, the interest in which does not decrease over the years, but only grows, so an interview with him about his secrets of creating a strong family will be useful to many television viewers, and will help to look at family relationships in a slightly different way.

As the actor notes, he tries, if possible, not to kiss women in the presence of his wife. In addition, the years spent in a civil marriage with Irina made it possible to test the feelings, how strong they are, and only after that to unite in a legal marriage. In his interview, Bezrukov noted that various fables were constantly whispered to Irina herself, trying to dissuade her from communicating with him, noting that this “star boy” was not going to get married, he was already successful.

However, when Sergei Bezrukov gave an interview, he constantly smiled, warmly emphasizing the amazing wisdom of his wife. During the conversation, he repeatedly emphasized that he was not interested in a one-day family, and no matter what they said, he wanted to create a strong and long-lasting union.

But when asked about the secrets of his stable marriage, he answered that family is hard work based on constant concessions, and mutual ones. Sergei Bezrukov emphasized that his wife Irina is very wise, does not create scandals, trusts him, and strives for perfection in her relationships.

An interesting question was how the actor felt about long separations. To which Bezrukov replied that he does not try to tempt fate, and often takes her with him during a long departure, noting that during intimate filming he feels awkward that his wife sees all this. The actor notes that in such situations Irina is very delicate and treats everything with understanding, which is not typical for many acting couples.

An interview with Bezrukov allowed us to look at him completely differently. family life. Sergei notes that he would like to raise a child together, but for now he has to be content with communicating with Irina’s son, whom you perceive as your own, and therefore the relationship, according to the actor, is surprisingly trusting, and everyone knows about it.

Regarding assistance in Irina Bezrukova’s career, Sergei said the following: “If the role is suitable, then I will provide all the conditions for this, but if you don’t fit in, then such help is comparable to a “disservice”, as a result of which not only the business suffers, but also the reputation actor." Sergei Bezrukov noted that he and his wife acted together only in places where she fit in well, and he did not like nepotism. This is such a person - Sergei Bezrukov.

A film in which the surnames of director Anna Matison and actor Sergei Bezrukov will appear side by side in the credits for the first time, Sergei and Anna told the magazine “7 Days” about their first meeting, about their trip to Baikal to film the film “ Milky Way", about appearing in Russian cinema a young actress with the last name Bezrukova, and also shared plans for the future.

- Sergey, in Anna Matison’s film “The Milky Way” you played the main role. How did you meet?

Bezrukov: In February of this year, my long-time friend, producer Alexey Kublitsky, with whom we worked together on the film “Vysotsky. Thank you for being alive,” he suggested reading Anna Matison’s script. I liked it, very sincere, unlike the standard ones New Year films. There was something from the auteur cinema that I always wanted to act in. But for some reason I had never been offered this before. Maybe they're afraid of me. They probably think Sergey Bezrukov, then he only stars in blockbusters. “Okay,” I said to Alexei. “Let’s meet with the director, get to know each other, and discuss.”

- Were you surprised when you found out that the scriptwriter and director was a young woman?

Bezrukov: My very first director in 1993 in the film “Nocturne for Drum and Motorcycle” was Karine Foliyants. I have no prejudices in this regard at all; I don’t think that films should be made exclusively by men.

- Does the age of the director matter?

Bezrukov: None! I starred with Alyosha Sidorov in “Brigade”. This was his first film work. It would seem that, complicated story, a gangster saga can only be completed by an experienced person who has already gone through fire and water. But Lesha is from Severodvinsk; by that time, despite his very young age, he had probably experienced a lot in life. And he made an amazing big movie. And Anya, in comparison with him then, is already an experienced director, she has several documentaries and the film “Satisfaction” with Evgeniy Grishkovets. This picture made a very strong impression on me at the time.

- Anna, did it help that Bezrukov liked your first film?

Mathison: I didn’t know whether Sergei had seen “Satisfaction” or not. Therefore, there was some uncertainty. Whatever they say, at the first meeting there is almost always some bias towards the female director. Therefore, I always prefer that they first look at my work, and then get acquainted with it in person. I remember well - on the day when Sergei made an appointment for us at the Moscow Provincial Theater, the same producer Alexei Kublitsky and I were first at other negotiations. And between these meetings, I asked Alexey to take me home to change clothes. He asked: “Why? You look good". And I just wanted to avoid attracting attention as much as possible.

