Tamara Yatsenko

Tamara Oleksandrivna Yatsenko (Ukrainian: Тама́ра Олекса́ндрівна Яце́нко) is a celebrated Ukrainian theatre, film and television actress whose career has spanned over five decades, earning her the prestigious title People's Artist of Ukraine in 1993. Born on August 19, 1955 in the village of Horenka, located in the Bucha Raion of Kyiv Oblast within the former Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, she began her artistic journey at a young age, graduating from the Kyiv theatre studio at the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater in 1975, where she honed her craft under the guidance of leading Soviet and Ukrainian mentors. By 1979 she had joined the Kyiv National Academic Molodyy Theatre, delivering compelling performances that quickly established her as a versatile and powerful stage presence, a reputation that was further solidified when she completed advanced studies at the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts in 1990. Yatsenko’s talent is not confined to the stage; she has also made significant contributions to Ukrainian cinema and television, appearing in a wide range of roles that showcase her ability to embody complex characters, and she lent her distinctive voice to the Ukrainian dubs of internationally beloved animated films such as The Little Mermaid (1989) and Despicable Me (2010). Her portrayal of Pronya Prokopivna in the classic comedy Chasing Two Hares earned her the Debut Award at the Sumy festival in 1982 and the Boychenka Award in 1983, while the M. Starytskyi Literary and Art Award followed in 2003 for the same role, reflecting her enduring impact on Ukrainian cultural life. In 2007 she received the Kyiv Pectoral award for her nuanced performance as Madame Aleksandrovna in Golubka, demonstrating her continued artistic relevance. Throughout her prolific career, Yatsenko has remained a steadfast advocate for the development of Ukrainian theatre, mentoring younger actors and participating in numerous cultural initiatives that aim to preserve and promote the nation’s rich theatrical heritage.