Natalie Wood or Natalia Zakharenko? American actress with a Russian soul

On July 20, Natalie Wood, one of the most beautiful actresses of the mid-20th century, would have turned 85. Born Natalia Zakharenko, Natalie Wood is the daughter of Russian émigrés who began her film career as a child. During her lifetime, the actress became the owner of two Golden Globes and three times Oscar nominee. In 1981, she died under mysterious circumstances while sailing on a yacht with her husband. The case of his death remains unsolved, and in 2013 the cause of death was changed from “accidental drowning” to “drowning and other unidentified factors”. On the actress’s birthday, we’ll tell you about her most notable roles.

The Christmas comedy “Miracle on 34th Street” is one of the most popular in the United States. He talks about the fact that faith and love can really work miracles. Natalie Wood plays six-year-old Susan Walker, who doesn’t believe in Santa Claus and writes him letters out of sheer tradition. However, very soon the girl will have to make sure that miracles happen.

Wood’s real fame brought the youth drama “Rebel Without a Cause”, for the role in which the actress was nominated for the first time for an Oscar. The film centers on a young man from a good family, Jim, who embarks on a dangerous adventure to give vent to his rebellious nature and prove to local “bad boy” Buzz that he is no coward. . The two boys compete for the attention of Judith, a girl played by Natalie Wood. Judith, like Jim, suffers from an inability to find her place in life.

Natalie Wood received the first violin in a modern variation on the theme of “Romeo and Juliet” – the musical “West Side Story”. The West Side is a district of New York where two gangs of young people clash. Maria – the sister of the leader of one of the gangs – falls in love with a member of another. Trying to regain the right to love, young people have to go through the hostility and misunderstanding of others, who will interfere in every possible way with lovers.

In the two-part comedy The Big Race, Natalie Wood starred as a seductive correspondent, Maggie Dubois, who has to do a sensational report. The fact is that two inventors – the public favorite The Great Leslie and the envious loser Faith – decide to organize an unprecedented New York-Paris rally. At stake is not only the proof of his superiority, but also the fight for Maggie’s attention.

Natalie Wood’s heroine in the romantic comedy “Love with a Suitable Stranger” is saleswoman Angie Rossini, who, after a casual relationship with musician Rocky Papasano, discovers her pregnancy. Angie finds Rocky and together decide to earn money for an abortion. However, this situation will bring the characters together in unexpected ways and show them from a completely different angle.

The drama “The Inner World of Daisy Clover” tells the story of Daisy Clover, who decides to send a record with her record to Hollywood. There, an influential producer notices her, after which Daisy’s Hollywood career begins. However, all does not go well and Daisy will face psychological problems and have to make difficult moral decisions.

For her role in the miniseries about the events of Pearl Harbor in 1941, Natalie Wood received the Golden Globe Award. The actress played the role of the wife of military commander Karen Holmes, who is having an affair with her husband’s subordinate, Sergeant Milt Worden.

In her latest film, Natalie Wood plays the role of scientist Karen Brace, who is involved in creating a device that can read a person’s thoughts and memories. Little by little, the development passes into the hands of those who want to use it far from the good intentions, and the scientists must stop that.