Lidiya Shtykan

Lidiya Shtykan was a Russian actress known for her stage performances with the ensemble of Pushkin Drama Theatre in Leningrad (St. Petersburg), Russia. She was born Lidiya Petrovna Shtykan on 26 June 1922, in St. Petersburg, Russia. Since her childhood she was fond of movies and fashioned herself being an actress. At age 18, she became a student of acting school in Leningrad, but her studies were interrupted by the siege of Leningrad during the Second World War. Lidiya Shtykan served as a nurse providing treatment to soldiers who were fighting in the front-lines against the invading Nazi armies. After the war, she returned to college and continued her studies. In 1948, she graduated from the Institute of Theatre, Music, and Cinematography in Leningrad (St. Petersburg). From 1948 to1982 Lidiya Shtykan was a permanent member with the company of Pushkin Drama Theatre in St. Petersburg (Leningrad). Lidiya Shtykan was among the leading actors of the Pushkin Drama Theatre. There her stage partners were such remarkable actors as Yekaterina Korchagina-Aleksandrovskaya, Nikolay Cherkasov, Vasiliy Merkurev, Konstantin Skorobogatov, Yuriy Tolubeev, Aleksandr Borisov, Bruno Frejndlikh, Vladimir Chestnokov, Vladimir Erenberg, Leonid Vivyen, Igor Gorbachyov, Olga Lebzak, Nina Mamaeva, Nikolai Simonov, Nina Urgant, Lyudmila Chursina and other notable Russian actors. Lidiya Shtykan made her film debut in 1944 in Leningrad appearing in a supporting roles in two films: Morskoy batalion (1946) by director Aleksandr Faintsimmer and in Zhila-byla devochka (1944) by director Viktor Eisymont. Lidiya Shtykan was a remarkable stage actress best remembered for her appearances as Olivia in the Shakespeare's play "The Twelfth Night" and as Marina Mnishek in Alexander Pushkin's "Boris Godunov" staged at the Pushkin Drama Theatre in St. Petersburg (Leningrad). Her other notable stage appearance included as Luisa Miller in the F. Shiller's "Intrigue and Love" and as Madamoiselle Blanche De Cominges in "The Gambler" by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Lidiya Shtykan was designated People's Artist of Russia (1968). She was married to notable Russian actor, Nikolay Boyarskiy and the couple had two children. She died of a heart failure, on 11 June 1982, and was laid to rest in Komarovo cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia.