Elena Biryukova, star of the Russian sitcom "Sasha+Masha," has opened up about years of struggle before she found fame, saying she battled low pay and crushing self-doubt earlier in her career.
Speaking to Konstantin Dolgov on his YouTube channel "Dolgov," Biryukova said recognition only came to her at the age of 33, after "Sasha+Masha" premiered. Before that, she said, she spent years performing at Moscow's Mayakovsky Theatre, rehearsing productions that were then never staged.
She said that period lasted roughly three years and left her feeling awful, with her self-esteem hitting rock bottom. She described repeatedly running into closed doors, saying it felt as though she had been cursed.
Low pay on stage and screen
Biryukova said she earned only $100 a month while working at the theatre. When she began filming the sitcom, her pay rose to $1,000 a month, though she was working 12-hour days, six days a week, for all five months of production. She said her fee increased from the second season onward, allowing her to buy a Hyundai Accent.
The Mayakovsky Theatre is one of Moscow's leading drama venues, with a history stretching back to the early Soviet era. "Sasha+Masha" was a popular Russian television sitcom.
Life now
Biryukova, now 55, said she lives in a house outside the city and currently performs in antreprise productions, independent theatrical shows staged outside a permanent troupe. She admitted she has not managed to repeat the success of her "Masha" role but said she has not given up. After every setback, she said, a performer has to accept it, process it, and keep moving forward.
Separately, reports emerged in August that singer Alla Pugacheva could return to the stage after facing sharply rising expenses. According to that reporting, her financial reserves have been steadily shrinking, and she is not willing to scale back her lifestyle.