The film “After You”, which tells about the life of famous artist ballet by Alexei Temnikov, whose career was suddenly interrupted due to injury. Main role played by the head of the Moscow Provincial Theater Sergei Bezrukov. The screenwriter and director of the film was the artist’s wife Anna Matison.

Sergei Bezrukov in the film “After You”

— Sergey, the role of Alexei Temnikov was written especially for you. This is in your acting career happens often?

- Twice. The first film was “Yesenin,” which was based on my father’s book. And then, naturally, I was initially seen as the main character. And this is the second script that was written for me. This may probably seem strange, and for some even surprising, but I, like all artists, pass auditions, read the scripts that are sent to me. He agreed to some things, and not to others. And I am grateful to Anna. After all, this rare case, when an actor is so lucky that he has a personal screenwriter and director who will really give him the role. As an artist, it is very important for me to develop and not stand still. And this is a great merit of the directors, who will see something new in the actor, and will not replicate what has already happened five hundred thousand times. Therefore, I want to say thank you to Anna for revealing a completely different image in me. Having invented such a character, she gave me this role

— In the film, your hero has a cross and an icon hanging around his neck. How important is religion to you? What do you yourself believe in?

- It’s not the hero’s, it’s mine. And I never take them off. Let me make a reservation right away: me and my hero are completely different people. It is absolutely impossible to compare me with Temnikov, because I have never been like that and, God willing, I never will be. (Smiles.) His behavior in society and with loved ones is monstrous. I'll tell you, this is the first time I've played such an outright scumbag. Yes, my hero is an absolute scumbag - if you look at what he is like at the very beginning. And it was interesting for me to play this negative personality. We only then begin to understand how much pain he feels inside. He is in so much pain that he is ready to offend everyone who is near him, but first of all he offends himself. Yes, a tragic situation occurred in his life, he was injured. But you can close yourself off from everyone, or you can try to create a really real school, and not the institution for rich aunts that he has. At the same time, he looks down on them, but he himself has never done anything serious: he hasn’t trained a student, he hasn’t created the ballet that he wanted to stage all these years, he hasn’t become a choreographer... Temnikov is absolutely man of genius in his profession, but only in last moment he woke up. He didn't try - he chickened out. Imagine: being a coward for 20 years and doing nothing for his profession, which he endlessly loves. He's a coward! And he admits this to himself in a monologue on a trolleybus. At the very least he despises himself

— There is even a moment in the film when he suggests that God could “laugh” at him...

“I think God didn’t laugh at him; the Lord always gives a person a chance.” IN in this case he gave my hero this chance in the form of a call from Marinka. Temnikov took advantage of it. Another thing is that he did not act like a Christian: he voluntarily died. And this is already the madness of a person who is outside of faith in God. Such a person can be called a fan of his profession; he is ready to sacrifice his life in order for this ballet to be shown on the central channel. He even joked that ballet is only shown in emergency situations: there needs to be a coup or something like that, or for him to die... And he took advantage of this situation, having calculated everything

— Can you justify the voluntary departure from the life of your hero?

- I don’t agree with him. It seems to me that we should have waited for the premiere, come to it, and in general, continued to live. He could have staged more than one ballet. Temnikov — talented person, and he turned out to be a first-class production. Why shouldn't he become an excellent choreographer? Don't know. I argued with my hero. But Anya held me with iron fists - I say this in in a good way words. (Smiles.)

Sergei Bezrukov with Anna Matison at the premiere of the film “After You”

— How did you work with your wife on film set?

— Anya is a very sensitive and polite director, she is incredibly easy to work with. This picture is entirely her achievement. There was always an atmosphere of love on the set: not a single swear word! This was probably the first time I starred in a movie in which no one fought with anyone. Usually the cameraman is with the lighting crew, and they are with someone else, and so on. Sometimes an artist needs to get together for a very important scene, and next to you something like this happens: someone is bawling, someone is shouting back at him - there is no calm, and you are trying to look people in the eyes and explain: “Let me get ready, I have a very difficult scene ahead!” And here on site everyone worked with full dedication and were aimed at creating good movie. Everyone is polite, everyone is tactful. It seems to me that this attitude then in the best possible way reflected in the painting itself

— What else is this film interesting for you personally?

“I miss films that don’t have vulgarity, smart films where there is something to think about and reflect on.” It seems to me that this film is the only attempt in Lately bring the serious, intelligent viewer back to the cinema. I was recently told that the fashion now in Europe is for popcorn-free cinemas, they use great success. Maybe it's time to return to what it once was under the Soviet Union?..

