On February 12, 2022, one of the great stars in the brilliant galaxy of Russian actors and actresses of the 20th century, Zinaida Mikhailovna Kiriyenko, passed away. Celebrated as a People’s Artist of the RSFSR and laureate of the USSR State Prize, Zinaida Mikhailovna was 89 years old.

• Zinaida Mikhailovna Kiriyenko Zinaida Mikhailovna Kiriyenko
• Zinaida Mikhailovna Kiriyenko Zinaida Mikhailovna Kiriyenko
• Zinaida Mikhailovna Kiriyenko Zinaida Mikhailovna Kiriyenko
• Zinaida Mikhailovna Kiriyenko Zinaida Mikhailovna Kiriyenko
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Zinaida Mikhailovna Kiriyenko was born in the city of Petrovskoye (renamed Makhachkala in 1921) in modern-day Dagestan into the family of Georgii Konstantinovich Shirokova and Alexandra Petrovna (née Ivanova). Her father had returned to the Soviet Union in 1928 after emigrating abroad, but was arrested during the purges in 1938. Zinaida Mikhailovna took the patronymic and surname of her stepfather, Mikhail Ignatievich Kiriyenko.

Zinaida Mikhailovna graduated from the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography. She was a performer in the Pushkin Dramatic Theater in Moscow (1958-1959), the Moscow Dramatic Theater on Malaia Bronnaya (1959-1960), and the Theater Studio of Motion Picture Actors (from 1961). She appeared in numerous films between 1954 to 2019, including the role of Natalia Melikhkova in the film by S. A. Gerasimov Quiet Flows the Don [Tikhii Don] (1957-1958).

In 1965, Zinaida Mikhailovna was recognized as a Distinguished Artist of the RSFSF. In 1977 she was proclaimed a People’s Artist of the RSFSF, and in 1979 she received the State Prize of the USSR. In 2013, the Head of the Russian Imperial House, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, awarded her the Imperial hereditary medal “Anniversary of the Nation’s Triumph, 1613-2013” in recognition of her distinguished contributions to Russian culture.

Zinaida Mikhailovna married Valery Alexeevich Tarasevsky (1943-2004) in 1960 and the couple had two sons, Maksim and Timur.

All those who knew Zinaida Mikhailovna will forever remember her as a kind, talented, noble, bright, and considerate person.

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Grant, O Lord, eternal rest, in blessed repose, to Thy servant Zinaida, and may her memory be eternal!