Faina Shevchenko

Born Apr. 5 (17), 1893, in Voronezh; died there May 10, 1971. Soviet Russian actress. People’s Artist of the USSR (1948).

In 1909, Shevchenko began her association with the Moscow Art Theater. She studied at the theater’s school beginning in 1911 and joined the company in 1914. A talented character actress, she made generous use of the speech and mannerisms encountered in everyday life. She was known for her rich voice, expressive gestures, and satirical wit. Her roles included Vaska in Leonov’s Untilovsk, Marceline in Beaumarchais’s The Marriage of Figaro, Dun’ka in Trenev’s Liubov’ Iarovaia, Matrena, Kabanikha, and Glafira Firsovna in A. N. Ostrovskii’s Fiery Heart, The Thunderstorm, and The Ultimate Sacrifice, Vasilisa in Gorky’s The Lower Depths, Melan’ia in Gorky’s Egor Bulychov and the Others, and Tabun-Turkovskaia in Leonov’s The Golden Carriage.

Shevchenko received the State Prize of the USSR in 1943 and 1946. She was awarded the Order of Lenin, two other orders, and several medals.