In recent years, Ukrainian musicians have begun to actively appear in domestic films. Most showbiz stars have tried themselves as actors. But some dared to sit in the director’s chair.
We have selected the most successful interventions of our musicians – in cinema.
Miroslav Kuvaldin
The singer actively combines film work with his music and media career. In Podolchak’s film “Las Meninas” (2008) he acted as a sound director. Well, as an actor he appears in Shapiro’s films “Bes Por No” (2010) and “Casting” (2008), as well as in the rom-com “Kiev Cake” (2014). Miroslav’s colorful appearance makes it impossible for critics to comment on his acting abilities.
Sergey Babkin
Babkin’s appearances on the screen look most harmonious. An actor by training, he feels absolutely natural under the gun of a movie camera. It was not difficult for him to play the main role in the full-length film “Rejection” (2008). He very accurately embodied the type of the great director in the documentary film “Alexander Dovzhenko: Odessa Dawn”.
Ruslana
This year, the cult singer has already released two documentaries. The first was called “Ukraine is in danger or the Black Book of State Terror!” and talked about crimes against protesters at Euromaidan. And she dedicated the second to the memory of her friend Scriabin “Kuzma. You’re superstar.” In addition, Ruslana once lent her voice to the animation character “Alice’s Birthday” (2009), taking part in its Ukrainian dubbing.
Seryoga
Last year, two films featuring the outrageous rapper were released. In the fall, the rom-com “Single by Contract” was released at the box office, in which Seryoga appears in the role of a strict producer. A little earlier, the premiere of the forty-minute film “Gaggio” took place, in which the musician not only played the main role, but also acted as a director.
Taras Kompanichenko
The famous kobzar and lyre player are often assigned episodic roles in films. He appeared in the films “The Guide” (2013), “Bogdan Khmelnitsky” (2007), “Black Rada” (2000), etc. Usually Kompanichenko’s on-screen image is not much different from the authentic musician we are used to seeing him at concerts.
Natalia Mogilevskaya
Last year, the singer could be found in the comedy “Kiev Cake,” where she essentially played herself. Almost all of her appearances in feature films are associated with musical roles. She has repeatedly appeared in the musicals “Take Your Overcoat…” (1998), “The Snow Queen” (2003), “A Very New Year’s Movie, or Night at the Museum” (2007), etc. Mogilevskaya can also be found in the TV series “Hold Me Tight” (2007). In addition, the singer has repeatedly directed her own videos and once voiced a cartoon during Ukrainian dubbing.
Oleg Skrypka
Among all the musicians, Skrypka appears most actively in Ukrainian cinema. On April 16, another feature film with his participation will be released – “My Mermaid, My Lorelai” (2013). In addition, last year the premiere of the film “This Is Me” (2014) took place, in which he acted as a composer. In general, the musician’s filmography includes more than ten full-length feature films.
But his most striking appearance on screens remains his main role in the musical “Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka” (2001). In addition, he voiced the legendary cartoon character in the Ukrainian dubbing of the animation “Carloson, who lives on the roof” (2002). The baby was voiced by Ani Lorak.
Jamala
In 2014, the singer first showed herself as a serious dramatic actress. Having played one of the key roles in The Guide, she received both rave reviews from ordinary viewers and restrained comments from critics. In the future, Jamala intends to appear on wide screens more than once. A year earlier, the premiere of the documentary “Life for Sale” took place, in which the singer also participates.
El Kravchuk
The singer has already managed to manifest himself as a TV presenter, a theater actor, a director, and a music producer… He has also played in films several times. Kravchuk’s first serious, albeit small, role was in the TV series “Trace of the Werewolf” (2001). After that, he appeared in several of Shapiro’s films: “Happy people” (2002), “Apartments” (2013) and “A parte” (2013). Now work continues on the film “Keeper of Hell”, in which the singer also played one of the roles.
Vera Brezhneva
Since 2004, a film with her participation has been released almost every year. These can be cameos, as in “Yolki”, or episodic musical roles, as in “Sorochinskaya Fair” (2004). But recently, Brezhneva has increasingly been assigned more serious roles. The most striking of them are in the “Love in the City” and “The Jungle” (2012) franchises.
Among other musicians who have successfully tried themselves as actors in our films are Dasha Astafieva (“Occupation”, “The Witch”), Ivan Dorn (“Lovers”), the group 2SUNNY (“Apartments”), etc.