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Catastrophe during a performance, coupled with disability and terminal illness: the high cost of stardom for Soviet actress Lyudmila Ivanova

Actress Ludmila Ivanova faced both professional and personal hardship, yet managed to regain her footing on the stage, bringing joy to her audience.

Stage disaster: Fame and Cost of Soviet Actress Ludmila Ivanova, Accompanied by Disability and...
Stage disaster: Fame and Cost of Soviet Actress Ludmila Ivanova, Accompanied by Disability and Fatal Illness

Catastrophe during a performance, coupled with disability and terminal illness: the high cost of stardom for Soviet actress Lyudmila Ivanova

Lyudmila Ivanova, a renowned Soviet and Russian actress and singer, passed away on October 7, 2016. Her career spanned decades, with a prominent presence in film and theater. However, her life was not without its share of personal and professional hardships.

Born in 1933, Ivanova made her mark on the stage and screen, often portraying lively aunts and other vibrant characters. Her performances were marked by a deep understanding of her characters, as she felt they laid bare the essence of life.

Tragedy struck Ivanova twice on stage, resulting in injuries that were serious enough to require hospitalisation. Once, she suffered broken ribs, and in the late 1990s, she underwent an expensive operation to replace a joint with an artificial one. Despite these setbacks, Ivanova returned to the stage, refusing to let down her colleagues and the audience.

In the late 1990s, Ivanova was also diagnosed with osteomyelitis, an infection that entered her bone, and she battled this illness for the last five years of her life.

Ivanova's personal life was also marked by tragedy. In 2010, her eldest son, Alexander, died suddenly from complications due to a severe flu. A year later, her husband, Valery Miliaev, also passed away due to complications from the flu.

Ivanova's resilience was evident in her ability to recover from these tragedies and continue her career. She is perhaps best known for her role as Shurochka in the film "Office Romance" (1977, dir. Eldar Ryazanov). Despite being offered a low salary for the role, Ivanova took it based on her husband's advice.

Ivanova was a refined and intelligent woman, passionately loving the stage. Off-stage, she was an engaging conversationalist who enjoyed helping people. Galina Volchek, a fellow actress, helped Ivanova secure a free joint implant in the Kremlin Hospital.

While there is limited public information about Ivanova's personal life hardships, it is clear that she faced numerous challenges with grace and determination. Her legacy as a resilient and talented actress and singer lives on.

  1. Despite her career being punctuated by medical-conditions such as osteomyelitis and undergoing surgeries for chronic-diseases like a joint replacement, Lyudmila Ivanova persevered and returned to the stage, showcasing her resilience and dedication to her craft.
  2. Beyond her captivating performances in entertainment, Ivanova was also known for her interest in health-and-wellness, with Galina Volchek, a fellow actress, helping her secure a free joint implant in the Kremlin Hospital.
  3. Although personal hardships, including the loss of her eldest son and husband due to complications from the flu, were a part of her life, Ivanova's unyielding spirit allowed her to continue her illustrious career in film and theater, leaving a lasting impact on science, arts, and the people around her.

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