Famous Russian Actresses

Blue-eyed Russian child model Kristina Pimenova was already a star by age 10, having signed a deal with LA Models and worked for Armani and Benetton. Criticized for her “sexed-up” images on social media, she grew up to experiment with acting in films such as The Russian Bride.

Svetlana Khodchenkova is a Russian actress best known for playing Irina in the 2016 film, Viking. She is also known for playing Vera in Bless the Woman, for which she received a nomination for Best Actress at the Nika Award. In 2008, she received the award for Best Actress at the Polish Film Festival for her performance in the movie Little Moscow.

Olesya Rulin is a Russian-American actress best known for acting in the High School Musical film franchise. Even though she was interested in the show business from a young age, she began her career as a nurse assistant. She eventually became an actress and found tremendous success with the release of the High School Musical films.

Alla Nazimova was a Russian-American actress who had an extensive career on Broadway. She acted in the classic plays of playwrights like Ibsen, Chekhov, and Turgenev. She eventually moved on to films and had an equally successful stint in cinema as well. She was openly bisexual and had sexual relationships with women while being married to a man.

Pati Behrs was a Russian-American actress and prima ballerina. In addition to being a celebrity, Pati Behrs was also an animal rights advocate who worked closely with the California-based non-profit corporation, Actors and Others for Animals. She presented Actors and Others with her famous baby grand piano, which was later sold to help animals in need.

Vera Glagoleva was a Russian and Soviet film director and actress. She is best remembered for playing important roles in romantic comedies and melodramas. Some of her best known films include To Marry a Captain, Do Not Shoot at White Swans, and Poor Sasha. In 2011, Vera Glagoleva was honored with the People's Artist of Russia award.

Maya Plisetskaya was a legendary Soviet and Russian ballerina. Growing up in a war-torn region, she had a difficult childhood. She sought solace in ballet and pursued a career as a dancer. She was remarkably fluid in her movements and soon became internationally renowned. She later became a ballet director and choreographer. She was married to composer Rodion Shchedrin. 

Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė is а Lithuanian actress who appears predominantly in Russian films. She achieved popularity in 1994, when she won the Nika Award for Best Actress. Ingeborga Dapkūnaitė is аlso a recipient of the State Prize of the Russian Federation.

Russian actor Olga Baclanova was also a skilled ballerina and opera singer who had a decent career in Hollywood, too. A star of the silent-film age, she was seen in films such as The Wolf of Wall Street and Are You There? Post-retirement, she moved to Switzerland.

Olga Dihovichnaya is a Belarusian-born Russian actress, director, and producer. After starting her career as a TV host, Dihovichnaya went on to establish herself as a successful actress and director. Olga Dihovichnaya is also credited with directing many documentaries.

Soviet ballet dancer Lyudmila Vlasova was raised singlehandedly by her mother, who was part of the Red Army Theater. Known for her long stint with the Bolshoi Theater, she was also praised for her performances with her partner and husband Alexander Godunov, a renowned ballet dancer himself.