Vija Artmane was born as Alida Artmane at the time when Latvia was a sovereign nation.
16 Facts About Vija Artmane
1.
2.
However, at the age of 10, young Vija Artmane became a shepherd girl.
3.
Vija Artmane worked with a herd of cows for over five years, and survived until the end of the Second World War.
4.
From 1946 to 1949, Vija Artmane studied acting under the tutelage of the Latvian theatre director Eduards Smilgis, the original founder of the troupe.
5.
From 1949 to 1998, Vija Artmane was the leading star of the troupe at the Daile Theatre in Riga.
6.
Vija Artmane played her best stage roles under the directorship of Smilgis.
7.
Vija Artmane created important roles in Latvian plays such as Indulis and Arija and Fire and Night under the direction of the National Actor of Latvia Rainis.
8.
Vija Artmane was critically acclaimed for her stage works in Russian plays, such as her passionate performance as Tolstoy's heroine Anna Karenina; she played in Tolstoy's War and Peace, in Gogol's Dead Souls, and other classic Russian plays.
9.
In 1956, Vija Artmane was already a recognised star of the Latvian stage, when she made her film debut in Posle shtorma.
10.
Vija Artmane enjoyed a steady film career in the Soviet Union during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.
11.
Vija Artmane appeared as herself in a documentary on her life entitled Conversation with the Queen which was produced at the Riga Film Studio.
12.
Vija Artmane is regarded as one of the leading figures of Latvian culture.
13.
Vija Artmane was named "People's Artist of the Latvian SSR" in 1965 and recognised as a People's Artist of the USSR in 1969.
14.
In 1999 Vija Artmane was given an award by the Latvian Ministry of Culture for her contribution to the art of theatre and cinema.
15.
In 2007 Vija Artmane was decorated with the Order of the Three Stars, which is conferred in recognition of outstanding civil merit in the service of Latvia.
16.
The asteroid 4136 Vija Artmane discovered on 1968 March was named in her honour.