Elena Alexandrovna Maksimova was born on November 23, 1905 in Moscow. She was raised in an orphanage. From an early age, Maksimova dreamed of becoming an actress, and after graduating from nine classes in 1925, she went to the film studio at Moskprofobra to take exams. The only free vacancy went to Elena as the most capable among the applicants. Its first teachers were N. Zarhi, K. Eggert, V. Gardin – famous masters of cinema. Along with studying in the film studio, Elena had to work as a presswoman in a button factory.
In 1925, Elena starred in
film "Lame Lord" Two years later, she made her debut in the film “Babs of Ryazan”, where she played the role of Luceria.
At that time, the cinema was silent, but the picture “Babs Ryazan” in 1929 was partially voiced. The film for many years did not go off the screens, and enjoyed great success with the audience. The film can now be seen in the cinemas of the second film.
In the pre-war years, the actress starred in many films. She played the role of Daria in the film adaptation of the works of M. Sholokhov “The Quiet Don” and “Virgin Raised”, Polly in the adventure film “The Last Attraction”, starred in the historical film “Pugachev”, in the film poems of A. Dovzhenko “Earth”, where she played Orysya and “Aerograd”, where she got the role of the widow of an old believer.
In the first days of the war, Elena Maximova had to retrain as a cook. At that terrible time, she, along with other women, took the children of Soyuzdetfilm employees from Moscow. Due to circumstances, they were stuck under Ufa for eight months. It was then that Elena took on the duties of a cook and coped with them perfectly.
For more than fifty years Elena Maksimova starred in films. Most often she played impetuous, energetic, active heroines. The created images are distinguished by household detailing and vital reliability. In the last three films, Maksimova played ordinary rural women of about the same age.
In the picture “Alien relatives” is Barbara, the chairman of the collective farm, a smart woman who stands up for the collective farm and gives herself all to the struggle for the public good.
In the picture “Father’s House” is Makarich’s kolkhoz woman, who trades in petty theft from kolkhoz vegetable gardens and also teaches her niece; in the film “Miracleworking” – Stud – an ardent fanatic, evil and cunning.
The most famous works of Elena Maksimova of the seventies are Varvara Stepanovna in the film “Gypsy” and the Countess in the film “Paternity”.
By the thirtieth anniversary of Soviet cinema, Elena Maksimova was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor, and in 1958 she was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR.
Elena Alexandrovna Maximova died on September 23, 1986 in Moscow. /