Oleg Menshikov: personal life, family, children. The marriage of Oleg and Nastya Menshikov was undermined by an invisible friend Nikita About a difficult fate

There have always been plenty of rumors surrounding the personal life of Oleg MENSHIKOV. After all, the highest paid actor in Russia never speaks publicly on this topic. The mysterious wedding of Oleg Evgenievich with an unknown 22-year-old GITIS student Nastya CHERNOVA added fuel to the fire. When there is no reliable first-hand information, people settle for unverified rumors. And now the acting community is agitated by scandalous gossip about the relationship between Menshikov and Chernova.

Natalya TSYGANOVA,

photo by Paata ARCHVADZE and

Larisa KUDRYAVTSEVA

It’s strange that the artist tried by any means to hide the fact of his marriage. Even wedding rings bought through dummies. When the newspaper men finally found out about the wedding, Oleg Evgenievich, they say, was terribly upset - he fell into depression and began to drink alcohol. And the topic of the “strange” sexual orientation of the venerable actor came to light again.

Ladies' man

Similar rumors appeared when Oleg was still a student at the Theater School. Shchepkina. There was talk, for example, about Menshikov’s close relationship with teacher Nikolai Vereshchenko. Allegedly, it was the professor who was the first to clearly explain to the aspiring actor that any love has the right to exist. But it is quite likely that this story invented by envious classmates, since Oleg was considered one of the strongest students of the course.

I don’t know where this gossip came from,” the former told us close friend Menshikov actor Andrei Galushko. - After all, at school Oleg had an affair with our classmate, the beautiful Vika Sorokina. They dated for about two years. But then Vika went to England and got married there. After many years, they met in London, where Oleg went on tour. And Vika asked: “Tell me just one word, “stay,” and I’ll give up everything for you, I’ll go with you.” But Oleg didn’t say. Then he already had another love - Margarita Shubina, actress of the Theater. Mossovet.

Menshikov’s romance is remembered in acting circles as the longest and brightest in his life. Their close relationship lasted several years. It was getting close to the wedding, when suddenly the lovers parted unexpectedly for everyone. What caused the breakup is unknown, but both actors experienced it painfully.

In general, Oleg always had a lot of fans,” recalls Andrei Galushko. - And novels too. Women simply adore him! And not only thanks to his impressive appearance and talent. Oleg is a very kind and sincere person. For example, he gave money free of charge to many friends who found themselves in difficult financial situations.

Comrade Berezovsky

The films “Kinfolk” and “Pokrovsky Gate”, in which Oleg starred while still a student, immediately made him famous. Many directors expressed a desire to work with Menshikov. But Nikita Mikhalkov was most sympathetic to him, who even sometimes helped him financially. For example, when the artist set out to purchase a dacha in the VIP zone of Ilyinsky near Moscow (Oleg Evgenievich’s parents now live there), Mikhalkov, according to Andrei Galushko, immediately added $40,000 to his young friend, which was not enough for him to fully register the “hacienda” as his property. In acting circles, marginal elements immediately began to wink obscenely: they say, such generosity is not accidental.

By the way, Menshikov received financial assistance not only from Nikita Sergeevich.

In 1994, the film “Burnt by the Sun” was released, where Oleg played one of the main roles. As EG journalists found out, the actor’s performance made a strong impression on oligarch Boris Berezovsky. Having found out that Menshikov, together with his friend Valery Chekhlyaev, were going to open their own enterprise called “Theatrical Partnership 814,” Boris Abramovich offered sponsorship to his favorite actor.

According to former employees“TT814”, just one production of “Woe from Wit” cost BAB $700 thousand. But “TT814” itself turned out to be quite a profitable enterprise: people, having learned that the director of the performances was Oleg Evgenievich, organized a real stampede near the box office. Although the cost of tickets did not fall below $100.

