Dedicated to O. Menshikov

I want this article to be not only an ode praising the talent and not just a complete denial of his predominance above all. I want to acquaint you with a person you have known for a long time, but from another side.
I'll try not to do it with prejudice, though it is quite difficult to be objective speaking about him. I think you have read the biography of Oleg Menshikov more than once, nevertheless I am going to give a couple of interesting facts. Oleg Menshikov is Scorpio, this fact indicates a strong personality. He was born in the Rat's Year and he is 39 years old. These are just regular facts of his biography, but even these trifles are not known by everyone. Because he is closed for everybody and no one is able to get in his shell. Journalists are interested in the mystery of his isolation, in the secret why this man having lots of admirers, splendid appearance and successful career is not successful in his private life so far. He is not married, he has no children, and he is not open at all. He is a person with a barrier. So who is he? It looks like he cannot answer this question himself.
In one interview he describes himself as cheery, patient and secretive. But in the other one he says he isn't secretive, but on the contrary, sociable and communicative. The only thing we know exactly is that he is an actor of genius, and every part he plays is excellent, either it is Mitya from "Burnt By The Sun" or sprightly Kostik from the well-known movie "Pokrovskie Vorota" ("The Pokrovskie Gate"). Charm and sunshine of his heroes make an airless room bright and your heart better.
Dark eyes, fascinating smile and brilliance of the tender sun - that's him, Oleg Menshikov. A lot of admirers, always a mystery, only positive opinions - this is a strong and firm foundation of Oleg's life. But what he himself is thinking of his life, of love and happiness? It looks like we'll never know that. However it doesn't matter! What I think is that his genius is something innate, something given by God. And his sparkling eyes, his brilliant mind - that is a graceful touch of nature to a simple man. As a matter of fact I guess that Oleg is a simple man, he is neither a robot nor a bright star on the sky of Russia. He can be tired or ill or bored, and of course he can love. And so do not believe in a myth about his insensible heart. Do not believe that he lives only in his films, and in the life he is only a star beyond reach. But it is possible to reach. It is always possible to reach. You need only to want it. But wouldn't it be better to leave him alone? Wouldn't it be better just to admire the talent? Just to love in him something we cannot love in our relatives, I think. To love his charm, his tenderness, his ability to be unsurpassed. To love our ideal. Unfortunately we cannot idealize our relatives, you know. But he is the ideal in everything, he is just an angel, a black-eyed angel. And I'm happy to live on the same planet he is living, to have an opportunity to see new parts he's playing and to look lovingly at him understanding that Oleg Menshikov is my angel. Just an angel. After all, nobody knows the exact face of an angel, but we love his image. So million admirers love the image. This is what you should enjoy, just enjoy that such an image exists. And as far as Oleg is concerned, you'd better leave him alone. In order not to destroy the ideal image of the angel. Our black-eyed angel.

Submitted by Maria Srogovich