Yuliya Borisova

Yuliya Borisova is a notable Russian actress of Vakhtangov Theatre in Moscow, best known for her film role as Ambassador Kollontay in Posol Sovetskogo Soyuza (1970).

She was born Yuliya Konstantinovna Borisova on March 17, 1925, in Russia. From 1944 - 1947 she studied acting at Shchukin Theatrical School of the Vakhtangov Theatre in Moscow, graduating in 1947 from the class of Boris Zakhava as an actress. That same year she made her stage debut as Hero in the Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing', and as Julia in 'Two Gentlemen form Verona'.

Since 1947 Yuliya Borisova has been a member of the troupe at Vakhtangov Theatre in Moscow. There his stage partners were such actors as Mikhail Ulyanov, Mikhail Astangov, Ruben Simonov, Boris Zakhava, Vladimir Etush, Varvara Popova, Irina Kupchenko, Natalya Tenyakova, Lyudmila Maksakova, Lyudmila Tselikovskaya, Marianna Vertinskaya, Nina Ruslanova, Alla Kazanskaya, Nikolai Plotnikov, Vasiliy Lanovoy, Yuriy Yakovlev, Vyacheslav Shalevich, Andrei Abrikosov, Grigori Abrikosov, Boris Babochkin, Nikolai Gritsenko, Nikolai Timofeyev, Aleksandr Grave, Evgeniy Karelskikh, Sergey Makovetskiy, Viktor Zozulin, Evgeniy Knyazev, and Ruben Simonov, among others. Her most memorable stage performances were such roles as Anisia in "Na zolotom dne" by Mamin-Sibiryak (1955), and as Cleopatra in the Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatra" (1971). Since taking the role as Princess Turandot in 1963, Borisova has been delivering acclaimed performances in the legendary Vakhtangov's production of Carlo Gozzi's comedy 'Princess Turandot'.

Yuliya Borisova was designated People's Actress of Russia ((1961) and People's Actress of the USSR (1969). She was awarded the State Prize of Russia twice (1966, 1985), was decorated with the Order of Lenin (1971), and was designated Hero of Socialist Labour (1985). The Supreme Theatrical Prize of Moscow is titled the "Crystal Turandot" in the honor of Yulia Borisova, and she was also the first recipient of the prize (1991).