Actress

Alexandra Bolshakova was invited to the Alexandrinsky Theater in 2007, right away after her graduation from the St. Petersburg State Academy of Theater Arts (G. Dityatkovsky’s class). Here roles in the diploma performances included Zhenya (The Pit, A. Kuprin, Director G. Dityatkovsky) and Maire (Translations, B. Friel, Director G. Dityatkovsky).

Alexandra Bolshakova’s first role at the Alexandrinsky Theater was the role of Charley’s Sister in the performance Flowers for Charley after D. Keyes’s novel Flowers for Algernon (Director Iskander Sakayev, 2007). The young actress’s debut was immediately marked by critics:  “The student of Grigory Dityatkovsky is deftly managing with two polar roles of a saucy bohemian hooligan and a misfortunate dried-out old maid” (B. Pronin. Flowers for Charley //Afisha. November 19 – December 2, 2007).

Her first major work was the role of Leokadia Begbik in the performance Man Equals Man by Berthold Brecht (Director Yury Butusov, 2008). Critics, who gave the performance very divergent evaluation, were unanimous in their opinions on the young actress’s playing.   

“The new debutant Alexandra Bolshakova was perfect in the role of a camp follower and owner of a soldier tavern widow Begbik.  The young actress is easily transforming herself from and old woman into a tropical seductress; she is playing some sort of an eastern ‘werewolf fox’ ” (L. Shitenburg. Identification of a stevedore // Gorod-812. №5. September29, 2008. P.39.).

"Alexandra Bolshakova is an apparent and astonishing talent. At her virtual debut she is playing powerfully and confidently; one can only be at a loss in amazement” (M. Zaionts.  Not what it seems like// Itogi.  September22, 2008.  P.86 - 87.)  “The world has lost the difference between the evil and good,” – says widow Begbik, the owner of a soldier tavern, whom Alexandra Bolshakova played in such a way that this role allows to see in her a future Alice Friendlikh due to mastership with which she is maneuvering between the masks of a feeble nymphomaniac old woman and a dissolute whore of the regiment” (K. Pavlyuchenko.  The Humanity Has Got an Unsatisfactory Diagnosis//Nevskoye Vremya. №165 (4197). September 17, 2008)

“It looks like only Alexandra Bolshakova (widow Begbik ) succeeded in Brecht’s “withdrawal;” without any changes in her pale mask-like make-up, she easily transformed into a decrepit Megaera or a young seduce.” (T. Dzhurova. With no Face//Kommersant. №165.Sep 15, 2008).

Presently, the actress’s repertoire also includes the roles of: Masha (The Living Corps by L. Tolstoy, Director Valery Fokin, 2008); Iocasta (Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, Director Theodoros Terzopoulos, 2008); Katya (Ksenia. The History of Love by V. Levanov, 2009).

In 2009, she was honored with an independent actor award – the Vladislav Strzhelchik Prize for the best debut (the role of Leokadia Begbik in the performance Man Equals Man by Berthold Brecht (Dir. Yu. Butusov).