They are sports, artists or even at the top of the state. Russian women who are famous all over the world come from all walks of life. Here is a small subjective selection, where we have privileged – in majority – the celebrities still alive. But of course, some still deserve their place in the standings.
1. Maria Sharapova
The story of this Russian tennis player is incredible and made her famous worldwide. Born in Siberia, Maria Sharapova became the best Russian sportswoman of her generation, becoming number one in the WTA rankings and securing 36 titles during her career. She delighted two Roland-Garros and all the other Grand Slams. Silver medalist at the London Olympic Games, she has carved out a place for herself in legend, helped by her atypical game, her beauty and her characteristic cries. But a two-year suspension, in 2016, for consumption of meldonium put a stop to his career.
2. Catherine of Russia
Catherine the Great showed the world that a woman can successfully run a huge country. Sensitive to the ideas of the Enlightenment of her time, the Czarina succeeded in a series of reforms to move Russia forward and integrate it into the concert of the nations of Europe. Victorious against the Ottoman Empire, it extended its territory to the West and the South. Very open to culture, she herself has published several writings. Today she is considered one of the most important Russian leaders of the last three centuries.
3. Irina Shayk
From a Tatar father and a mother with light eyes, Irina Shayk made her advantageous physique an asset. She became the most famous Russian model in the world, posing for the most prestigious brands. Her love affair with Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and then with actor Bradley Cooper has earned her the front page of many gazettes. Now it is also possible to see her as an actress.
4. Countess of Ségur
Sophie Rostopchine comes from a family that dates back to the great khans, including Genghis Khan. His father was the governor of Moscow who defeated Napoleon thanks to the burning of the city. Refugee in France, married to Eugène de Ségur, she was brought up in the Catholic faith and no longer Orthodox. She made a great reputation there with her novels, where the theme of corporal punishment is often present: Sophie’s misfortunes , After the rain the good weather , The holidays , etc. Thus was born the Countess of Ségur.
5. Liudmila Ulitskaya
She is the most famous Russian novelist outside of Russia, compared to Anna Akhmatova and Marina Tsvetaïeva. Ulitskaya made a name for himself with his first novel, Sonietchka, which won him the Foreign Medici Prize in France. She has received many other decorations (Russian Booker Prize, Simone de Beauvoir Prize, etc.) including the Legion of Honor. Today, she is considered as an opponent of President Putin for her positions and her support for the imprisoned Russian director Kirill Serebrennikov.
6. Svetlana Khodchenkova
Her acting career began in 2003, when she immediately received the Nika Award for Best Female Role. After several appearances in Russian films and TV films, she made a name for herself in the adaptation of John Le Carré’s novel, La taupe . This serves as a springboard since she then embodies the role of Viper in the blockbuster Wolverine .
7. Lou Salomé
The first of the psychoanalysts, Louise von Salomé, was born in Saint Petersburg. When her father died, she left for Germany where she met the philosophers Nietzsche and Rée, with whom she had a three-way relationship. But it is above all his discovery of the theories of the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud which will influence him in particular at the level of unconscious sexuality. She began to publish many books and practice psychoanalysis.
8. Anna Kournikova
Less well-known than Maria Sharapova, Russian player Anna Kournikova was nonetheless talked about during her career, between 1995 and 2003. A great sportswoman, she rose to 8th place in the world and pocketed a total of 16 doubles titles, including two Australian Open. Married to Enrique Iglesias since 2001, she gave her name to a computer virus and a poker hand (the ace and king of hearts, AK in English, “very pretty but who rarely wins”).
9. Elena Isinbayeva
To present it quickly, Elena Isinbayeva is the holder of the women’s pole vault world record. She jumped 5.06m in Zurich in 2009. The “Tsarine”, as she is nicknamed, is three-time world champion, European champion and two-time Olympic champion. Since her retirement in 2016, she can devote herself to her family life (she is married to a javelin thrower) and to the IOC Athletes Commission where she is elected. His anti-same-sex marriage positions have earned him many critical articles.
10. Uliana Lopatkina
The greatest prima ballerina of her generation is very famous for her role as Odette in Le Lac des Cygnes, a ballet inspired by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. Uliana Lopatkina, of Crimean origin, received the Golden Mask for Best Russian Ballerina , the Russian State Prize and the title of Artist of the Russian Federation. However, her motherhood in 2000 as well as a serious injury forced her to put her career on hold for a while.
