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# Yuliya Borisova and her roles at the Vakhtangov Theatre from 1947 until her death in 2023
- URL: https://theparnassian.com/en/pomniu-kak-vpervye-vstretil-narodnuiu-artistku-sovetskogo-soiuza-iuliiu-borisovu-ozhidaia-u-podezda-liudmilu-maksakovu-chtoby-skazat-ei-paru-slov-posle-spektaklia/
- Published: 2023-08-11T13:01:38.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-02T18:49:34.000Z
- Author: Alexandr Radayev
- Tags: Cinema, Moscow, Observations, People

I remember first meeting People's Artist of the Soviet Union Yulia Borisova, as I waited by the stage door for Lyudmila Maksakova, to have a word with her after the performance. The door opened and up the steps came a slight, slender Yulia Borisova with a small bouquet of flowers. Unnoticed by the crowd of theatre-goers, the most famous actress of the Vakhtangov Theatre, almost its exact contemporary, walked to the car waiting for her and drove away.

Yulia Borisova almost never gave interviews, did not flit across television programmes and led a rather secluded life, surrounded by the love of her family and close friends. She died on 8 August 2023, a mere year and a half short of her hundredth birthday. By her own wish, the farewell was not to be a public one.

Yulia Borisova will be remembered for a multitude of vivid stage characters, created since 1947, when she was taken into the company of the State Academic Vakhtangov Theatre. Borisova's performances became the standard for the roles of Princess Turandot, Cleopatra and Queen Anne in "The Glass of Water". At ninety she played in "The Haven" (*Pristan*). What happiness it was to see her in Rimas Tuminas's production, a success no smaller than her legendary Kruchinina in Fomenko's staging of "Guilty Though Innocent".

One of Yulia Borisova's first stage roles was Julia in Shakespeare's "The Two Gentlemen of Verona", in Levik's translation. It did not bring Yulia Konstantinovna fame, though critics' notes did record it as a fine, well-rounded piece of work by a still very young actress. Her first recognition came after the role of Anfisa in "At the Golden Bottom", based on Mamin-Sibiryak; many said they became admirers of Borisova's talent precisely after that work.

For me, perhaps, Yulia Borisova's principal role is nonetheless a cinematic one, and it is Nastasya Filippovna. I could not see her early stage work; in our own time she was already the great Borisova, and the impression of her stature and her past glory could not fail to appear on stage together with the impression of her talent, mastery and brilliance.

![](https://theparnassian.com/content/images/2026/09/photo_9521@11-08-2023_16-01-38.jpg)

![](https://theparnassian.com/content/images/2026/09/photo_9522@11-08-2023_16-01-38.jpg)