Dina Korzun

Dianna Aleksandrovna "Dina" Korzun was born on 13 April 1971 in Smolensk, then part of the RSFSR in the USSR. After completing secondary school she pursued artistic training at an art school, where she studied ballet and modern dance, laying a strong foundation for her later theatrical work. She graduated from the prestigious Moscow Art Theatre School and was promptly recruited by the Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre, where she performed as a stage actress from 1996 to 2000. During this period she tackled major roles such as Katerina in Storm, She in I Can't Imagine Tomorrow, and Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream, earning acclaim for her depth and versatility on the Russian stage. Following her successful stage career, Korzun made an impactful screen debut in Valery Todorovsky’s Country of the Deaf (1998), portraying Yaya, a deaf and mentally ill young woman, a role that showcased her powerful emotional range. Her breakout international performance came as Tanya in Paweł Pawlikowski’s Last Resort (2000), a performance that garnered multiple festival honors, including the Best Actress prize at the British Independent Film Awards and the FIPRESCI Prize at the London Film Festival. In 2006 she delivered a nuanced portrayal of Laura in Forty Shades of Blue, earning a nomination for Best Female Lead at the Independent Spirit Awards, while her supporting turn in Cold Souls (2009) brought another Spirit Award nomination. Beyond acting, Korzun co‑founded the charitable foundation Podari Zhizn in 2006, which supports children battling oncological and hematological diseases, reflecting her commitment to social causes. Fluent in both Russian and English, she has worked in both languages, and her cultural impact was recognized when the BBC listed her among its 100 Women of 2013. Throughout her career, Korzun has combined artistic brilliance with humanitarian dedication, solidifying her status as a distinguished figure in contemporary Russian and international cinema.