National Artist (People’s Artist) of the Russian Federation

Laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation

Irina Kupchenko studied at the Faculty for Foreign Languages of Kiev University during 1965 — 1966 after graduating from school.

After that she studied at Boris Shchukin Theatre Institute at Boris Zakhava and Marianna Ter-Zakharova course. She graduated from the Theatre Institute in 1970 and joined the Vakhtangov State Academic Theatre of Russia the same year.

Nowadays Irina Kupchenko is one of the leading and most significant actresses of the Vakhtangov Theatre where she has been working for more than 40 years.

Some of her parts performed during her outstanding career by now:

Lady Anne (“Richard III”), Octavia (“Antony and Cleopatra”), Aglaya (“The Youth of the Theatre”), Dolly Oblonskaya (“Anna Karenina”), Inessa Armand (“Peace Treaty of Brest”), Donna Anna (“The Stone Guest”), Roxane (“Cyrano de Bergerac”), Mother (“The Last Moons”), Filumena Marturano (“The Haven”), Tatyana’s Dream (“Eugene Onegin”).

In 1969 Irina Kupchenko first appeared in a movie — “Home of the Gentry” by Andron Konchalovsky (as Lisa Kalitina). Soon after that Irina was invited to another project by Konchalovsky — “Uncle Vania”, part of Sonya.

Irina Kupchenko usually performs an excellent drama talent and psychologically complicated acting. It’s absolutely proved by such movies as “Romance about Lovers”, “Someone’s messages”, “Weird Lady”, “A Lonely Woman Wishes to Get Acquainted”, “Bless the Woman”, “The Captivating Star of Happiness”, “An Ordinary Miracle”, “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. The Hound of the Baskervilles”, “Come Look at Me”, “The Malicious Teacher” and many others.

Irina Kuphenko was starring in the movies of lots of genres: historical drama, melodrama, adventure and fantasy. She magnificently performed in the projects of such celebrity directors as Eldar Ryazanov, Mark Zakharov, Stanislaw Goworuchin, Vladimir Motyl, Igor Maslennikov.

Irina Kupchenko is a laureate of lost of awards and prizes. Amongst them are:

the Order of Honour of the Russian Federation;
Lenin Komsomol Prize (for performing contemporaries in films and exceptional acting);
Best Actress in the film “A Lonely Woman Wishes to Get Acquainted” at The Montreal World Film Festival, Canada;
“Nika” Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in the film “Another life” (the main annual national film award in Russia);
Best Actress in the film “Homo Novus” at the International Film Festival in Portugal
“Golden Eagle” award — the Best Supporting Actress in the film “Hoax” (an award by the National Academy of Motion Pictures of Russia);
The Russian National Actor Andrey Mironov Award “Figaro”
The First Prize for Art, Honour and Virtue of the “Window to Europe” Russian National Movie Festival (for the film “The Malicious Teacher”).