On August 4, 2010, People’s Artist of Russia Victor Smirnov will turn 65. His artistic talent was as if specially designed for the Alexandrinsky Stage. Back in 1984, Rostislav Goryayev invited a bright, handsome and temperamental actor with impressive features and strong voice to play the role of Yemelyan Pugachev, “the peasants’ tzar,” in his performance “The Captain’s Daughter.” This job brought well-deserved success and popularity to the actor. His following works included a number of major roles: Zheleznov (“Vassa Zheleznova,” M. Gorky, 1985), Mitrich ("The Realm of Darkness," L.N. Tolstoy, 1986), Chalyapin ("The Bells," Y.Nagibin, 1989), Skotinin ("Ignoramus," D.I. Fonvisin, 1990), Bolshov (“It's a Family Affair — We'll Settle It Ourselves,” A.N. Ostrovsky, 1990), Hamlet and, later, Claudius ("Hamlet," W. Shakespeare, 1992 and 1997), Othello ("Othello," W. Shakespeare, 1993), Chebutykin ("The Three Sisters," A. Chekhov, 1996), Famusov (“Woes of Wits,” A.S. Griboyedov, 1996), He ("Sorry…," A. Galin, 1996), Peter I ("A Story of Tzar Peter and His Assassinated Son Alexey,” F. Gorenshtein, 1997), Omelet ("The Marriage," N. Gogol, 1998), Chalyapin (one-man show “Farewell, Russia!” based on the autobiographical book by F.I. Chalyapin “A Mask and the Soul,” 1999). In the 27 years of work at the Alexandrinsky Theater, Victor Smirnov had practically no bit-part roles. Presently, his repertoire includes such bright and grotesque roles as: Judge Tyapkin-Lyapkin (“The Inspector General,” N. Gogol), Ivan Nikifirovich Dovgochkhun (“The Ivans,” after N. Gogol’s novel “The Story of How Ivan Ivanovich Quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich” and other stories), Yury Lokhov (“Vampilov. Plays”). Victor Smirnov plays Polonius in the new production of W. Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” (Director Valery Fokin, 2010).