Acting
Elena Maksimova
Elena Alexandrovna Maksimova (23.11.1905—23.09.1986) was born in Moscow to a grocer father (he sold non-perishable goods) and a housewife mother, who was often ill. Apart from her, there were two other daughters in the family. Following her father's death in 1920, her mother was forced by poverty to send all three daughters to Orphanage No. 55, located in the Sokolniki district. Shortly after, in 1922, her mother also passed. Thus, at the age of 17, she was left completely orphaned. From an early age, Elena Maximova had dreamed of becoming an actress. When she finished schooling in 1925, she immediately went to the film studio attached to ‘Moskprofobor’ (Москпрофобр) to sit her entrance exams. There was only one free place available, and it went to Elena – as the most talented of all the applicants. From 1925 to 1927, she trained under the guidance of renowned film masters Vladimir Gardin and Konstantin Eggert. Alongside her studies at the film studio, Elena Maksimova had to work as a press operator at a button factory. She worked in film since 1927, appearing in productions by various film studios in Moscow and Leningrad. Between 1940 and 1964, she was an actress at the Soyuzdetfilm studio (now the Gorky Film Studio). Honoured Artist of the RSFSR (30 September 1958). The characters she portrayed were distinguished by their realism and attention to everyday detail. Her heroines were most often active, energetic and impetuous, yet she was equally at home with gentle, lyrical roles. She served Soviet cinema for nearly fifty years, and her work was modest and selfless — rarely in supporting roles, but more often in small cameos.
Filmography
A Small Favor
Film · 1984
Russia Is Young
Series · 1984
To My People!
Film · 1983
Streak of Luck
Film · 1983
Assol
Film · 1983
The Secret Agent's Return
Film · 1982
Rebirth
Film · 1981
We'll Be Waiting, Come Back
Film · 1981
Carnival
Film · 1981
The Secret of the Notebook
Film · 1981
Shot In The Back
Film · 1980
The Soldier and the Elephant
Film · 1978
Without Father
Film · 1977
Storm on the Land
Film · 1976
This Disturbing Winter
Film · 1976
The Last Meeting
Film · 1974
Birds Over the City
Film · 1974
Fulfillment of Desires
Film · 1974
Conscience
Film · 1974
Duration of the Day
Film · 1974
The Red Snowball Tree
Film · 1974
Conscience
Series · 1974
Yeralash
Series · 1974
The Sky Behind the Clouds
Film · 1973
Right to Jump
Film · 1973
This Merry Planet
Film · 1973
Alka's Songs
Film · 1973
Declaration of Love to G.T.
Film · 1971
Investigation Held by ZnaToKi
Series · 1971
New Year's Abduction
Film · 1970
Time to Live
Film · 1969
Ivan Makarovich
Film · 1968
The Gypsy
Film · 1967
Such a Big Boy
Film · 1967
The Stars of the Day
Film · 1966
Someone Else's Name
Film · 1966
The Conscience
Film · 1966
Afterlight
Film · 1966
Beloved
Film · 1965
Null kolm
Film · 1965
Black Business
Film · 1965
Early in the Morning
Film · 1965
Father of a Soldier
Film · 1965
Sorcerer Island
Film · 1965
Они не пройдут
Film · 1965
Meeting at the Crossing
Film · 1964
Summer is Short in the Mountains
Film · 1964
The Green House
Film · 1964
No Fear, No Blame
Film · 1962
The Judgment
Film · 1962
In Transit
Film · 1961
Yevdokiya
Film · 1961
Miraculous One
Film · 1960
King of Diamonds
Film · 1959
A Home for Tanya
Film · 1959
The Sun Shines to Everyone
Film · 1959
Strict Woman
Film · 1959
The Song of Koltsov
Film · 1959
In the Silence of Steppe
Film · 1959
The Volunteers
Film · 1958
Rains
Film · 1958
"Чудотворец" из Бирюлёва
Film · 1958
Height
Film · 1957
The Tight Knot
Film · 1957
Polyushko, pole
Film · 1957
Quiet Flows the Don
Film · 1957
Other People's Relatives
Film · 1956
For the Power of the Soviets
Film · 1956
The Frigid Sea
Film · 1955
Two Captains
Film · 1955
The Grasshopper
Film · 1955
Incident in the Taiga
Film · 1954
Admiral Ushakov
Film · 1953
The Country Doctor
Film · 1952
First-Year Student
Film · 1948
The Old Courtyard
Film · 1941
A Personal Matter
Film · 1940
Stepan Razin
Film · 1939
Pugachev
Film · 1937
Aerograd
Film · 1935
A Personal Affair
Film · 1932
Men and Jobs
Film · 1932
And Quiet Flows the Don
Film · 1931
Killing to Live
Film · 1931
Earth
Film · 1930
The Last Attraction
Film · 1929
Ranks and People
Film · 1929
The Other Woman
Film · 1929
A Bright City
Film · 1928
The Peasant Women of Ryazan
Film · 1927