The earnings of everyone who worked in the partnership were very good,” a former employee of “TT814”, who asked us not to give her name, shared with EG journalists. - Of course, Valera Chekhlyaev, Oleg himself and his second director Galina Dubovskaya received the most. But then everything gradually began to fall apart. Valera Chekhlyaev, a passionate gambler, began to lose the partnership's money. Subsequently, he completely ran away with a huge amount, and, in my opinion, the police are still looking for him. Berezovsky left Russia. And Menshikov began to earn such huge fees for starring in films that the theater lost all relevance for him. Still would! For the role of Ostap Bender in the film “The Golden Calf” he received $8 thousand for one shooting day. And while working on the film Doctor Zhivago, his fee was $10 thousand. One hundred shooting days provided Oleg Evgenievich with an income of $1 million!

For Galina Valerievna, Oleg’s departure from the theater was a real blow. After all, it is impossible to earn even a quarter of what they earned with Menshikov at performances staged by her alone.

Two rings

After breaking up with Margarita Shubina, Menshikov practically stopped appearing at social parties accompanied by women. During all this time, the actor was only once credited with having an affair with circus gymnast Lyudmila Kolesnikova. But the entire capital’s theater crowd discussed Oleg’s close relationship with actor Andrei Rudensky. And then, on the set of “The Barber of Siberia,” Oleg Evgenievich met the young artist Nikita Tatarenkov, who as a result left the Theater on Malaya Bronnaya and got a job at “TT814,” where he invariably received good roles. This again gave rise to a lot of gossip. According to some colleagues, Oleg Menshikov’s weakness for Nikita Tatarenkov has not gone away to this day. Allegedly, it is no coincidence that Oleg wears two wedding rings: one, as befits a married man, the other in memory of a dear friend.

It was precisely this weakness of Menshikov towards Nikita that Galina Dubovskaya took advantage of to protect her interests, a former TT814 employee explained to us. - Oleg Evgenievich was asked: either you continue to indicate your name as a director in the posters, or otherwise all the capital’s media will know about your connection with Nikita. Another condition was Menshikov’s marriage to Galina Valerievna’s favorite student (Dubovskaya teaches at GITIS. - N.Ts.) Nastya Chernova. Like, if something goes wrong, Nastya will provoke a scandal on a “blue” topic. By the way, there are rumors that Menshikov proposed over the phone, without yet knowing the girl personally. And only after that they started dating.

By official version, Nastya was allegedly introduced to her future husband by friends at a concert by Mikhail Zhvanetsky. According to Nastya, Oleg actually proposed to her over the phone on her birthday, but two and a half years after the first meeting.

Wall of silence

Blackmail is a very serious charge, especially when it comes to such respected people. But it turned out to be impossible to get intelligible comments from people who could clarify the situation. Oleg Menshikov generally refuses to talk to journalists about his marriage. Nastya Chernova is also silent. As for Galina Dubovskaya, she stated:

I will not tell anything about Nastya, or Oleg Menshikov, or, especially, about their marriage. Goodbye.

Oleg’s good friend, Pavel Kaplevich, a famous Moscow theater costume and set designer, without even listening to my question, answered sharply on the phone:

If you are going to communicate with me about Menshikov, then I will not talk to you! I'm not going to get involved in this scandal! Best wishes!

And Nikita Mikhalkov, for example, in response to an innocent question from journalists during a recent press conference: “Has the actor changed since his marriage?” - answered sharply:

His personal life doesn't concern me!

Then he left, refusing to answer other questions.

A GIRL FROM THE NORTH LIKES TO FIGHT

Find out something about your spouse famous actor, in addition to the meager official data, it turned out to be extremely complicated matter. Nastya’s classmates vying with each other to tell what she’s like wonderful person, a talented student (graduated from GITIS with honors) and simply beautiful. However, we managed to find out something additional.

Nastya came to Moscow from the Taimyr village of Talnakh. The girl entered GITIS for a paid faculty course acting. Tuition cost Nastya $1.5 thousand for one semester.

The girl told her friends that her wealthy brother was paying for her. True, the Menshikovs’ neighbors claim: “Chernova’s brother cannot be classified as even a small businessman. Dressed quite cheaply, no car. He looks more like a student than an entrepreneur."

