Veronika Polonskaya is a Soviet film and theater actress. Her fate is closely connected with Mayakovsky. Polonskaya was the last love of the great poet. And she is the last who saw Mayakovsky alive. Veronica witnessed his suicide.
Biography of Veronica Polonskaya
Veronica Polonskaya was born on June 6, 1908 in the family of Russian actors of the Maly Theater. Her father, Vitold Polonsky, was known and popular in Russian pre-revolutionary cinema. Mother, Olga Gladkova, also acted in films. Veronica Polonskaya relatives and friends affectionately called Nora.
Where did Polonskaya study
When Veronika Polonskaya was 16 years old in 1924, she entered the Moscow Art Theater to study. After graduation, Nora remained to work in it. But the study did not end there. She took acting lessons from Konstantin Stanislavsky and Nikolai Batalov.
Career Polonskaya
Veronika Polonskaya is an actress of Soviet cinema. Her career began in childhood. The first time she starred in a movie as a child, along with her father, in the film "When the Lilac Blossoms", which was released in 1917. In the picture, Veronica played the role of Alla. The film was made based on the novel "Pan" by Laurich Bruun. After the first filming, Veronica was fascinated by the magic of cameras and decided to devote her life to cinema.
In 1918, Polonskaya's father signed a very lucrative contract with Hollywood. And Veronica had to leave with her parents in the United States. But on January 5, 1919, Vitold Polonsky suddenly died. As a result, Nora and her mother remained at home.
Many remembered the performance "Our Youth", in which Veronica played. Polonskaya's debut in Soviet cinema took place in the film Glass Eye. This was the first picture in which the matured Veronica played. From 1927 to 1935, Polonskaya constantly played in performances. The last place of work of the actress is the theater. Ermolaeva. In 1973, Polonskaya retired.
Movie roles played by Veronika Polonskaya
- "When the lilac blooms" - the role of Alla.
- "Swamp mirages." She played Lisa’s sister - Vera.
- Glass Eye is the main character.
- "The conveyor of death" - the role of Eleanor.
- "Three comrades" - played the wife of Latsis, Irina.
- "War and Peace". Role in the episode.
- “Smile at your neighbor.” Played Varvara Vershinin.
- "Mother Mary." The role of Sofia Pilenko.
The personal life of the actress
In 1925, Veronika Vitoldovna Polonskaya married actor Mikhail Mikhailovich Yanshin. Despite the love affair with Mayakovsky, she could not admit her husband to treason. And for many years he was in the dark. The whole truth about the love affair of Polonskaya and Mayakovsky surfaced after the poet's suicide, thanks to his farewell note in which he recognized Veronica as his heiress along with his relatives. Polonskaya was dishonored throughout the country. When the betrayal opened, a divorce followed.
Polonskaya married Valery Alexandrovich Azersky for the second time. From him in 1936 gave birth to a son. It was named after Mayakovsky - Vladimir. Then Azeri was repressed, and Polonskaya married a third time to the Soviet actor Dmitry Pavlovich of Thebes. He adopted her son, who eventually went to live in the United States.
Acquaintance with Mayakovsky
She met Mayakovsky in 1929. Nora at that time was already 21 years old. After filming the film Glass Eye, Veronica was invited to run by her husband Lily Brick. There she first saw Mayakovsky. Later they met visiting Kataev. And after that they began to see each other more often.
After a while, Veronica began to visit his apartment in Lubyanka often. There was a poet’s study. Mayakovsky showed Veronica many books. He captivated her by reading his poems and interesting stories about foreign countries. Often they walked around the city and talked. Veronica Polonskaya and Mayakovsky became close after a short time after meeting. The apartment on Lubyanka became their place for love meetings.
How did the romance of Polonskaya with Mayakovsky develop?
Polonskaya and Mayakovsky met secretly at the apartment. Polonskaya’s husband did not know about this. In one of the meetings, Mayakovsky confessed to Veronica in love. She responded to his feelings, but was very jealous of other women. Polonskaya did not leave her husband. Perhaps she foresaw that the connection with Mayakovsky would not last long. Veronica came to him almost every day for several hours to the theater. And then she went to work.
Mayakovsky did not like actors, but Veronica was an exception for him. Although over time, he began to demand that she leave the theater. But Polonskaya refused. After his declaration of love to her, Mayakovsky began to affectionately call her "bride".
At the same time, he tried to meet his former love - Tatyana Yakovleva, but rumors reached her about his new affair with Polonskaya. Yakovleva got married. Mayakovsky was storming this event. He immediately began to demand from Veronica to legalize their relationship. But Polonskaya was married and was not going to admit to her husband that she was cheating on him.
Sharp angles in relations with Mayakovsky
Mayakovsky has always been very complex and difficult. The poet was haunted by frequent mood swings. It was rumored in society that he was sick. Recently, their relationship with Veronika Polonskaya has been very strained in an emotional sense. He either affectionately persuaded her to marry him, or tried to get her a positive solution by threats.
In 1930, Polonskaya had many difficult rehearsals, and there was less and less time for frequent meetings. Because of this, he insisted with even greater fervor that Veronica left the theater. They often quarreled, often over trifles. Veronika Polonskaya was often late for meetings or appeared at them with her husband. Sometimes it didn’t come at all.
Mayakovsky was previously very quick-tempered. And some time before the suicide, he became even more angry, irritable. April 12 Mayakovsky decides for the last time to speak with Polonskaya. He called her at the theater, they made an appointment. On this day, Veronica asked him to leave for a short rest, for a couple of days. Mayakovsky promised, but stayed home.
The next day they met again. The conversation turned into another showdown. It was then that the veil fell from the eyes of Veronica. She saw a tormented and sick man in front of her, tried to calm him down. But Mayakovsky took out a revolver and promised to kill Polonskaya, even pointed a muzzle at her. But he didn’t shoot.
The tragic death of beloved Polonskaya
Veronica Polonskaya, whose biography is closely connected with the name of Mayakovsky, is the only one who saw the poet on the day of suicide. On April 14, he brought her to his place. Locked the door. Cried, did not let her go and demanded that she no longer return to the theater. But he didn’t achieve anything. Polonskaya took twenty rubles from him by taxi and went to the exit. Suddenly I heard a shot behind. Rushing back, Veronica saw Mayakovsky with a wound in his chest. They could not save the poet. He died almost immediately.
Polonskaya did not go to the funeral, although their connection still became known throughout the world. Mayakovsky's mother and sisters considered her the culprit of his death. And he made Veronica his heir.
last years of life
According to the actress, this last year of the affair with Mayakovsky was for her the happiest and most unhappy at the same time. For many years, society preferred to forget about her, she was considered guilty of the death of the poet. No one was interested in Veronica, not even the press asked questions. And only after many years the world became interested in the history of her life, and in particular the affair with Mayakovsky. Veronica Polonskaya died in September 1994.