Vera Valentinovna Alentova is a Russian theatre and film actress - made famous for her leading role in the famous 1980 Soviet drama "Moskva Slezam ne verity" ("Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears"). Alentova was born on Kotlas, Arkhangelsk region in the family of actors. Upon finishing a secondary school she entered a Moscow Art Theatre associated studio of Nimirovich-Danchent, where she was a brilliant student.
At the age of 20 she married her husband and future famous director Vladimir Menshov. Right after the graduation from the studio Alentova played some roles in theatre, but her first appearance on TV was in 1977 when she played a role in the film "Rozhdenie" ("The Birth"). 2 year later she became a country known and famous due her husband's directing debut, the film "Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears". It immediately became overwhelmingly successful not only in the Soviet Union but abroad and won Alentova the recognition, popularity and love all over the country. Alentova was titled the best USSR actress according to a poll by journal "Sovetskij Ekran" (1980). She was awarded USSR State Prize (1981) for her role in "Moscow Does not Believe in Tears" and ICF Prize, Brussels for best female role in this film. The film won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1980.
Since that time Vera Alentova played only about 10 parts in films and TV serials. Most famous are the roles in Films: "Shirli-Myrli", "Zavist Bogov" ("The Envy of Gods"), "Syn za otza" ("The son for a father")
Nowadays Alentova is a member of Theatre Union of Russia, the president of the Charity Fund and holder of People's Artist of Russia title and the Order of Friendship. Alentova is a Honoured Artist of the RSFSR .
