01.08.1916 – 21.09.2014

Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.

G.L. Konovalova graduated from the B.V. Schukin Drama school at the E. Vakhtangov theatre, having studied under the guidance of V.K. Lvova.

She joined the E. Vakhtangov theatre company in 1938.

During the war she, together with the other actors of the theatre, was evacuated to Omsk where the company performed on the stage of the Omsk academic drama theatre. Together with the theatre she returned to Moscow in June, 1945.

Till the last days of her life Galina Konovalova continued to appear on the stage of her home theatre, working fruitfully.

Since 1982 she held the post of the E. Vakhtangov theatre company.

The actress had more than fifty parts acted in the plays staged in different years. Thanks to Rimas Tuminas, the last years of her creative life were filled with a special meaning, showing Konovalova as an actress of rare emotionality, poignant expression and form. Her roles in “Uncle Vanya”, “Landing stage”, “Evgeny Onegin”, “Commonplace” were highly appreciated by the press and spectators alike. At the ebb of her life she was to experience a spring of creativity.

G.L. Konovalova wrote a “Stage legend” column in the “Teatral” (Theatre-goer) magazine, took part in many TV and radio projects devoted to the past and present of the theatre.

G.L. Konovalova is the author of the books “It was just recently, it was so long ago …” and “Vakhtangov legends”.

Her books bring to life the pictures of the past: the old Arbat, theatre life in evacuation, Vakhtangov holidays, and, even more important, the unique atmosphere of the theatre, its secret not known to anybody, its gods and goddesses being Ruben Simonov, Cecilia Mansurova, Boris Schukin, Boris Zahava and many others.

In his preface to the books Vitaly Woolf wrote:

“This is probably the first time the actress who has lived in the theatre for many decades makes a gift of a sincere and genuine atmosphere of the famous theatre to her readers. She says not a word about herself. Only about other people and the Time which testifies to the high morals of G.L. Konovalova unexpectedly unveiled as a talented writer”.