Elena Safonova

Biography

Yelena Safonova was born on June 14, 1956, in Leningrad to a family of artists. She graduated from the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography and later earned a degree from the Leningrad Institute of Theatre, Music and Cinematography. A former Soviet and Russian actress, she rose to fame with her starring turn in Nikita Mikhalkov's 1985 melodrama Winter Cherry, earning a David di Donatello award for her performance.