He would like to become invisible, but he also agrees to another gift — to penetrate someone’s thoughts, to look at the world through the eyes of others. We are also interested in understanding what one of the most closed to the public actors, artistic director of the Yermolova Theater, Oleg Menshikov, feels and thinks about. The new film «Invasion» with his participation has already been released in Russian cinemas.
When you get to that part of the Yermolova Theater, which is hidden from the audience, with dressing rooms and offices, you immediately understand: Menshikov has already arrived. By the smell of exquisite perfume. “I don’t remember which one I chose today,” Oleg Evgenievich admits. “I have so many.” I ask you to clarify the name, because I’m just about to make a gift to a man, and the next day I get a photo of the bottle: osmanthus, chamomile, lemon, iris and something else — our hero was in such a mood.
The most fashionable artistic director of the capital loves classical music, but immensely respects Oksimiron and Bi-2, is not indifferent to good clothes and accessories, especially watches: “I always pay attention to the interlocutor’s watch, reflexively. But at the same time, I do not draw any conclusions about his status.” And I understand that «do not draw conclusions about the status» is just what you need in a conversation with him. Because if you remember the regalia of our hero all the time, you can not see a lot in him.
Psychologies: Recently, Danny Boyle released the film Yesterday with an interesting, in my opinion, plot: the whole world has forgotten both the Beatles songs and the fact that such a group even existed. Let’s imagine that this happened to you. You woke up and understand that no one remembers who Oleg Menshikov is, does not know your roles, merits …
Oleg Menshikov: You can’t even imagine what happiness it would be! I would, perhaps, for the first time in many years, breathe freely if I realized that no one knows me, no one wants anything from me, no one looks at me and in general no one cares about my existence or absence.
What would I start doing? Basically, nothing would change. Just inner feelings. I would probably become wider, more generous, more obligatory to close people. When you are famous, you protect yourself, create a fence around. And if this palisade could be destroyed, I would gladly give up fame, from the theater …
Money is one of the elements of freedom. If you are financially independent, it determines a lot in the mind
The only thing I couldn’t refuse was money. Well, how? Do you remember Mironov’s? “Money has not yet been canceled!” And it is true. Money is one of the elements of freedom, its component. If you are financially independent, it determines a lot in your mind. I have already got used to a prosperous life, to a luxurious, as they say now, existence. But sometimes I think: why didn’t I try something else?
Therefore, yes, I would go for such an experiment. To wake up as a useless Menshikov… That would suit me.
Do you remember at what period of your life a middle name began to “grow” to you?
Actually, it happened quite late. Even now they often call me “Oleg”, and people are younger than me. They also manage to use “you”, but I don’t tell them anything. Either I look younger, or I dress inappropriately for my age, not in a suit and tie … But I think that a middle name is beautiful, I don’t know why we all have been called Sasha and Dima for so long, this is wrong . And the transition from “you” to “you” is also beautiful. Having a drink on brotherhood is a solemn act when people get closer. And you can’t lose it.
You once said that you have two of the best ages. The first is the period between 25 and 30 years, and the second is the one that is today. What do you have now that you didn’t have before?
Over the years, wisdom, condescension, compassion appeared. The words are very loud, but without them, nowhere. There was honesty towards oneself and towards others, proper independence. Not indifference, but a condescending attitude to what they think of me. Let them think, say what they want. I will go my own way, this “non-fussiness” suits me.
Sometimes condescension is an expression of superiority, arrogance towards another …
No, this is the same kindness, the ability to put oneself in the place of another. When you understand: everything can happen in your life, you don’t have to judge, you don’t have to prove anything. We need to be calmer, a little softer. I was insanely categorical, especially in relationships. Quietly tore with people — I became uninteresting. There came a time when I just stopped talking.
Of my past friends, I have catastrophically few left, apparently, this is a character trait. I have no complexes or worries about this, other people come. Which I will part with. Although I understand that keeping a long-standing relationship is right. But I didn’t succeed.
What do you think about when you look in the mirror? Do you like yourself?
One day I realized that what I see in the mirror is completely different from what others see. And very upset. When I look at myself on the screen or in the photo, I think: “Who is this? I don’t see him in the mirror! Some kind of light is wrong, the angle is not good. But, unfortunately or fortunately, it’s me. We just see ourselves the way we want to.
I was once asked what kind of superpower I would like. So, I would really like to become invisible. Or, for example, it would be great to get such power that I could get into the brain of any other person to see the world through their eyes. This is really interesting!
Once Boris Abramovich Berezovsky — we were on friendly terms with him — said a strange thing: «You see, Oleg, such a time will come: if a person lies, a green light will light up on his forehead.» I thought, “God, how interesting!” Maybe something like this will actually happen…
On stage, you break seven sweats, you often cry in the role. When was the last time you cried in your life?
When my mother died, another year had not passed … But that’s normal, who wouldn’t cry? And so, in life … I can get upset because of a sad movie. I mostly cry on stage. There is a theory that tragedians live longer than comedians. And then, on stage, some kind of honesty really happens: I go out and talk to myself. With all my love for the audience, I don’t really need them.
