Vera Andzhaparidze

(also Veriko I. Ivlianovna). Born Sept. 23 (Oct. 6), 1900, in Kutaisi. Soviet Georgian actress, People’s Artist of the USSR (1950). Studied at the drama studios of S. V. Aidarov in Moscow and G. Dzhabadari in Tbilisi.

From 1920 to 1927, Andzhaparidze worked at the Rustaveli Georgian Theater in Tbilisi, and in 1928 she became an actress at the Mardzhanishvili Georgian Theater there. She is an actress of brilliant creative individuality and considerable artistic culture; her performances further the romantic traditions of the Georgian theater. Her best roles have been Ginatre (Guriia Ninoshvili by Dadiani), Dzha-vara (The Exile by Vazha Pshavela), Iudif (Uriel’ Akosta by Gutskov), Cleopatra (Antony and Cleopatra by Shakespeare), Marguerite Gautier (Camille by Dumas fils), Mary Stuart (the play of the same name by Schiller), Grandmother (Trees Die Standing Up by Casona), and Mother (Mother by čapek). She first appeared in films in 1923—for example, she played Rusudan in Georgii Saakadze and Otar’s Widow in the film of the same name. She received the State Prize of the USSR on three occasions—1943, 1946, and 1952—and has been awarded the Order of Lenin, three other orders, and medals.