For some time, Nastya lived in the GITIS dormitory. But then she moved to her sister, who lives in Moscow. The girl says that her relatives insisted on her moving. According to our information, Chernova was asked to leave the hostel because of a fight she started. The supposedly easily vulnerable Nastya reacted so painfully to her classmate’s criticism that she attacked her with her fists. The beaten girl even had to seek help from doctors.

Menshikov’s neighbors are sure that the girl has her own home in the capital. “When Oleg goes on tour, Nastya does not live in his apartment,” they claim. “And he returns only when Menshikov appears at home again.”

By the way

Before filming the film “The Barber of Siberia,” Oleg Menshikov had to visit one of the Swiss clinics plastic surgery. There, the Russian actor underwent several rejuvenating procedures so that in appearance he looked at least a little like the 20 years a young cadet should be, and not his 38.

Reference

* Graduated from the Theater School named after. M. S. Shchepkina. In 1981 - 1982 - actor of the Maly Theater, in 1982 - 1985 - of the Central Academic Theater of the Soviet Army, in 1985 - 1989 - of the Theater. M. N. Ermolova.

* After moving to the Theater. Mossovet played main role in the play "Caligula".

The famous English actress Vanessa Redgrave came to one of the performances. After which she offered Menshikov a job in London. For the role of Sergei Yesenin in the play “When She Danced,” the British awarded him the Prize. Laurence Olivier - the theatrical equivalent of the Oscar (1992).

* In 1995, Oleg Menshikov created and headed the “Theatrical Partnership 814”.

TIME IS MONEY

Menshikov signed a contract with the Swiss watch company Longines for several million dollars. Oleg Evgenievich is obliged to wear watches only of this brand, and also to participate in all public events and photo shoots of the company.

Oleg Evgenievich remains faithful to his covenant to keep his personal life behind seven locks, to hide from the audience, wanting to look like a kind of myth, feeling his “chosenness”, his peculiarity. Therefore, we pieced together his complex portrait - from the stories of colleagues, friends, filming partners and the school.

First love

Menshikov’s classmates at a Moscow school told me that Oleg was the most handsome and charming in their class, many girls dreamed of him, cutting off his home phone number, more often remaining silent on the phone. Oleg’s classmate recalls how one day she just dialed his phone number and didn’t have time to say anything, when the mother who answered the phone burst out with a rebuke - she fought against her son’s pursuers as best she could.

At school, Oleg, according to his classmates, had little interest in annoying girls - he preferred male companies, and his closest friend was Vitaly Gorshkov, who was slightly teased for his feminine manners.

Menshikov's classmates at Sliver gossip that one professor was imbued with special attention to his student, trying to influence him.

Menshikov's classmate Andrei Galushko recalls that at the school Oleg fell in love with student Vika Sorokina. Their romance lasted about two years.

“We came to visit Oleg,” says Vitaly Gorshkov. - His house was always full of people - friends, classmates. Oleg played the piano, made everyone laugh, was the life of the party, although he did not let anyone into his soul. I remember that he had a beloved Vika. A pretty girl who looked at him with tenderness. Then she suddenly disappeared from his life.”

They say that Vika, having not realized her creative ambitions in Russia, left Oleg and went to England, where she got married.

Many years later they met in London. Oleg was already a very popular actor, and Vika realized that she had made a mistake. Menshikov told his friends that when they met, their past forgotten feeling seemed to be reborn.

“Tell me just one word, “stay,” and I’ll give up everything for you, I’ll go with you!” - Vika asked. But Oleg could not forgive the betrayal of his beloved.

Failed wedding

Rumor has it that after breaking up with Vika, Oleg could not find a place for himself for a long time. The second girl who melted his heart was the actress of the Mossovet Theater Margarita Shubina.

Margarita was the first to fall in love with handsome actor and did everything to interest him. Menshikov could not resist and even introduced her to his parents. Shubina allegedly even admitted to her friends that she was going to marry Menshikov. She rushed things, but... according to rumors, Oleg was in no hurry to walk down the aisle, after which a breakup followed. Shubina married someone else. And the acting community spent a long time discussing the emotional experiences of both failed spouses.

