About Oleg Menshikov
Oleg Evgenyevich Menshikov, PAR (Russian: Оле́г Евге́ньевич Ме́ньшиков; born 8 November 1960) is a Russian actor, theatre director and occasional singer. He is the current artistic director of the Yermolova Theatre in Moscow. Internationally, Menshikov is the best known for his roles in the films by Nikita Mikhalkov Burnt by the Sun (1994), The Barber of Siberia (1998), Burnt by the Sun 2: Exodus (2010) and Burnt by the Sun 3: The Citadel (2011), as well as for his performance in Régis Wargnier's East/West (1999). Menshikov is the winner of a Laurence Olivier Award, a Nika Award and three State Prizes of the Russian Federation, and the recipient of the Order of Honour of the Russian Federation. == Early life == Menshikov was born in Serpukhov, Moscow Oblast, to father Evgeny (born 1934), a military engineer, and mother Yelena (born 1933), a doctor. In addition to regular school, Menshikov also attended music school, where he played the piano and the violin. In 1977, he enrolled the Mikhail Shchepkin Higher Theatre School, where he studied acting under Vladimir Monakhov. == Career == Menshikov had his debut role in the 1980 television film Zhdu i nadeyus (Russian: Жду и надеюсь; English: I'm Waiting and Hoping) by Suren Shazbazyan. The next year he made his film debut in Family Relations, which was his first collaboration with Nikita Mikhalkov. Menshikov then went on to star a series of successful films that made him a star in the Soviet Union, including supporting roles in Flights in Dreams and Reality (1983), Through Main Street with an Orchestra (1986) and lead roles in My Favorite Clown (1986) Moonzund (1988) and The Stairway (1989).
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