Plastic surgery and other secrets of the Soviet film star Lyubov Orlova

118 years ago, on February 11, 1902, Soviet theater and film actress, singer, dancer and pianist Lyubov Petrovna Orlova was born.

For people of the older generation, Lyubov Orlova is a dazzling beauty, an eternally young goddess of cinema. This image was carefully created by Lyubov Orlova herself and her husband Grigory Alexandrov, a director who carefully ensured that the star shone with the most gentle light.

Orlova 's biographer Alexander Hort writes:

Lyubov Orlova: height 158 cm, weight unknown, date of birth: 02/11/1902

It is known that Lyubov Orlova was one of the first of our actresses to use the services of plastic surgeons. According to one source, she had one anti-aging operation. For others — at least six. The truth is unlikely to be established, so we look at photos and read the memoirs of contemporaries.

Lyubov Orlova and Grigory Alexandrov, her husband.

Mikhail Kunitsyn, another biographer of Orlova: "In the film "The Bright Path" (1940), "Spring" (1947), "Meeting on Elbe" (1949) we still see Orlova's face before plastic surgery. In the 60s, she turned to the services of aesthetic medicine. Yes, she really did plastic surgery. But not as much as they say about her, and not at the expense of Chaplin (this is another myth). And in general, not abroad, but at home. She apparently had one circular lift and one eyelid surgery. This is what we managed to establish for certain. Moreover, Orlova used simple creams from the Svoboda factory, she loved them very much, she mixed them with something…

Did Lyubov Orlova look younger than her age? By today's standards — not at all.

In these frames from the movie "Circus", the actress is 33-34 years old.

In the film "Volga-Volga", released in 1937, Orlova 34-35.

Wrinkles at 35 are normal. As well as noticeable, despite the makeup, bags under the eyes. But in general, the face cannot be called young. This is the face of an adult woman with a typical Slavic structure: heavy cheeks, a tendency to the appearance of blisters.

"Spring", 1947.

The partnership turned out to be exceptionally successful. Unlike the absolute majority of Soviet viewers, Grigory Alexandrov watched films with Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo and other Hollywood stars. So golden curls, white teeth and the radiance of Lyubov Orlova's skin are not a happy natural coincidence, but deliberately used patterns.

And in less wonderful lighting at the same age.

Now, to get the perfect look of the skin in the photo, you don't need to move your finger — the application will do everything by itself. Then there is only light and shooting through a silk mesh worn on the camera lens.

1947, Lyubov Orlova is 45 years old.

They say Grigory Alexandrov persuaded his wife to replace natural teeth with beautiful porcelain ones. It seems to be true (footage from the movie "Spring").

Lyubov Orlova tried to hide her hands, as they were not very elegant.

Lyubov Petrovna did not love people too much and did not seek friendship with many. They had no children together with her husband — a career is more important.

She did not like touring and only sang at concerts: no meetings with the audience, answers to questions.

Faina Ranevskaya, a close friend:

But Ranevskaya had a completely different opinion about the character of her friend:

Orlova carefully hid her age, and tried to avoid amateur photographs.

1960, Orlova is 58 years old.

Over the years, the fear of old age has turned almost into a phobia. When Lyubov Orlova turned 70 in 1972, she personally asked the party leadership to order the press not to mention her age. The request was fulfilled. The age was not mentioned in any publication or in any TV show. Is it possible to imagine such a thing now?

In the film "The Starling and the Lyre" (1974), 71-year-old Orlova starred as a young scout.

"Starling and lyre". At the age of 71, such an oval face and the position of the eyebrows are possible only after a lift.

The last joke belongs to Faina Ranevskaya. Who, if not the best friend, will tell us the truth?