Companion - circus performer

After breaking up with Shubina, Menshikov stopped appearing at social events accompanied by women. Moreover, he seemed to begin to shy away from beauties. And in his work Nikita Mikhalkov became his friend and mentor.

They say that despite his outward masculinity, Oleg Evgenievich is actually very soft, vulnerable, infantile and indecisive, and it seemed like he needed strong man, which would help him, would become protection. Mikhalkov always treated actors tenderly (at the same time he did not tolerate disobedience and whims), and Menshikov for him was like younger brother, allowing you to “babysit” yourself.

Menshikov is still a full member of Nikita Mikhalkov’s party. Evil tongues even at one time talked about the uneasy friendship of Oleg and Mikhalkov (the latter not only entrusts the main roles in his films to Oleg, but also, it happened, helped him a large sum, when he was building a dacha in Ilyinsky near Moscow). But theatergoers say that Oleg Evgenievich devoted himself entirely to art, leaving no time for the usual human passions. Maybe that’s why the actor is constantly haunted by rumors about his atypical orientation?

On the set of “The Barber of Siberia,” Oleg met young actor Nikita Tatarenkov, for whom he felt such undisguised tenderness that the press started talking about their romance.

Perhaps tired of unpleasant rumors, Menshikov went out with a young girl in 2002. He looked at her rather coldly, but articles appeared in the press that he had finally found the lady of his heart. She turned out to be Lyudmila Kolesnikova, a circus performer. Rumor has it that her task was to dispel the myth about Menshikov’s dislike for women. However, as they say, Kolesnikova understood her role differently and began to lay claim to the artist. According to rumors, she once gave Menshikov a public scandal, being offended that, having taken her to a party, Oleg was carousing with men, not paying attention to her. Allegedly, Menshikov immediately sent the presumptuous girl home and broke up with her.

Another contender for the actor’s favor, Nastya Chernova, behaved much more ingenuously.

The Inconspicuous Wife

“KP” wrote that last year Menshikov secretly married GITIS graduate Nastya Chernova, who came from the distant North.

Modest Nastya is distinguished by her flexible disposition and humble character. She found mutual language with the actor's parents. And he, deciding that it was time for him to start a family, finally went to the registry office.

When I asked Nastya how she could live with such a seemingly unkind husband, she splashed out a “rain” of emotions on me - she assured me that Oleg was not cold at all, but so sweet and very sincere, caring!

Nastya’s friend told us that Oleg dreams of a child, but Nastya is not going to become a mother yet - she first wants to achieve success in her profession. Now she appears at parties and goes out in public. But her principle is not to use her husband’s connections, but to make her way on her own.

Perhaps Menshikov is comfortable and at ease with his young, quiet, non-conflict provincial wife. Together they look very harmonious - even somewhat similar in appearance. Oleg Evgenievich’s parents couldn’t be happier with their family. And only the artist’s close friends and colleagues smile mysteriously in response to our questions about the actor’s young family...

Rumor has it that it is no coincidence that the artist wears two wedding rings - one of them is supposedly in memory of a dear friend.

About a difficult fate

From a TV interview with Oleg Menshikov:

“I recently read an article about myself, the author of which writes: oh, what a wonderful biography Menshikov has... Indeed, everything is beautiful: the young artist managed to play on the stages of five Moscow theaters in a short time. Not bad! And who knows how I, for example, left Ermolovsky? I didn’t change one theater for another, but, in fact, went out onto the street. I didn’t have any real offers at that time; I was deeply in debt, but I couldn’t remain in my previous state. That theater is not specifically Ermolovsky, but precisely that one, you know? - stopped satisfying me. I realized: in a couple of years I can easily give up. And so... He left, and soon ended up in intensive care with ulcerative bleeding, spent a month and a half in the hospital, and only after that Pyotr Fomenko invited me to play Caligula... If I had stayed in Ermolovsky, this offer would not have happened, and everything is in my life could have turned out completely differently.

This is the fate of a successful actor. So much for the story of one comma. I gave one example, and there may be a dozen of them - this is my life...”

