Tarasova, Alla

Born Jan. 25 (Feb. 6), 1898, in Kiev; died Apr. 5, 1973, in Moscow. Russian actress. People’s Artist of the USSR (1937) and Hero of Socialist Labor (1973). Member of the CPSU from 1954.

Tarasova made her debut on the stage in 1916 and joined the troupe of the Moscow Art Theater in 1924. A student of K. S. Stanislavsky and VI. I. Nemirovich-Danchenko, she strove not only for artistic and social truth, but also for faithfulness to life. The heroines whom she portrayed possessed charm, sensitivity, and genuine spiritual beauty. Tarasova excelled in Chekhov’s plays—as Ania in The Cherry Orchard, as Sonia and Elena Andreevna in Uncle Vanya, and as Irina and Masha in The Three Sisters. She gave first-rate performances in A. N. Ostrovskii’s Talents and Admirers (as Negina), The Ultimate Sacrifice (as Tugina), and Guilty Though Guiltless (as Kruchinina). As Tat’iana in Enemies and Varvara in The Summer People, both by Gorky, she was likewise superb. She played the title role in Anna Karenina, based on Tolstoy’s novel, with great success. Taraso-va’s best roles in the Soviet repertoire were Elena in Bulgakov’s Days of the Turbins, Topilina in Sofronov’s The Heart Does Not Forgive, and Sofia Ivanovna in Lavrent’ev’s Honor Thy Father. Her screen roles included Katerina in The Thunderstorm (1934) and Ekaterina in Peter I (1937–39).

Tarasova was a deputy to the third through fifth convocations of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. She received the State Prize of the USSR once in 1941, twice in 1946, once in 1947, and once again in 1949. She was awarded two Orders of Lenin, the Order of the October Revolution, two other orders, and various medals.