You have launched your Youtube channel, for which you record your conversations with famous people, trying to show them to the viewer from unknown sides. And what new things have you personally discovered for yourself in your guests?
Vitya Sukhorukov opened up to me completely unexpectedly … We met a hundred years ago: both his eccentricity and his tragedy — all this is familiar to me. But during our conversation, everything was revealed with such nakedness, with such open nerves and soul, that I was stunned. He said absolutely piercing things that I did not hear from him …
Or here is Fedor Konyukhov — he does not give interviews, but then he agreed. He’s awesome, some wild amount of charm. Completely shattered my idea of him. We think he is a hero: he roams alone on a boat in the ocean. And there is no heroism. «Are you scared?» I ask. “Yes, scary, of course.”
There was also a program with Pugacheva. After her, Konstantin Lvovich Ernst called me and asked her for Channel One, said that he had never seen Alla Borisovna like that.
Sukhorukov during the conversation told you: “Oleg, you won’t understand: there is such a feeling — shame.” And you answered that you understand very well. What are you ashamed of?
Anyway, I’m a normal person. And quite often, by the way. Offended someone, said something wrong. Sometimes I feel ashamed of others when I watch bad performances. I am sure that the theater is going through hard times. I have something to compare with, because I found the years when Efros, Fomenko, Efremov worked. And those who are now being talked about do not suit me as a professional. But it is the actor speaking in me, not the artistic director of the theater.
Who would you like to work with as an actor?
Today I would go to Anatoly Alexandrovich Vasiliev if he did something. I have great respect for Kirill Serebrennikov, although I liked his early performances much more.
I know that you love to write by hand on beautiful expensive paper. Who do you usually write to?
Recently I made invitations to a banquet in honor of my birthday — small pieces of paper and envelopes. I signed to everyone, we celebrated with the whole theater.
Do you write to your wife Anastasia?
Sorry, I don’t have one. But perhaps we need to think about it. Because she always signs cards for me, finds special congratulations for every holiday.
Anastasia is an actress by education, she had ambitions about the profession, she went to auditions. But in the end, she did not become an actress. In what way did she realize herself?
At first I thought that she would quickly pass the craving for the acting profession. But I’m still not sure that it’s over. She talks about it less, but I think that the pain sits in her. Sometimes I even feel guilty. On the course, Nastya was considered capable, her teachers told me about it. And then, when she began to go to castings … Someone was scared by my last name, they didn’t want to get involved with me, someone said: “Why worry about her. She will have everything, she is with Menshikov. She liked this profession, but it did not work out.
She began to dance, because she loved it all her life. Now Nastya is a Pilates fitness trainer, she works with might and main, prepares for classes, gets up at seven in the morning. And it’s not that she is squeezing the acting profession out of herself with a new hobby. Nastya really loves it.
Next year is your 15th wedding anniversary. How has your relationship changed during this time?
We kind of grew into each other. I just don’t understand how it could be different if Nastya wasn’t there right now. It doesn’t fit in my head. And, of course, it would be with a minus sign, much worse, more wrong than it is now. Of course, we changed, rubbed ourselves, quarreled and yelled. Then they talked “through the lip”, somehow they talked like that for a month and a half. But they never parted, there was never even such a thought.
Да ли бисте волели да имате децу?
Certainly. Well, we didn’t succeed. I really wanted, and Nastya wanted. We delayed and delayed, and when we decided, health no longer allowed. I can’t say that this is a tragedy, but, of course, this story has made certain adjustments to our lives.
What other forms of parenthood are you considering?
No. As they say, God did not give.
Any clarification of relations is a way to worsen them. For me, it’s better not to, drove
Do you get scared for Nastya?
It happened, especially at the beginning of a relationship. She was attacked and pursued. I received text messages like «I’m now standing in the subway behind your wife’s back …». And this despite the fact that my phone is not so easy to get! It is clear that they wrote on purpose, provoked. But I was really scared! And now it’s not that I’m afraid — my heart shrinks when I imagine that someone can offend her. If this had happened in front of me, I probably would have killed him. And not because I’m so aggressive. I just have such a reverent attitude towards her that I can not filter my actions.
But you can’t protect her from everything!
Certainly. Moreover, Nastya herself can protect herself in such a way that it doesn’t seem a little. Once, in her presence, someone said an unkind word to me, and she responded with a slap in the face.
Is it customary for you and Nastya to talk about experiences, problems?
I hate all these conversations, because any clarification of relations is a way to worsen them … For me, it’s better not to, we drove through, turned over and continue to build relationships.
Did you often express feelings in your parental family?
Never. My parents raised me by not raising me. They didn’t come to me with lectures, with demands for frankness, they didn’t ask for reports about my life, they didn’t teach me. It’s not because they didn’t care about me, they just loved me. But we did not have trusting, friendly relations, it happened that way. And, probably, much here depended on me.
Mom had a favorite story that she told Nastya. By the way, I don’t remember that moment. Mom took me from kindergarten, I was capricious and demanded something from her. And my mother did not do what I wanted. I sat down in the middle of the street in a puddle right in my clothes, they say, until you do it, I will sit like that. Mom stood and looked at me, didn’t even move, and I said: “What a heartless you are!” Probably, I remained so wayward.