Instead of Zhigunov, Menshikov could become a “midshipman”!

Today Menshikov is one of the most sought-after actors. Now he is filming with his teacher Nikita Mikhalkov in the sequel “Burnt by the Sun-2”. Channel One is preparing to show two films - “Doctor Zhivago” and “The Golden Calf” starring Oleg Evgenievich. But there were roles in which Menshikov was unable to play.

I tried Menshikov twice for my films,” director Svetlana Druzhinina told KP. - At first, I madly wanted to approve him for the role of midshipman. But when Yuri Moroz dropped out of the audition and Kharatyan appeared instead, the acting ensemble changed, into which Menshikov did not fit. Zhigunov was approved for his role. But later, as a sign of great human respect, she invited him to voice the role of Alexander Belov. Therefore, in all four films of the first release, “midshipman” Zhigunov was voiced by Oleg Menshikov. Then I invited him to voice Belov in the next “Midshipmen,” to which Menshikov wittily replied: “Well, how many gifts can you give Zhigunov?”

By the way, Zhigunov does not speak in his own voice anywhere. The role in “Vivat...” was voiced by Domogarov, and after that he was approved for the role of Sasha Gorin in “Midshipmen-3” instead of Zhigunov.

Oleg Menshikov voiced very easily, witty, and working with him was a pleasure. During pauses, he sat down at the piano and played Glinka, classics, jazz, and romances. An incredibly gifted musical man. I already felt then: he is very talented, very lonely and withdrawn. All this festive burlesque (gloss) from the “Pokrovsky Gate” - this is one part of it. He has the most complex, hidden from everyone inner world, and I can say, not the happiest. This always haunts me talented people. Menshikov is no exception.

Unfortunately, he didn’t play in my film “Circus Princess” - he auditioned for the role of Tony. He sang and danced brilliantly.

About filming the film “Kinfolk”

“Balayan allowed me to film with Nikita Sergeevich secretly from everyone, saying that he could not forbid to the young actor learn from Mikhalkov. That's how I ended up in Rodnya. And then, by the way, I met the brilliant Nonna Mordyukova. We had a great time with her. Mikhalkov locked us in a room so that we could concentrate on the episode that was to be played. And so we stared at the floor... We sit: I am a boy, a third-year student at a theater school, and Nonna Viktorovna is a lump, great actress. I lowered my eyes, trying to pretend that I was entering the character, but I myself was shaking with fear and excitement. And suddenly I hear some grunting. I look up and see Mordyukova, who can hardly restrain herself. And then we start laughing at the same time. But how! To tears, to hysteria, to rolling on the floor. That’s how we met Nonna Viktorovna, and that’s how I started working for Nikita Sergeevich.”

1.


Oleg Menshikov and Nikita Tatarenkov, almost twenty years after their first acquaintance, stopped hiding their love, according to evidence from those around them. According to a trustworthy source from Menshikov’s close circle, the master, at the age of 60, decided to tell conventions to hell and no longer takes any measures for secrecy. Oleg Evgenievich clever man, which means he realized that his attempts to hide his sexual orientation, using women as a screen, could no longer deceive anyone. Next year it will be 20 years since Menshikov and the young actor Tatarenkov met on the set of Nikita Mikhalkov’s landmark film “The Barber of Siberia.” Since then, Tatarenkov began to enjoy all the benefits of the popular actor’s favor. It was only at the insistence of Menshikov that he received the role of Shura Balaganov in the next film adaptation of The Golden Calf.

2.


Participants in the filming recall that the partners were inseparable outside the film set. Their hotel rooms were next to each other. Only Nikita could enter Menshikov’s dressing room without permission. When six years later Oleg Evgenievich married Anastasia Chernova, saving his reputation, Tatarenkov always remained nearby. Chernova admitted then that she was superfluous in this strange triangle and did not interest Menshikov at all. Nikita also married a young woman, no one famous actress named Oksana, who came to Moscow from a distant province. IN Lately Menshikov openly appears with Tatarenkov at social events. He regularly buys his partner expensive gifts, watches, bracelets and rings. Next year the actors have a personal anniversary.

