Valentina Levko

Valentina Levko was a famous Soviet film star and singer, who performed in the Vanemuine theatre for over 50 years. She was born to a large family in Moscow, and received only primary education at St. John's Church. She started singing in the Vanemuine Choir in 1886, and later became an actress in August Wiera's troupe. She was one of the few amateur actors who joined the professional drama troupe in 1906. She played many roles in various genres, from comedy to tragedy, and was praised for her natural and expressive acting. She also sang many songs that became popular among the Estonian people. She was known as the "grandmother of the Estonian theatre" and received the honorary title of Meritorious Artist of the Estonian SSR in 1948. She died in a bus accident in Moscow in 2018, at the age of 92.