Olga Volkova

Olga Vladimirovna Volkova was born on April 15, 1939, in Leningrad, USSR (now St. Petersburg, Russia). Her grandfather was a legendary Russian actor Ivan Volsky. Young Olga Volkova was introduced to theatre by Alisa Freyndlikh, who brought Volkova to Mariya Prizvan-Sokolova's Acting Studio in Leningrad.

From 1957-1970 she was a permanent member of the Theatre for Young Audience in Leningrad under directorship of Zinovi Korogodsky. There her stage partners were such actors as Antonina Shuranova and Aleksandr Khochinsky among others.

In 1965 Volkova made her film debut and soon she became known as an actress with a special talent for playing sharp characters on stage and in film. She played in more than 50 Russian films. Her best known film-works were made in collaboration with director Eldar Ryazanov.

Has two children - a daughter Ekaterina Volkova with her ex-husband Leonid Volkov and a son Ivan Volkov (b. August 14, 1974) with her ex-boyfriend Nikolay Volkov.

From 1976-1996 Volkova was a permanent member of the legendary troupe of Bolshoi Drama Theatre (BDT) in St. Petersburg (Leningrad). Volkova was invited by director Georgi Tovstonogov and made a successful stage career at the BDT. There her stage partners were such stars as Alisa Freyndlikh, Kirill Lavrov, Oleg Basilashvili, Svetlana Kryuchkova, Vsevolod Kuznetsov, Gennadiy Bogachyov, Andrey Tolubeev, and many other remarkable Russian actors. Olga Volkova has been known for her stellar performances in such plays as 'Pickwick Club' by Charles Dickens and 'Na Dne' (The Lower Depths) by Maxim Gorky on stage of the BDT in St. Petersburg.

Volkova was designated the title of People's Artist of Russia (1993).

In 1996 she moved from St. Petersburg to Moscow to join the family of her son, actor Ivan Volkov and daughter-in-law, actress Chulpan Khamatova.

Has four grandchildren through her son Ivan Volkov: Arina (b. 2002), Asya (b. 2003), Georgiy and Aleksandra.