— Did you encounter any difficulties while working on the film?

“It was difficult to always walk with a perfectly straight back and not fall out of the image that I internally hated. It was terrible. But I tried to do my best - and I hope that I succeeded. I trusted Anya completely and completely. There is a scene in the film when my hero drinks for the first time in 20 years. It would seem that this is elementary physiology: to play a slightly drunk person. Moreover, I “had the good fortune” to play this state in my roles many times. Moreover, with different amplitudes of intoxication. (Smiles.) And for me, as a person who doesn’t drink, it was very interesting. And then the scene where my character drinks, we rehearsed and filmed for a very long time. Anya constantly said: “That’s not it! Yes, good - but this is not Temnikov!” At some point I began to be angry with myself: I couldn’t do it! But I’ve played drunk so many times already! But we were looking. And finally Anya said: “Now you’ve got it!” Yes, that’s it!” At 43 years old, having played so many roles, it was amazing to exhale and say to myself: “Wow! Happened!" It's an incredible feeling. You try - you succeed - you exhale and set the next bar for yourself. And this is wonderful: move on, develop and not think about what you did before

— How did you film the scenes of the new ballet? After all, at that time rehearsals were actually taking place for the production of the same name “Symphony in 3 Movements”, which became part of the repertoire Mariinsky Theater.

— When we later did an imitation of me staging this ballet with real artists of the Mariinsky Theater, the famous choreographer Radu Poklitaru was next to us. Can you imagine: real professionals stand in front of me, and I play their choreographer. Luckily, Radu was nearby. I constantly told him: “I beg you very much, make comments, come up, speak as you should, because I am a dramatic artist, I am not a choreographer.” And then Radu answers me with a smile: “You know, I listened to you! I stand and think: everything is fine, everything is fine.” And at some point I caught myself thinking that I was working with artists as a director in my Moscow Provincial Theater when I staged plays. I began to behave as I did with my artists: I relaxed, began to joke, they began to laugh... And as soon as I felt good, Anya came up and said that this was bad. “And now we are canceling all this, and you are returning to Temnikov,” she announced. “We won’t film this.” And I had to return to the unpleasant image again, to rigidity, and again become Temnikov. He is a very tough person...

People's Artist of the Russian Federation Sergei Bezrukov

— Have you been seriously involved in dancing yourself?

— At the Moscow Art Theater School I really loved the dance discipline, so I still remember the barre. For me, imagining what kind of ballet dancer I can be is not just a fantasy. I am a dramatic actor, but I studied a lot, and I remember this

— Are there people you admire in this field?

- I big fan choreographer Pina Bausch, I love it very much modern dance. I am also a fan of the undisputed genius who is still alive today - Mikhail Baryshnikov. I bow to him. I immediately remember the film “White Nights”, which I watched to death, and its emotional dance under Vysotsky. Radu choreographed the final dance to Gavrilin, but when I danced it, I was still internally thinking about how brilliantly Baryshnikov, whom I can call an idol, would have done it. I, by virtue of my acting profession, tried to play it rather. But Radu believed in me. I did 90 percent of the dancing myself! Of course, I had an understudy - Denis Matvienko, he performed all the jumps. In order to jump like that, you need to practice choreography and be a ballet actor from childhood. By the way, I managed to meet Baryshnikov personally. Last summer he went to the premiere in Riga, where he came with the play “Letter to a Man,” based on the diaries of the dancer and choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky. Baryshnikov is a wonderful, humble, amazing person. I even managed to take a photo with him. You know, someone dreams of a photo with me, and I don’t really understand it. (Smiles.) But I remember very well my feelings when I was photographed with Baryshnikov. You can’t imagine - this is such a feeling of happiness and inner delight!

— Didn’t you invite him to watch the film?

“I would really like him to see the picture.” I handed him the disk. I am interested in the assessment of such masters. Moreover, this story is not about ballet, it is about character, about a man who, having a steely character, destroyed himself in the finale in order to bring his own idea to life

— Are you talking, first of all, about people of art?

— This applies to each of us, not only creative people. Any person sooner or later asks himself the question: what will I leave behind in this life? It’s not for nothing that we, together with the Konstantin Khabensky Charitable Foundation, came up with an action that will run until April 16. You can send an SMS to a specific number with the amount of the money transfer - and thus help children who are struggling with serious illnesses. And all the people who come to the cinema have the opportunity to help. And in this way, you can also leave behind something good and kind. Even a basic 100 or 300 rubles. And you will already have the opportunity to tell yourself that you saved someone’s life...

