Georgia: The Georgian Ministry of Culture and Sports honors Leila Abashidze’s memory and essential contribution to developing Georgian cinema and theater. Leila Abashidze would have turned 95 on August 1, 2024.
Leila Abashidze was born in Tbilisi in 1929. Shota Rustaveli received a professional education at the acting faculty of Tbilisi State Theater Institute.
Leila Abashidze’s artistic career started in childhood when, in the movie “Kajana,” she played Kato with extraordinary simplicity. As a promising actor, the actress paid great attention to the course and diploma performances of the theater institute.
Notable from the roles he played are: Utah (“Golden Path,” 1944), Nazibrola (“Cradle of Akaki,” 1948), Nino (“Spring in Saken,” 1950), Christina (“Chrichina,” 1953), Lela (“They came from the mountain,” 1953), Leah (“Abezara,” 1956), Manana (“Our yard,” 1956), Maya (“Maya Tsneteli”, 1958), Mzia (“Where is your happiness Mzia?”, “1959), Dagmara (“I will dance,” 1962), Nanny (“Khevisberi Gocha,” 1964), Lali, Mzevinari (“Meeting in the Mountain,” 1966), Ketevani (“Waiting,” 1970), Vardisakhari (“The Right of the Grandmaster,” 1969-70), Lia (“A Walk in Tbilisi,” 1976-77), Shervashidze (“Paris – Tbilisi,” 1980). The film “Paris – Tbilisi” was the director and the scriptwriter himself.
The actress’s last work is the role of a female actress in Lana Ghogoberidze’s film Hustle (1986).
Her awards are also to be noted. In 1969, in the movie “Meeting with the Past,” she was awarded the first prize for “Best Performance in a Female Role” at the Leningrad Union Film Festival. In 1987, she was awarded in the same category at the International Festival held in Japan. In 1958, she was awarded the Honorable Artist of Georgia; in 1964, the Chechen-Ingusheti People’s Artist; and in 1965, the Honorary Title of the People’s Artist of Georgia.
The audience once again expressed their love and respect for her in 2009 when a star named Leila Abashidze opened in front of the Rustaveli cinema. In the same year, the actress was awarded the Honorary Citizen of Tbilisi title.
Leila Abashidze is one of the most prominent representatives of Georgian cinema. She enriched Georgian cinema with fabulous faces. The pathos of life, bright optimism, and romantic passion define her work.
The actress’s creative palette, along with comic, sharply characteristic characters, is enriched with impressive dramatic faces, which gives the artist a special place in the history of modern Georgian cinema.
