Bright soul: 105 years passed since birth of actress Galina Makarova
Actress Galina Makarova was known as ‘all-Union grandmother’ in Soviet times: people in Kaliningrad, Vladivostok, and elsewhere knew her well. Fame came to the People's Artiste of the USSR and the BSSR late, which is why people remember Galina in her old age – as a kind old lady, just as she used to appear on the screen – and do not actually know her as cheery and laughing young Agata, who was nicknamed Buben [Tambourine] by fellow villagers for her irrepressible character and indomitable energy. Playwright Aleksei Dudarev confessed that – on seeing Makarova in a movie as a teenager – he did not believe that was an actress: he thought the director was just filming the daily routine of an ordinary Belarusian girl. Galina Makarova's skill was such that she did not even play in the cinema at all: she simply lived in front of the camera, generously irradiating warmth and love. Unsurprisingly, all those who have been maturing while watching dozens of films with the participation of this outstanding actress remember her with heartful tenderness.
She was born in the village of Starobin (Soligorsk District), and her name was Agata. The girl’s father, Klimenty Chekhovich, served in the Tsar army as an officer. During WWI, he received not only military awards from Emperor Nikolai II for his bravery, but also a well-deserved gift: a silver tray and a tea set. After the revolution, Klimenty – who did not agree to the power of the Soviets – went to the Crimea with General Denikin's troops. However, while the white army soldiers were getting ready to go to Istanbul by steamboats, he changed his mind and went back to Starobin – where his wife and four children stayed. The man’s comrades tried to dissuade him, saying he would manage to unite with his family later and he should save his life right then. Nevertheless, Klimenty did not follow their advice: he returned home and was then arrested and repressed.
At the age of 16, young Agata Chekhovich had to move to Minsk and work as a maid and a hospital nurse. She took on any job, not disdaining the hardest and most thankless tasks. At the same time, she led the life of an active young girl – participating in amateur activities that she fell in love with back in Starobin, riding a motorcycle and a horse, and throwing javelins. Actually, she was fond of extreme sports and even became the BSSR champion in motocross in 1937.
Agata’s cheerful character helped her endure adversity, and the father of one of her friends, who worked at the BSSR Culture Ministry, noticed the girl’s bright artistic talents and advised her to enter the studio of the First Belarusian Drama Theatre (now known as Kupala Theatre). During her first attempt, Agata was refused since her father had been a former Tsar officer. Following the advice of the same official, Agata changed her noble surname Chekhovich to her mother's name: Apanashchik – and entered the studio as a result. During her studies, the future actress changed her name as well – becoming Galina. That seemed to be a beautiful and striking name against her simple Agata…
That’s how young actress Galina Apanashchik joined the troupe of the Yanka Kupala Theatre in 1938. She never told anyone about her family.
A year later, Galina met a talented Soviet officer, Ivan Makarov. After attending a performance, he began courting one of the young artists first, but then switched to Galina. She, in turn, fell madly in love with him. They got married. Galina changed her last name and left the theatre to go to the Arctic, to the Kola Peninsula, together with her husband. In 1941, Galina Makarova gave birth to a child, devoting herself to her family, but the Great Patriotic War broke out. Ivan Makarov went to the front, and Galina moved to her husband's parents in Moscow, together with their small son. The family were waiting for Ivan’s return. Over that time, Galina joined the Vakhtangov Theatre troupe. In 1944, Ivan Makarov returned home, but he was accompanied by a field wife who became dearer to him than Galina. After learning that the Kupala Theatre troupe was returning to liberated Minsk from evacuation, Galina left for her homeland.
The path was not easy: she played minor parts for ten years, and all her roles were not significant actually. At the same time, while working at the Kupala Theatre, Galina got acquainted with actor Pavel Pekur who later became her second husband.
It seemed natural for Galina to be grateful for small things, and she performed even the smallest part in a way that other actresses had never thought of.
That continued until the Excuse Me, Please! performance based on Andrei Makaenok’s play was staged. The playwright was impressed by Galina Makarova's talent and wrote a text for her personally. When Andrei brought his Lyavonikha Goes into Orbit to the Kupala Theatre, the director proposed different actresses for the main female role (there were primes who wanted to perform in a new promising show). However, the playwright was decisive: either his Lushka will be performed by Makarova, or he will give the play to another theatre. That’s how the first great theatrical success came, and it was immediately followed by film directors’ invitations. The actress began playing bit parts in 1958.
Galina Makarova's great fame came late: in 1976, director Sergei Mikaelian shot his Widows about two elderly villagers who lost all their loved ones during the war years and who reverently tended the grave of unknown soldiers.
One of the widows was played by Galina Skorobogatova, the other – by Galina Makarova. Both actresses were completely unknown to most cinema lovers, but they played vividly and sincerely.
At the same time, Galina Makarova starred with Mikhail Ptashuk who had completed his Time Chose Us film saga by 1978. She was almost 60 years old when the all-USSR fame captured her. The actress became a People's Artiste of the BSSR in 1967 for her theatrical achievements, and her sudden popularity in cinema brought her the title of People's Artiste of the Soviet Union in 1980. Actually, Galina did not flaunt her new status: it simply provided her with greater opportunities to help people. The actress was all the time taking care of others: she could, for example, buy food and clothes for someone's children, or give a shelter to a stranger. Galina Makarova's favourite place to relax was her village house: she gardened and planted flowers there. The woman’s worries revolved around her family, she was indifferent to possessions and outfits, preferring simplicity in everything.
The actress was popular among cinema directors, who virtually fought for her starring. Among them were Igor Dobrolyubov, Vyacheslav Nikiforov, Aleksandr Yefremov, Leonid Menaker, Yevgeny Gerasimov, and others.
The films featuring Galina Makarova list famous Belye Rosy; Don’t Get Married, Ladies; Autumn Dreams based on Aleksei Dudarev’s Evening play (where she incredibly sincerely played the part of Ganna); and White Clothes by Leonid Belozorovich (her Praskovya there in the early 1990s became one of the last roles).
There is a memorial plaque on Victory Square in Minsk, on the house where Galina Makarova lived for many years. In 2009, a postage stamp was issued in honour of her anniversary. All those who remember this wonderful woman speak of her kindness and light that was enough for everyone who happened to be close to her – and for the vast Soviet Union as well.
Galina Makarova has remained in the memory of contemporaries and descendants, in the history of cinematography as an example of a real Belarusian woman who went through grief, fire and trouble, but did not become embittered or broken, did not lose a grain of her boundless spiritual wealth.