Sergei Bezrukov: “What will I leave behind in this life?” published: October 26th, 2018 author: Katyusha Shitikova

Sergey, at what point did the situation with birch trees get out of control?

Well look. 2003, TV series “Plot”, where I played a good policeman. There's the title song "Birches". It became very popular, and to this day, wherever I perform, “Birches” is sung by the entire audience. 2005, Yesenin comes out. Its symbol is birch trees. And everything went from then on. From KVN to KVN. But I don't feel sorry, so be it.

Do you really love all this primordial aesthetic that much?

I love Russian culture. When it is brought to the point of kitsch - birch tree, balalaika, bear - it is too much. And, frankly, this is already making me sick.

However, in mass consciousness you are the most Russian actor. Duty of the Russian soul: passions, throwing, spree.

There are passions and tossing. It's worse with drinking, I don't drink.

I just don’t really like myself when I’m drunk: I stop being witty and charming.

Strange! For me it's the other way around!

But I can’t joke, the quickness of the mind is lost, you become viscous, you don’t have time to react. I can play drunk and be funny, but in reality I become unfunny. When they ask me why, I usually answer that everything has already been drunk before me. In my father’s time, the acting fraternity had a phrase: “You don’t drink, you’re not a genius.” Therefore, everyone drank; the WTO restaurant was a cult place.

Strange feeling: as if the directors are afraid of me

My father gave me a lot. For all my skepticism about that era - the people of that era, the generation of our fathers, I have great respect. My father raised me by example. This is, of course, a banality, but personal example - main principle education. If you want to stop your son from smoking, don’t smoke yourself. If you want him to play sports, do it yourself.

By the way, are you in good shape now? How many pull-ups can you do?

In good shape, I think. I do boxing, and I can do twelve pull-ups.

Boxing? Did you fight?

No, somehow God was merciful, he never gave me such a situation. I would probably lash out at some media representatives; sometimes I want to call them out and actually smack them in the face. But we have to entrust this matter to lawyers.

You mentioned that you are skeptical about that era. What was bad about her? And many people don’t really understand now.

The amount of hypocrisy and lies that there was. An incredible number of prohibitions. Herman's film "Road Check" lay on the shelf for twenty years! They say “it’s a shame for the state,” but here it’s a shame for the people. The people believed. Despite the fact that there was more morality among the people, there was a complete absence of morality at the top. The USSR is a country that was created on blood. Right now we are staging a play based on Astafiev’s story “The Jolly Soldier”. Everything that is said about the war goes against the general opinion even now. Astafiev had a different attitude towards Zhukov and what was happening. What a war everyone waged against the same Russian soldier, who won despite the fact that they did not care about any life. And then, after the war, how many people were destroyed, the same soldiers, common people. Monstrous attitude towards ordinary people!

It's clear. Let's talk about Vysotsky. Were you ready for such a reaction, for all these jokes?

Let them joke! A person must somehow pour out an abundance of love and happiness. On the contrary, I was prepared for the fact that the secret would not be revealed and no one would say anything. I advocated for this myself. They didn’t recognize me while I was filming in makeup. On the call sheet I was listed as “Vitalevich”, and a non-disclosure agreement was signed with everyone. This is actually an amazing story. I read in the newspaper that a shoot was being prepared, that Mashkov was auditioning, and I thought: it’s a pity that they didn’t offer me... but thank God. By that time I had already played Yeshua, then Yesenin and Pushkin. The films were shot seven years apart, but were released one after the other. I understood that in this way I was adding more jokes to myself. I think if Vysotsky were also present now, then that’s it, a diagnosis. Megalomania. And then the producer calls and offers! I say: no, under no circumstances, I will simply be crucified in advance. A year passes. During this time, the director changed and a lot of actors auditioned. I meet with the producer, he tells me: “Still, read the script.” Okay, I'm reading. Boldly, of course, but I said no. He shows me my portrait, modified on the computer, and I see Vysotsky’s face. The producer persuaded me to just try, just for myself, they say, we won’t show it to anyone. They do my makeup, and at night Ernst calls and says: “You are approved.” What could I say? I really wanted to play this role, but I resisted with all my might. And here I am presented with a fact.

