Elena Maksimova

Biography

Elena Alexandrovna Maksimova (23.11.1905—23.09.1986) was born in Moscow to a grocer father (he sold non-perishable goods) and a housewife mother, who was often ill. Apart from her, there were two other daughters in the family. Following her father's death in 1920, her mother was forced by poverty to send all three daughters to Orphanage No. 55, located in the Sokolniki district. Shortly after, in 1922, her mother also passed. Thus, at the age of 17, she was left completely orphaned. From an early age, Elena Maximova had dreamed of becoming an actress. When she finished schooling in 1925, she immediately went to the film studio attached to ‘Moskprofobor’ (Москпрофобр) to sit her entrance exams. There was only one free place available, and it went to Elena – as the most talented of all the applicants. From 1925 to 1927, she trained under the guidance of renowned film masters Vladimir Gardin and Konstantin Eggert. Alongside her studies at the film studio, Elena Maksimova had to work as a press operator at a button factory. She worked in film since 1927, appearing in productions by various film studios in Moscow and Leningrad. Between 1940 and 1964, she was an actress at the Soyuzdetfilm studio (now the Gorky Film Studio). Honoured Artist of the RSFSR (30 September 1958). The characters she portrayed were distinguished by their realism and attention to everyday detail. Her heroines were most often active, energetic and impetuous, yet she was equally at home with gentle, lyrical roles. She served Soviet cinema for nearly fifty years, and her work was modest and selfless — rarely in supporting roles, but more often in small cameos.

Known For

Yeralash

Investigation Held by ZnaToKi

Russia Is Young

Conscience

Quiet Flows the Don

Admiral Ushakov

Aerograd

Father of a Soldier

All Movies (84)

• A Small Favor1984
• Streak of Luck1983
• To My People!1983
• Assol1983
• The Secret Agent's Return1982 · as Utkin's neighbour
• The Secret of the Notebook1981 · as Glafira Petrovna
• Carnival1981 · as visitor of the pawnshop
• Rebirth1981 · as домработница Дарья Алексеевна
• We'll Be Waiting, Come Back1981 · as babushka
• Shot In The Back1980 · as Вера Николаевна
• The Soldier and the Elephant1978
• Without Father1977 · as Glafira
• This Disturbing Winter1976
• Storm on the Land1976
• The Last Meeting1974 · as Drenched Passerby
• Conscience1974
• Birds Over the City1974
• Fulfillment of Desires1974
• Duration of the Day1974
• The Red Snowball Tree1974
• This Merry Planet1973 · as мать Прошки
• The Sky Behind the Clouds1973
• Right to Jump1973
• Alkin songs1973 · as бабка Анфиса
• Declaration of Love to G.T.1971 · as Old Woman
• New Year's Abduction1970 · as Maksimova
• Time to Live1969
• Ivan Makarovich1968
• The Gypsy1967 · as Lushchilikha
• Such a Big Boy1967 · as Filippovna
• Afterlight1966
• Someone Else's Name1966 · as Babushka
• The Conscience1966 · as Елена Евгеньевна
• The Stars of the Day1966
• Они не пройдут1965 · as The passenger of the tram
• Beloved1965 · as Нина Петровна
• Sorcerer Island1965 · as Marya Stepanovna
• Black Business1965 · as Aunt Masha
• Father of a Soldier1965 · as Borya's grandma
• Early in the Morning1965 · as мать Жени Горохова
• Null kolm1965
• The Green House1964 · as Marfa Nikolayevna
• Summer is Short in the Mountains1964 · as Praskovya Savvishna
• Meeting at the Crossing1964 · as woman in boat
• The Judgment1962 · as woman at a court hearing (uncredited)
• No Fear, No Blame1962 · as janitor
• Yevdokiya1961 · as Maryushka
• In Transit1961
• Miraculous One1960
• The Song of Koltsov1959 · as Aleksey Koltsov's mother
• The Sun Shines to Everyone1959 · as Pelageya Ivanovna
• In the Silence of Steppe1959 · as Anfisa
• Strict Woman1959
• A Home for Tanya1959 · as Makarikha
• King of Diamonds1959
• The Volunteers1958 · as owner of the hut (uncredited)
• Rains1958
• "Чудотворец" из Бирюлёва1958 · as Манефа
• Quiet Flows the Don1957 · as Кошевая
• The Tight Knot1957 · as Sasha's mother
• Height1957 · as Berestova
• Polyushko, pole1957
• Other People's Relatives1956 · as Varvara Stepanovna
• Two Captains1955 · as aunt Dasha
• The Grasshopper1955 · as krestyanka iz Glukhova
• The Frigid Sea1954 · as Дергачиха
• Admiral Ushakov1953 · as Wife of doctor Yermolaev (uncredited)
• The Country Doctor1952
• First-Year Student1948 · as Woman with flowers
• The Old Courtyard1941 · as жиличка
• Личное дело1940 · as Vitya Surikov's mother
• Stepan Razin1939 · as Woman in the crowd (uncredited)
• Pugachev1937
• Aerograd1935 · as Mariia Kudina
• Men and Jobs1932 · as Worker woman (uncredited)
• A Personal Affair1932
• Killing to Live1931
• And Quiet Flows the Don1931 · as Daria Melekhova
• Earth1930 · as Natalia, Vasyl's bride
• Ranks and People1929 · as Modest's servant - Anna na shee
• The Other Woman1929 · as Provincial lady
• The Last Attraction1929 · as Polly
• A Bright City1928 · as Marusenka
• The Peasant Women of Ryazan1927 · as Lukerya

All TV Shows (4)

• Russia Is Young1984 · as старуха
• Conscience1974 · as санитарка
• Yeralash1974
• Investigation Held by ZnaToKi1971 · as Прасковья Андреевна