Elizaveta Bazikina, the 24-year-old actress known for her role as nurse Natasha in the hit series Slovo patsana (Word of a Guy), has recently opened up about her experiences and challenges as an actress during her first major interview with Ksenia Sobchak. Despite the show's immense popularity, Bazikina was cautious and chose to avoid lengthy interviews to prevent saying anything she might regret.
Reflecting on her career, Bazikina recalled how she started acting early in her education, performing alongside other students at the Moscow Art Theater (MXAT). Notably, she was cast in the esteemed production of Les, where she shared the stage with Andrey Merzlikin. It was during this performance, through a photograph with Merzlikin, she caught the attention of director Valeriy Todorovskiy, who was on the lookout for actors for his upcoming series Nadvoe, starring Alexander Petrov and Danila Kozlovskiy.
“Valeriy Petrovich saw me on the photo with Andrey Illich from the play 'Les' and said I should audition,” Bazikina explained. Her excitement transitioned to shock when she was offered the role, sharing, “I was shocked, and until the very last moment, I was sure it would be canceled.”
But Bazikina faced significant hesitation, particularly because of the sexual content involved. “I was going to refuse because there were two sex scenes,” she admitted. The actress revealed her struggles with the decision, leaning heavily on her personal beliefs: “Yes, my first big role—a gateway to success—but what will others say? I’m a religious girl; this is a huge sin.”
Despite the apprehensions, Bazikina discussed the practicalities of filming intimate scenes. “We arranged how the love scenes would be filmed. For example, I would use nipple covers, and everyone was clear this wasn’t meant to be "pornography",” she clarified. There was still discomfort prior to filming, but once the scenes began, she found herself immersed, stating, “When you’ve done it, you forget... It was scary only before the shoots: how it would look, how Sasha would behave.” Bazikina expressed gratitude toward Petrov's support during those filming moments, appreciating the care he showed as her partner.
She didn't shy away from discussing the tensions behind the scenes of her other work, particularly during the filming of GDR, which followed shortly after her rise to fame. Bazikina recounted, “I was treated as the third party: 'Fix her hair,' 'Has she had her makeup done?,' 'Has the sound been set up?'”
The young actress also reflected on the challenges during emotional scenes, explaining how difficult it was to maintain focus amid distractions. During one poignant moment, as her character grieved for her dying partner, she noted, “A scene where my young man dies should have been treated with more care. Instead, my scene partner behind me casually read poetry about masturbation.”
Through the discussion, Bazikina expressed her firmly held beliefs about her work. For her, embarking on any role meant factoring her faith and intentions behind every decision. This prompted her to step away from roles she deemed inappropriate, such as when she declined the opportunity to star in the series Chistye (Clean) about courtesans due to the number of sexual scenes involved.
Reflecting on the interview, it is clear Bazikina is poised to continue her acting career on her terms. Her determination to navigate her way through the Russian film industry, balancing personal beliefs, professional aspirations, and the public eye, remains uncompromising. Bazikina's candid reflections offer a valuable insight not only to her personal experiences but also the broader dialogue on youth and morality within the acting profession.