Galina Kravchenko was a Russian actress famous for her role as Maria Lvovna Karagina in the film War and Peace (1965). She was born on February 11, 1905, in Kazan, Russian Empire (now Tatarstan, Russia), and had a significant impact on Soviet cinema throughout her career.
Personal and Family Life
Galina was born as Galina Sergeyevna Kravchenko and moved to Moscow after the Russian Revolution in 1917. Her mother worked for the Soviet Government, which opened doors for Galina in the world of acting. She studied at the State Institute of Cinema (VGIK) from 1924 to 1926 and went on to achieve fame in silent films during the 1920s and 30s.
Career Challenges
Kravchenko’s career faced serious challenges when her second husband, Lev Kamenev, was executed during Stalin’s purges. This event negatively affected her personal life and professional opportunities, leading to years of unemployment. After Stalin’s death, she struggled until the cultural thaw under Nikita Khrushchev allowed her to return to acting, though mostly in smaller roles.
Death and Legacy
Galina Kravchenko passed away on March 5, 1996, in Moscow, Russia. Despite her struggles, she found renewed success later in life, most notably in War and Peace. Her contributions to film were recognized when she was named Honorable Actress of Russia in 1980 and her legacy was solidified when her husband and father-in-law were posthumously exonerated during Gorbachev’s reforms.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Великий утешитель | 1933-11-17 | Annabel Adams |
| Всё дело в брате | 1977-11-14 | член приёмной комиссии |
| Девочка на шаре | 1967-03-27 | grandmother |
| Лесная быль | 1926-12-26 | Vanda |
| Папиросница от Моссельпрома | 1924-12-02 | kinoaktrisa |
| Весёлая канарейка | 1929-03-05 | Brio |
| Аэлита | 1924-09-24 | Neighbout at Illegal Bal (uncredited) |
| Новый аттракцион | 1957-05-13 | |
| Карусель | 1971-01-01 | Shopper |
| Капитан первого ранга | 1958-12-28 | Episodic role |
| Первое свидание | 1960-06-13 | Aleksei’s mother |
| Молодые | 1971-03-26 | cashier |
| Булат-Батыр | 1928-04-10 | Elena von Brandt |
| Кукла с миллионами | 1928-04-29 | |
| Первый взвод | 1933-05-07 | |
| Война и мир | 1968-04-28 | Maria Lvovna Karagina |
| 300 лет тому… | 1956-10-01 | Gelena (as G. Kravchenko) |
| Тайна Эдвина Друда | 1980-09-15 | |
| Война и Мир 1: Андрей Болконский | 1966-03-14 | Maria Lvovna Karagina |
| Война и Мир 2: Наташа Ростова | 1966-07-20 | Maria Lvovna Karagina |
| Путь корабля | 1935-06-06 | Woman in a sundress |
| Альбидум | 1928-08-03 | |
| В сторожевой будке | 1941-11-03 |