How long did it take to apply the makeup?

Three and a half hours. We had nine samples of the mask, but nothing worked. At first it was more similar, but not as elastic. She doesn’t breathe, after half an hour processes begin on the skin. And the fact that I worked for nineteen hours wearing a mask later caused big health problems. This was wrong. But no one has done this before. I associated myself with Gagarin, whom for some reason I haven’t played yet. It was as if they had released me into space and were checking: how are you, are you still alive? Besides, it was the summer of 2010: smoke, heat... And I, like a soldier, endured and shouted from the inside: everything is fine, we’re working! I also had my back adjusted every time after a shoot, because I had to keep my shoulders inward - according to Vysotsky’s plastic surgery. He had inward shoulders, a boxer's figure. At the end of the day, my back just broke. I'm not complaining, I would just like to make it clear that all this was at great risk, with great physical problems.

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vobla

Your films are more commercial. Why are you not seen in auteur films?

Honestly, it's very disappointing. I am ready and open, sometimes I acted absolutely free, for an idea. I had one original film about ten years ago - “City Without Sun”, where I played an artist. It’s a strange feeling: as if the directors are afraid. After the "Brigade" they were afraid - even simple people they thought I was a bandit. And this glossy image of a screen star is harming me. It's better now. Work is underway on the film “After You,” where I play a ballet dancer. This is an absolutely original project.

What if Zvyagintsev called you? Something like Leviathan?

It's not about a specific director. If I liked the script, I would gladly star with Zvyagintsev, he great master. The main thing for me is interesting story. And then it doesn’t matter whether the director is a seasoned one or a beginner. I sometimes refused offers very famous directors just because I didn't like the script.

If the program “Dolls”, which you voiced, was now being revived, and they called you back?

Again a parody... No, this is a passed stage. I was too young to understand what was happening in the country. Now everything has become much more complicated and scary. Public opinion is heated to such extremes that there is no time for jokes. Here you have to watch your every word, because any phrase can be reinterpreted, inverted in meaning and used not only against you, but also against your colleagues. Now one word can cause a quarrel great amount people so that they stop greeting each other. Elementary claims to creativity can be interpreted as a political statement. But I cannot afford this, because now I am responsible not only for myself, but also for the huge team of the Provincial Theater.

Yes, you have no less than your own theater. Any achievements?

Come and see for yourself. Let me just say that we are only two years old, but we already have a fairly powerful repertoire, fifteen new productions. And not only for adults, there are wonderful performances for children too.

In "Milky Way" I played an ordinary person for the first time!

On January 1, the film “Milky Way” directed by Anna Matison is released. Should I go?

Undoubtedly. This is a family New Year's movie, a comedy, but not one where you are ashamed of both the jokes and the laughing audience. This is a deeper story. This is where I played for the first time common man. This is the case with loans, divorces, throwing around. Many men will definitely recognize themselves, their problems, and maybe even see their solution. But the genre is still a comedy. Under New Year husband and wife accidentally read notes with wishes that need to be burned...

Do you experience these typical problems yourself? For example, did you have a midlife crisis?

My life has changed dramatically this year, as everyone has already written about. Maybe this is the same crisis. Without going into details, I admit: it was an emotionally very difficult year.

Without going into details, tell me: what to do in a situation when you live with one woman for many years, and then suddenly realize that you love another?

You need to be honest with yourself. And remain human. That is, to avoid bloodshed. At least try to do it. And if you need help, then help. It is mandatory to behave with dignity in any situation: you are a man. There's definitely no need to be afraid public opinion. A man at forty, having achieved a certain position in society, is afraid of losing something, of being misunderstood, of becoming the hero of a joke. At forty years old, it’s scary to lose everything, to start over, because you may no longer take off. I believe that at any age there is no need to be afraid of this. If you're not lying to yourself, then don't be afraid. After all, life really is short. My father once said to me: “Seryozha, how quickly it passes! You can not even imagine! It was all yesterday, but now you are seventy years old. Like one day!” There is no need to be afraid of anything in this life. Live! And don't be afraid of this life!

You are a believer. And you probably consider yourself a sinner.

I think that any person...

Great! Here I have written out a list of mortal sins, let’s go through it for the purpose of repentance. Pride?

Happens. Sinful. Of course... It's professional. When you feel bad, it happens that you go on the Internet to read good things about yourself. To feel needed at least by your fans. Run away there.