Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Mosfilm Film Concern – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
December 25, 2025
News editorial office
Today, the outstanding Soviet and Russian actress Vera Valentinovna Alentova (1942–2025), star of the Oscar-winning film "Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears," passed away. Mosfilm.ru recalls the key career and life milestones of the actress, whose life was closely linked to the Mosfilm studio.
Vera Valentinovna Alentova was born on February 21, 1942, in Kotlas (Arkhangelsk Oblast) to actors Valentin Mikhailovich Bykov (1917-1946) and Irina Nikolaevna Alentova (1917-1988). Her father died when she was three years old. Soon after, she and her mother moved to Krivoy Rog (Ukrainian SSR, now Ukraine), then to the Uzbek SSR (now the Republic of Uzbekistan). She graduated from high school in Barnaul (Altai Krai).
In 1965, Vera Alentova graduated from the Nemirovich-Danchenko School-Studio at the Gorky Moscow Art Academic Theater (MKhAT) of the USSR (now the Nemirovich-Danchenko School-Studio, Institute at the A.P. Chekhov Moscow Art Theater). She graduated from the course of teacher Vasily Markov.
WORKING IN THE THEATRE
From 1960 to 1961, Vera Alentova was an actress at the A.S. Pushkin Orsk Drama Theater (Orenburg Region). She made her stage debut as Maya in "Irkutsk Story," based on Alexei Arbuzov's play. She also appeared in productions of "Unequal Fight," based on Viktor Rozov's play; "Four Under One Roof," based on the comedy by Mira Smirnova and Margarita Kraindel; and "Brody's Castle," based on Archibald Cronin's novel.
From 1965 to the present, Vera Alentova served at the Moscow Drama Theater named after A.S. Pushkin. Her first role was Raina in the production of "The Chocolate Soldier" based on the play by Bernard Shaw. She also played in the plays "The Zykovs" and "Children of the Sun" based on the works of Maxim Gorky, "Warsaw Melody" based on the play by Leonid Zorin, "Days of Our Lives" based on the work of Leonid Andreyev, "Squaring the Circle" based on the play by Valentin Kataev, "Obsession" based on the work of Alexander Galin, "Inaccessible" based on the comedy by Somerset Maugham, "Phaedra" based on the tragedy by Marina Tsvetaeva, "Happy Days" based on the work of Samuel Beckett, "Oranges"
FILM ROLES
Vera Alentova made her film debut in 1965, playing the role of teacher Lidiya Fedorovna in the drama by Nikolai Litus and Leonid Rizin "Flight Days." She later starred in the films and TV series "Stars and Soldiers" (1967, directed by Miklos Jancso, USSR – Hungary), "Time for Reflection" (1982, Sergei Ashkenazi), "Tomorrow Was the War" based on the story by Boris Vasiliev (1987, Yuri Kara), "The Groom from Miami" (1994, Anatoly Eyramdzhan), "Son for Father" (1995, Nikolai Eremenko Jr. and Margarita Kasymova, Russia – Belarus), "Shirley-Myrli" (1995, Vladimir Menshov), "And Yet I Love…" (2008, Sergei Ginzburg), and others.
Among Vera Alentova’s most famous film works are Katerina in Vladimir Menshov’s melodrama Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears (1979), Svetlana Vasilyevna in Yuli Raizman’s drama Time of Desires (1984), and Sonya in Vladimir Menshov’s melodrama Envy of the Gods (2000).
Stills from the filming of Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears (directed by V. Menshov, 1979), Time of Desires (directed by Yu. Raizman, 1984), and Envy of the Gods (directed by V. Menshov, 2000)
Vera Alentova's final film role was the goddess Ishtar Borisovna in V. Ginzburg's "Empire V" (2022). In total, she has appeared in over 30 films and television series.
Vera Alentova was married to People's Artist of the RSFSR Vladimir Menshov (1939-2021). Their daughter is actress and television presenter Yulia Menshova (born 1969). She was a member of the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation, the National Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Russia, and the Russian Academy of Motion Picture Arts. In 2022, Vera Alentova published her autobiography, "Everything Is Not Accidental."
TEACHING ACTIVITIES
Since 2009, Vera Alentova has taught in the acting department of the acting faculty of the All-Russian State University of Cinematography named after S. A. Gerasimov (Moscow). She served as a professor and workshop director (along with her daughter, Yulia Menshova).
TITLES, AWARDS
Vera Alentova was awarded the Order of Friendship (2001), the Order of Honor (2007), the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, III and IV degrees (2022, 2012), and the Pushkin Medal (2019).
Laureate of the USSR State Prize in Literature, Art and Architecture in 1981 and the Vasiliev Brothers State Prize of the RSFSR in 1986.
People's Artist of the Russian Federation (1992).
In 1980, she was recognized as the best actress of the year according to the results of a readership poll of the magazine “Soviet Screen”.
Winner of the Saint-Michel International Film Festival Award (Brussels, Belgium, 1981; for her role as Katerina in Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears). Laureate of the Crystal Turandot Theatre Award in the Best Actress category (2006, Vinny in Happy Days), the TEFI Award in the Best Actress in a Television Film/Series category (2008, Anna Lyagushova in And Still I Love…), and the Andrei Mironov Figaro Russian National Acting Award in the For Service to Russian Repertory Arts category (2019).
Stills and photos from the filming of the films "The Trial" (directed by A. Simonov, 1989), "Shirley-Myrli" (directed by V. Menshov, 1995), "Time of Desires" (directed by Yu. Raizman, 1984).
"I express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Vera Valentinovna Alentova, her daughter Yulia Menshova—and, of course, the millions of moviegoers… Vera Valentinovna's passing is a tremendous loss for our culture, for our cinema and theater. She was a symbol of Soviet cinema, Russian cinema, and Russian cinema itself. The image she created in Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears is familiar to everyone and has accompanied us throughout our lives. It's difficult to say, because I was very close with both Vladimir Valentinovich Menshov and Vera Valentinovna—they were a wonderfully harmonious couple… They have ended their lives, but they will remain in my heart forever. I believe millions of Russians can say the same. May the kingdom of heaven rest in peace, Vera Valentinovna!" “You lived a long, important, and worthy life,” Mosfilm CEO and film director Karen Shakhnazarov expressed his condolences to the actress’s family and friends.
The Mosfilm team also expresses its most sincere and deepest condolences to the family, friends, colleagues, and relatives of Vera Valentinovna Alentova. May she rest in peace.
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