Yuliya Aug

Yuliya Aug (born 8 June 1970 in Leningrad, then part of the Soviet Union) is a celebrated Russian actress and theatre director whose career spans over three decades across stage and screen. Raised in Narva, the Estonian SSR, she inherited a mixed cultural heritage, with an Estonian paternal grandfather, which contributed to her versatile artistic sensibility. After graduating in 1993 from the Russian State Institute of Performing Arts, Aug joined the prestigious Bryantsev Youth Theatre troupe, where she remained for ten years, embodying iconic roles such as Sophia in Woe from Wit, the Mermaid in Pushkin's Mermaid, and Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's tragedy. Her commitment to the theatrical craft deepened when she earned an honors degree in Theatre Directing from the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts in 2010, studying under the guidance of Joseph Raihelgauz. Transitioning to film, Aug made her screen debut in the 1989 drama Abduction of the Wizard and subsequently appeared in a wide range of Russian productions, from historical epics like The White Horse (as Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna) to contemporary series such as The Student (as Inga Yuzhina) and the critically acclaimed Leto (as Tatiana Ivanova). Her performances are noted for their emotional depth, often portraying complex women navigating turbulent periods of Russian history. In addition to acting, Aug contributes to the avant‑garde Gogol Center, the theatre led by Kirill Serebrennikov, where she collaborates with innovative directors and pushes the boundaries of modern Russian theatre. Her work has been recognized with prestigious awards including TEFI and the Nika Award, cementing her status as a vital figure in Russian cultural life. As of the early 2020s, Aug continues to work actively in film, television, and stage, influencing a new generation of performers through both her artistic output and her mentorship within the Gogol Center ensemble.