April 29: Larisa Udovichenko's birthday, the actress who became Manka-Bond

Larisa Udovichenko was born on April 29, 1955, in Vienna, to a military doctor. Today she turns 71. She achieved widespread fame throughout the Soviet Union with her role as Manka-Obligatsiya in the television film "The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed"—one of the most recognizable roles in Soviet cinema.
Odessa and the first steps in the profession
Udovichenko went to school in Odessa. Her passion for acting was inherited from her mother, a failed actress. In high school, she was already studying acting at the Odessa Film Studio.
I was born an artist. I never wanted to be a doctor or a hairdresser.
She graduated from the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography, studying under Sergei Gerasimov and Tamara Makarova. She made her film debut at age 15 in Alexander Pavlovsky's short film "Happy Kukushkin," playing the protagonist's love interest.
Early roles and rapid rise
At 19, Udovichenko landed her first major role in Sergei Gerasimov's film "Mothers and Daughters." At 21, after the release of his film "Red and Black" (a small role as an innkeeper), she was noticed by directors.
While still a student, they started to tear me apart and invite me to good films
At the age of 23, she starred in the musical Die Fledermaus, playing the role of the inventive maid Adele.
Manka-Bond
She achieved nationwide fame after playing the role of Manka-Bond in "The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed." Stanislav Govorukhin initially offered her the role of policewoman Sinichkina, but 24-year-old Udovichenko found it too "innocuous and boring."
"What kind of prostitute are you?!" Govorukhin didn't even let me audition, so I left. And then suddenly I received a telegram: "You've been approved."
Vysotsky advised her on how to play this role.
1980s: A String of Hits
In the 1980s, Udovichenko starred in the films "Mary Poppins, Goodbye," "The Most Charming and Attractive," and "Winter Cherry." One of her favorite roles was in the comedy "Whom God Sends" (1994), co-starring with Stanislav Sadalsky. In the late 1990s, she made her stage debut in Vitaly Solomin's production of "The Siren and Victoria."
The 2000s and today
In the 2000s, her most notable role was in the TV series "Dasha Vasilyeva: A Lover of Private Investigation," based on Daria Dontsova's novels. In total, Udovichenko has over 150 film roles to her credit. She holds the titles of Honored Artist and People's Artist. In 2025, Putin awarded her the Order "For Merit in Culture and Art."
After Russia's invasion of Ukraine began, Udovichenko denied rumors of emigration and stated that she wanted to live and work in Russia, despite owning property abroad. In 2020, Ukrainian border guards refused to allow her into Ukraine for visiting Crimea without going through official checkpoints.
In an interview, she admitted that she loves Odessa more than Moscow:
I miss Odessa. Moscow, unfortunately, never became my home.
He continues to act in Russia and play at the Moscow Comedy Theatre.
I live by my heart and emotions. I don't know how to do it any other way.

