4 April 1928
Elina Bystritskaya was born
The future actress was born in Kiev, in the family of a military infectious disease doctor. Parents dreamed that their daughter would also be a doctor. During the Second World War, 13-year-old Elina, having completed a nursing course, was working for the front mobile hospital. And yet, when Bystritskaya grew up, she decided to dedicate her life to acting. After graduating from the Theatre Institute in Kiev, she worked first for Vilnius Drama Theatre, then for Moscow Pushkin Drama Theatre. In 1958, she moved to Maly Theatre, where she remained one of the leading actresses for more than half of a century.