Distinguished Artist of Russia, Laureate of the State Award of Russia

Natalya Panina came to the Russian State Pushkin Drama Theater in 1992, right after graduation from the Shchepkin Theater College. The debut role of Olga in Mark Rozovsky’s “Romances with Oblomov” gave the young actress a chance to proclaim herself as a bright and creative individuality. Her next role of Mirandolina in Carlo Goldoni’s “Mistress of the Inn” (director Vladimir Vorobiev, 1992) became a true benefice. Panina’s Mirandolina appeared in the performance a daring and crafty girl, easily and imaginatively playing up her luckless guests – admirers. Her young heroine was casting challenge to the world of grown-ups with its abundance of falseness, selfishness and unfairness. After Mirandolina, critics had been mostly attributing Natalya Panina as a “character actress” with bright temperament and open and catchy manner of playing. Nevertheless, her roles of the last years and, in particular, the role of Yulia in the performance “P.S. of Chapel-Master Johannes Kreisler, its Author and Their Beloved Yulia” (1998) after E.T.A. Hoffman and V.A. Mozart revealed another side of the actress’s talent and proved that she is at ease with various scenic genres varying from the most tender lyrics to a grotesque buffoonery. In the performance “P.S….,” the role of Yulia, the chapel-master’s sweetheart, absorbs a whole range of unlike female images, and the actress builds up the most complicated score of the role with her usual intrinsic grace. In 2000, the actress was honored with the State Award of Russia for her role in the performance «P.S.»  

Natalya Panina played more than 20 roles on the Alexandrinsky Stage. Among her heroines were Olga (“Romances with Oblomov,” director Mark Rozovsky, 1992), Bianka in W. Shakespeare’s tragedy “Othello” (director Rostislav Goryayev, 1993), Lady Mary in the “Elizabeth of England” by F. Bruckner (director Svetlana Milyayeva, 1994), Masha in A. Chekhov’s “Three Sisters” (director Rostislav Goryayev 1996), Anitra (“Per Gyunt” by G. Ibsen, 1997), Yulia in the well known Grigory Kozlov’s performance “P. S.,” Liza Sinichkina in the “Pair of Chestnuts” (director Alexander Belinsky, 2000), Varya (“The Cherry Orchard” by A. Chekhov, director Roman Smirnov, 2001), Nina (“The Cap with the Jingle Bells” by L. Pirandello, director Vladimir Vorobiev, 2001), Becky Sharp in the “Vanity Fair” by w. Thakeray (director Alexander Belinsky, 2002), Dona Anna and Mary (“The Little Tragedies,” director Grigory Kozlov), Jane Worthington in R. Kuni’s comedy “The Thirteenth Number” (director Vladimir Golub, 2005), as well as Nina and Baroness Schtral in the “Unknown” (Marina Gavrilova’s performance after M. Lermontov’s “Masquerade,” 2004).   

Natalya Panina is welcome at many other creative companies. In the 1997/98 season, Panina played the role of Joe in a non-repertory performance “The Taste of Honey” by S. Dileni (director Yelena Chernaya). At the Russian Non-Repetory Theater Natalya Panina played the principal role in B. Lavrenev’s performance “The Forty First;” she is also engaged in two musicals there: “From the Notes of a Mad Entrepreneur” and “Oh, These Poor Men!” The actress performs concert programs of Russian romance songs. Her artistry, dramatic charm, and brilliant vocal professionalism made it possible for her to win the first place at the St. Petersburg Andrey Mironov Competition of Actor’s Songs.

In 2006, Natalya Panina was honored with the prestigious title of Distinguished Artist of Russia (Verdict of the President of Russian Federation № 392 as of April 17, 2006).

Presently, the actress’s repertoire includes the role of Agafiya Tikhonovna in Valery Fokin’s performance The Marriage by N. Gogol (2008) and Olga, the ex-beloved of the main character in the performance Izotov by M. Durnenkov (Director Andrey Moguchy, 2009).