The elegant idol of millions of Russian women Oleg Menshikov leads a closed life, never communicates on topics family relations and at 49 years old, has no children.

Rumors about the artist’s homosexual inclinations have been circulating in social circles for a long time. Many who know Menshikov well did not hesitate to talk about this openly. At first there was a lot of talk about Oleg’s romance with the elegant actor Andrey Rudensky, and since 1999, Menshikov began to be seen more and more often with a young, sugary actor Nikita Tatarenkov.

The artists met on the set of “The Barber of Siberia,” and soon began appearing almost arm in arm at social events. A year later, Nikita hastily left the Theater on Malaya Bronnaya and went to the creative association "Theatrical Partnership", produced by Menshikov, where he received the best roles in all performances from him.

There was even more talk about Menshikov’s gay passions, and in order to strengthen his shaky reputation, in 2005 he decided to get married. With a woman. But it turned out even worse.

The actor's chosen one was a little-known young actress Anastasia Chernova. Menshikov proposed over the phone, without yet knowing the girl personally. And only after that they started dating. But even after the wedding, the actor and his wife appeared in public in the company of... the same Tatarenkov. Moreover, in a conversation with journalists, Nastya indirectly confirmed the fact that her marriage to the famous actor is fictitious. “Do you want me to call my husband? He will come down and tell you a fairy tale about how everything is fine with him!” the girl said.

Oleg Menshikov with his wife and Nikita Tatarenkov

Moreover, Menshikov began wearing two wedding rings. As it turned out, this technique is often used by representatives of the “blue” environment, who, in order to avoid unnecessary gossip, get companions or wives for going out, who are called “seagull” or “beard”. One ring is a standard engagement ring, and the other is a sign of gratitude and loyalty to a true “friend.”

In 2006, filming of the series “The Golden Calf” began. Menshikov was invited to play the role of Ostap Bender, and at first they wanted to invite a comedian to play the role of Shura Balaganov Pavel Derevianko, but Oleg Evgenievich categorically insisted that the role go to Nikita Tatarenkov.

During long filming in the remote and uninhabited town of Plyos, the lovers, apparently, were finally tired of maintaining the regime of secrecy and the couple allowed themselves to relax. Menshikov and Tatarenkov came and went from filming to the hotel together, relaxed and had fun together. Only Tatarenkov was allowed to visit the personal trailer of his eminent friend. To all other members of the film crew, including the director Ulyana Shilkina, this was strictly prohibited. Oleg Menshikov pampered and took care of his pet in every possible way: he took him on a boat, looked after his friend’s health and bought him jewelry. Oleg and Nikita did not spoil the rest of the actors and participants in the filming process with their attention. Such is male friendship...

As one famous director shared with KP, Menshikov, although he received the status of a star, turning into one of the sought-after and highly paid actors, many filmmakers are not eager to invite him to the roles of passionate Don Juans and machos.

“Menshikov, for all his external beauty, acting, talent, has an internal complex,” said the director. “He can portray love, but at the climax, when it is necessary to show highest degree passion, it doesn't work. You have to feel, and if there is no experienced feeling, you won’t play! Playing men on screen, he seems to be in conflict with himself... Forgive me, you can get drunk to such a stage that you mistake a woman for a man. You can be with a woman, but not feel the proper pleasure... And although at the present time non-traditional orientation, as they say, is even in fashion among the beau monde, in reality it is a very big tragedy for men. To feel that you are made of a different cloth... As Dostoevsky said, God loves whomever he loves very much and for whom he hopes a lot, sends him a lot of misfortunes."

Oleg Menshikov is one of the best Russian actors. He is someone about whom we can safely say – a genius.

Oleg was born in the Moscow region in intelligent family. His father was a military engineer, and his mother was a neurologist. Soon the family and their son moved to the capital.

Since childhood, Oleg was a creatively gifted child and showed an interest in music. His parents took notice of this and sent him to learn to play the violin. True, like all boys, he hated the violin, but continued to study diligently. As an adult, he admitted that he was grateful to his parents for insisting on his studies.

