Sabina Akhmedova: “Breaking stereotypes is my favorite pastime”

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FAMILY

We moved to Moscow from Baku when I was eight years old. As with any child, the process of adapting to a new society was not easy for me. We constantly moved, we had to change several schools – it was difficult, scary, difficult, but gradually we managed to neutralize everything. I got used to the new culture, I made friends. Time passed, and I realized that all this ultimately helped me a lot, now I can easily find contact with any person, although I am an introvert by nature.

I am not from a creative family, but when I announced to my parents that I wanted to become an actress, they did not interfere. My dad is a rather conservative person, but he did not resist. It was important to him that I was happy and doing what I loved. My mother has always been my main source of support. In the most difficult situations, she is always there. We try to see each other once a week, however, because of the filming, this does not always work out, but we are constantly in touch.

CAREER

When I graduated from the Institute of Contemporary Art in Moscow, I realized that I know very little about myself and have a poor understanding of how I function. I lacked the tools to fully realize myself. And I wanted to study again. It seems to me that before going to the artists, a person must first form at least a little, understand what he is, what touches him, what is important to him, what he responds to, or they must actively help with this in the education process in order to establish this connection with themselves .

We have a voluminous, powerful education, but it is more focused on the theater institute, on dramaturgy. And in America, the education system is focused exclusively on the person. They are very detailed, attentive, with great respect for the individual, they teach very delicately, they help to recognize yourself and understand how you are generally arranged. That is why I chose the Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute in Los Angeles.

I played in the theater in America and in Russia, but it did not last long. In general, the theater is a very complex form, you have to be naked all the time, you have nothing to hide behind. And it’s very scary, every time. Just you and the viewer. And this relationship will either get better or it won’t. Such a risky and at the same time exciting adventure. This is the feeling I miss. I thought about returning to some one-time performances, I periodically discuss this with different directors, but so far it just didn’t work out. When something really interesting comes up, I’ll gladly come back.

SERIES

I really felt that the profession accepted me five or six years ago. For quite a long time, the exhaust was very small. For every material I had to fight. Fight for the opportunity to realize your potential. I originally had a lot more outer blocks because of my type. And 20 years ago, when I started, it was even more difficult – there were simply no roles. For me, the online platform has fundamentally changed the situation. It is very cool that this direction continues to develop and develop us.

I personally consider the series “Call Center” by Natasha Merkulova and Alexei Chupov to be a turning point. This is amazing material, a role-canvas, in which there is a scale and the opportunity to do a lot if you have a lot of it. Natasha and Lesha are completely immersed in the process so that you begin to feel the hero at the cellular level – this is close to me.

I have a coach, but I would rather call him a like-minded person, we work through the material with him, look for important and interesting starting points in it. We also worked together on the Frozen Earth project, which was released in April in two online cinemas, Wink and Kinopoisk. Despite the fact that my heroine is in the background, she strongly supports the main plot, she is a kind of gray cardinal. Initially, we talked with director Oksana Karas that we do not want Zhenya Gradova to be a stereotyped, obvious antagonist who achieves everything by force and pressure. She puts many people to waste, while she herself remains afloat, so she must use very subtle, feminine, sophisticated methods.

Gradova is a complex character. It is worth looking at her behavioral patterns, what she is like in public, in the family and when she is with herself. Her long artificial nails are also part of her character, how she interacts with the world. Yes, and her last name is speaking – Gradova. She is the mother of this city, all her actions are aimed at maintaining the balance in it at any cost. All this psychological portrait and motivation had to be sought and built, to find a physical manifestation of this, a behavioral one – in interaction with others. We worked on all this with a coach. In America, I have a teacher with whom I also sometimes prepare for projects. We worked with him on the role in the TV series “The Female Praying Mantis”.

In parallel with Russia, I am filming in America. There, I don’t yet have the opportunity to particularly choose projects, but if they send me a script where I have to play a Russian prostitute in a series, I refuse. I don’t mind playing a woman of easy virtue, if there is volume, some kind of energy and an opportunity to show up, but this rarely happens. In the series FBI: International, I played an American. I worked hard on the accent for four years, so for me this is an absolute victory. I am glad that such projects happen from time to time, because in doing so I destroy stereotypes, and this is my favorite pastime.

PERSONAL

I am proud of my relationship with my man, I lead an ordinary life and do not consider it necessary to devote people to private details. This is my territory and I don’t want to go there. It seems to me that the less you know about an artist, the more interesting it is to look at him. Otherwise, every time you will remember his divorces, children and dramas, and then it will be very difficult to believe in what you see on the screen.

In our free time, Nikita and I just love to walk, go to exhibitions and concerts, to the theater. We can leave for the weekend outside the city or to St. Petersburg. Sometimes we enjoy just lying on the couch, watching a movie or reading in silence.

STYLE

I always went to social events myself, but this year I got two beautiful girls – stylists. I wanted change. Now we are creating something new and interesting together. I love the difference in people. For example, Helena Bonham Carter is not fashionable, but it is a high degree of maximum freedom and individuality. I admire her. Although such brightness is unusual for me personally, simplicity suits me.

I always need to feel myself, so as soon as the outfit is larger than me, I get uncomfortable. I love conciseness, but often combined with interesting, sometimes large accessories – bags, glasses, chokers and rings. I really like it when people create their own image not according to the general current canons, but when it doesn’t look like anyone else. Then “stylish” becomes synonymous with “individually”. It is very interesting when you can see the essence of a person through external attributes.

STYLE: KHABIB SULEYMANOV

MAKEUP: ANNA MERKUSHEVA / MAKE UP FOR EVER

HAIRSTYLE: IREK HAMMATOV / BEAUTY SALON “AT THE HEIGHT”

PRODUCER: OLGA ZAKATOVA

PHOTOGRAPHER’S ASSISTANT: KIRILL MENDOZA

STYLIST’S ASSISTANT: ANASTASIA KUKINA

ASSISTANT PRODUCER: ELIZAVETA KONDAKOV

THANKS TO AURRU INTERIOR GALLERY AND CHRISTIAN RESTAURANT FOR HELP IN ORGANIZING AND CONDUCTING THE SHOOTING