Cazanscaia Alla
Main achievement
Theater and film actress. People's Artist of the Russian Federation
About
Alla Cazanscaia, born on June 15, 1920, in Chișinău, was a remarkable theater and film actress, as well as a pedagogue, becoming one of the longest-serving and most beloved figures of the Evgeny Vakhtangov Theatre in Moscow, where she worked uninterruptedly from 1938 to 2008. A graduate of the Boris Shchukin Theatre School in 1939, she debuted on stage during her student years, playing iconic roles such as Nina in Lermontov's "Masquerade," Roxana in "Cyrano de Bergerac," Beatrice in "Much Ado About Nothing," and Galchiha in "Guilty Without Guilt." Her theatrical career, marked by grace, lyrical depth, and versatility, was crowned with awards such as the "Crystal Turandot" for best actress in 2007, for the role of Mag Folan in "The Beauty Queen of Leenane," and the title of People's Artist of the RSFSR. Besides the stage, Alla Cazanscaia dedicated herself to teaching at the Shchukin Theatre School for over 30 years, training generations of iconic actors of Russian theatre, including Sergei Makovetsky, Vladimir Simonov, Yulia Rutberg, Lidia Velezheva, Alexei Kravchenko, and Grigory Siyatvinda. Her collaborations included numerous plays and film adaptations of Vakhtangov's works, as well as roles in famous films, from Nikita Mikhalkov's "Burnt by the Sun" (Arsene) to "Adjutants of Love." She was awarded the Order of Honour in 1996 and contributed to children's television programs, such as "Wonderful Story," demonstrating a deep commitment to education and art. On a personal level, Alla Cazanscaia was married to film director Boris Barnet, with whom she had a daughter, Olga Barnet, who also became an actress and People's Artist of the Russian Federation. Her Moldovan roots from Chisinau marked the beginning of her artistic life, and her career in the Russian Federation transformed her into a symbol of classic Russian theatre. She passed away on June 24, 2008, at the age of 88, and was buried at Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow, leaving behind a legacy of stage elegance and pedagogical generosity.