At school he studied diligently, although he was not an excellent student, he did not fall into C grades either. As a schoolboy, he became interested in operetta and went to the Operetta Theater to watch performances twice a week.

In high school, he himself organized school productions and wrote texts and music for them. His talent as a director was appreciated even in those years.

And in the ninth grade, he once, being a guest at a wedding with his parents, showed acting talent. By the way, on that day the daughter of a costume designer from the Maly Theater was getting married, so the theater community was present at the celebration.

At that wedding Oleg was gushing! What did he not portray! Plus, I played alternately on different musical instruments. It was there that a theater university teacher noticed him and advised him to audition.

Successes ahead

After graduating from school, Oleg easily entered the Shchepkinsky School. The parents were not particularly enthusiastic about their son’s choice; they wanted him to choose a more serious profession, but they did not dissuade him.

In “Shchepka” he studied on the course of the rector of the school. Oleg began to attract attention from the very beginning. He staged funny numbers for student skits together with his classmates, and participated in them both as an actor and as a director. His director still recalls the graduation performance in which he offered Oleg the main role, and he chose an episodic role, but played it in such a way that it turned out to be a real masterpiece.

Even before graduating from university, he played his first film role in the film “I Wait and Hope.” A year later he graduated from Shchepka and went to work at the Maly Theater. A year later he was drafted into the army. He served on the stage of the theater Soviet army. At the same time, he also starred in small roles in two films.

But the truly stellar work for him was filming “Pokrovsky Gates.” Mikhail Kazakov could not find a young man for the role of Kostya for a long time, while the entire cast had already been confirmed. The director's wife helped. She noticed Menshikov in his first film, watched other films with his participation and advised Oleg Kazakov. It was a 100% hit. Despite the fact that Oleg was supposed to star in another movie at the same time, the choice was made in favor of “Pokrovsky Gates”.

Oleg Menshikov in the film “Pokrovsky Gate”

After such excellent work, Menshikov had no end to offers; in the following years he played many wonderful roles in films.

After working at the Soviet Army Theater in 1985, he moved to the Theater. Ermolova, also took part in productions of the theater. Mossovet. He also had the chance to play on the stage of the London Globe Theater, where he performed Sergei Yesenin.

To work in films, he could already afford to choose certain roles. Some films became popular only thanks to Menshikov’s participation in them. In 1994, his fruitful collaboration with Nikita Mikhalkov began. The famous director directed Oleg in several of his films. In addition, I would like to note his brilliant work in the films of other directors: “Doctor Zhivago”, “The Golden Calf”, “Legend No. 17”.

In 1995, he organized one of the first entrepreneurial companies in Russia, called “Theatrical Partnership 814”. He himself acted as a director and staged several wonderful performances. But at the same time he continued to dream of a stationary stage.

Currently, Oleg does not act much, but he works fruitfully in the theater. Since 2012, he has been the artistic director of the theater. Ermolova. Having come to this post, he seriously reformed the theater. Of all the productions, he left only four, and also radically changed the theater's cast.

Personal life of Oleg Menshikov

Oleg's personal life for a long time remained a secret behind seven seals. Until the age of 43, he remained a bachelor, and then, unexpectedly for everyone, he married 22-year-old actress Anastasia Chernova. The fact of marriage was very carefully hidden; young people even bought wedding rings for their wedding through dummies.

Previously, there were rumors about the actor’s not entirely traditional orientation, but there was no confirmation of this. Moreover, in his youth he was known as a ladies' man. In “Sliver” he had a whirlwind romance with his beautiful classmate Vika Sorokina.

Later he was tied up for long periods of time romantic relationship with actress Margarita Shubina, they were even going to get married, but unexpectedly broke up. There were always many fans around Oleg, women adored him.

Then there was a period when he did not have any novels; it was at that time that there were persistent rumors in theater circles about his relationship with some actors. And in 2005, as already mentioned, Oleg Evgenievich got married.

Outwardly, the marriage looks happy, the spouses often appear together at various events. But neither of them comment on their family relationships in the press, so private life spouses remains inviolable.