MOSCOW , February 5, Anastasia Silkina. The 11th season of «Sklifosovsky» is airing — few series can boast of such longevity. Maxim Averin will return to the role of surgeon Bragin. The artist spoke about his image on screen and in life in an interview.
«What are you afraid of? That this work is interesting?»
— Maxim, who else if not you should I ask: why are TV series about doctors and police officers so popular?
— These professions are closer to the people. Everything comes from “Uncle Styopa” and “Doctor Aibolit”. In addition, doctors are associated with hope.
— The 11th season of “Sklifosovsky” is on the Rossiya TV channel. Is there a fear of becoming a hostage to the image in a white coat?
— They asked about this 15 years ago, when another film came out (“Capercaillie.” — editor’s note). What to fear? Because this work is interesting? I'm not ashamed of her.
— You appeared in the series “Interns” on the eve of the first “Sklifosovsky”. Your hero-actor was then preparing for the film role of a doctor in a real hospital. Was it a coincidence?
— Then there was no talk about Sklifosovsky. I really liked the acting ensemble of “Interns”, I wanted to be in their company. The authors came up with a cameo. And only then they offered me to star in Sklif. Quite a bit of time passed after the Capercaillie, and I even doubted whether to agree to such a long run again. But I like the company — the director, the screenwriters, the powerful cast of actors — so much that I have been working with them with pleasure for 12 years.
«I don't think about risks, but about doing well»
— I heard that while filming the new season you had to risk your health: spend six hours in the cold in a rock crevice.
— There are so many people in our country whose risks are worse, so I can’t say: “Oh, I took such a risk!” In any season there is action associated with a complex production process.
When I understand that it will be cool on camera, I think not about the risks, but about doing everything well and not letting the team down.
— You are in cinema, on television, on the stages of the Theater satire and Lenkom. Is there any professional gestalt left?
“Naturally, the thought flashes through my head: I should try this again!” Last year he played Charnota in Bulgakov’s play “Running” at Lenkom. I never thought about this role, but now every performance is a holiday for me. The second performance in which I was introduced was “Funeral Prayer.” As a young man I watched Alexander Abdulov play in it and thought: I want that too! And almost 30 years later I appear on this stage.
I don’t think whether this has closed some kind of gestalt, but simply accept new challenges and try to cope with them with dignity. (Smiles.)
«It’s useful to think about which door come in»
— You are not seen in scandals. What some of your colleagues cannot boast of: entering the “wrong door” at a recent party resulted in the cancellation of performances. What do you think about it? Should we forgive them and return them to the screen?
— The problem arose a long time ago. I'm not saying you need to be inaccessible, but there needs to be some kind of mystery. When everyone knows about an artist, everything is available, it distracts from creativity, from songs, film works. And creativity ceases to be sincere if everything is for sale.
The time is complex, difficult, and we must try to navigate it. There is so much unrestrained behavior in the world, it’s as if everyone is living on their last day. We have stopped noticing that it is becoming the norm to insult an old man on the street or a teacher, or to hit someone else. You see, freedom is not about going somewhere naked. Or take some inhuman name, a nickname. We are a huge country, a society, children grow up here who read all this and begin to imitate it, thinking that this is the norm.
Therefore, it is always, especially in the current difficult situation, useful to think about which door you are entering and why.< br />
—You have a telegram channel. Do you run it yourself or “specially trained people”?
— If I do something, I try to do it myself as much as possible, including running my own telegram channel. My poems are there. But, of course, in big work I have a whole team: the director who organizes my tours, maintains an incredibly complex schedule, and people who help technically maintain my official website, set up both light and sound at my solo performances. This is a large and friendly team of high professionals, whom I really appreciate.
I don’t divide my life: on stage I’m one, but in life I’m different. When 14-15 year old kids come to me, I can’t destroy their attitude towards my hero, I can’t be rude to them. I receive a lot of letters. Of course, I am not able to answer everything, but I try to say an encouraging word to everyone. I don’t run from the public.
— You head the Sochi Concert and Philharmonic Association. How did it happen that you are connected with this city?
— The Sochi Winter Theater turned 85 years old, and the city’s leadership came up with the idea that an artistic director was needed. Yes, this is my another new job and an opportunity to gain new experience. Sochi has wonderful professional people and a wonderful audience. I literally just returned from there, did two programs with the entire concert and philharmonic association. There are amazing musicians there! It was a full house.
The time has come to share your experience. A children's studio has appeared, and I'm interested in working with them. They go on the big stage and are not afraid of it!
— This year you will also be taking a course at the Shchukin Institute, where you studied yourself. Do you think it is possible to recognize a future star in a 17-18-year-old student?
—No one can give such guarantees, everything is in the hands of God and chance, and everyone achieves everything through their own labor. For example, when I graduated, they predicted success for me, but my film debut was almost a failure. And I was afraid that no one would film me anymore! And everything didn’t happen at once in the theater. You must be able to wait and seize your chance.