Varvara Shmykova is a Russian theater and film actress who gained widespread acclaim following her lead role in the series Chiki. Born on February 24, 1992, in Moscow.
Prior to the full-scale invasion in 2022, Varvara Shmykova had already developed a reputation as an "inconvenient" actress for the Russian authorities. In January 2021, she openly supported Alexei Navalny, recording a video address in his defense and attending street protests.
Varvara Shmykova's Position on the War in Ukraine
On February 24, 2022 — the day of her thirtieth birthday — Varvara Shmykova posted an anti-war black square on Instagram.
A month later, the actress posted a photograph of herself with tears in her eyes captioned "one month and one day" (since the start of the war).
Due to her anti-war stance, Varvara was forced to leave Russia. She initially relocated to Argentina and later settled in Berlin. Later, the actress commented on her emigration as follows:
I was fortunate, because I had no choice, because I maintain an active, vocal anti-war stance
Interview with Yury Dud in 2023
In December 2023, in an interview with Yury Dud, Varvara opened up about personal anguish and family divides caused by differing civic positions.
On the impossibility of remaining silent and on context: «I lived like that for a year [in silence mode], and I started losing my mind. I began to feel genuinely awful, because acting is my instrument... I cannot live outside the context when drones are flying overhead, conscripts are being dispatched, and the newsfeed is exploding... That's how we were trained: context is vital. How can you perform right now without context?
On her stepfather voluntarily joining the frontline: «To put it metaphorically, it felt to me like a person jumping off a bridge while his family stands beside him applauding. That's how it felt to me, and I wanted to run up and hold him back.
On disputes with her family and the meaning of patriotism: «My mother and I have completely different conceptions of patriotism. I would never let my husband go off to war, nor would I enroll my children in a Suvorov military academy... To me, patriotism means being in a dialogue with your country... when your voice can be heard... Our relationship is unfortunately ruined, because to her, I am a traitor. That's what my mother called me... Because I left. And back when I protested at Bolotnaya — 'well, like, you're just a fool, an idiot'.
While living abroad, Shmykova continues to participate in anti-war initiatives and artistic projects alongside other exiled performers. She openly states that she has no plans to return to Russia until the political situation in the country undergoes fundamental changes.
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