Vera Brezhneva
Vira Viktorivna Halushka (Ukrainian: Віра Вікторівна Галушка; Russian: Вера Викторовна Галушка, Vira Viktorivna Halushka; born 3 February 1982), better known by her stage name Vera Brezhneva (Russian: Вера Брежнева), is a Ukrainian singer, television presenter and actress.[1]
Vera Brezhneva | |
|---|---|
 Brezhneva in 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Vira Viktorivna Halushka Віра Вікторівна Галушка Вера Викторовна Галушка |
| Born | 3 February 1982 Dniprodzerzhynsk, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Genres | Pop, Pop rock, Doo-wop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, presenter, actress |
| Years active | 2003–2007 (Nu Virgos) 2008–present (solo) |
| Website | brezhneva |
Early life
Vera Brezhneva was born on 3 February 1982 in Dniprodzerzhynsk, in the Ukrainian SSR of the Soviet Union.[1] Her father, Viktor, worked in a chemical factory. Her mother, Tamara, a medical school graduate, worked in the same factory as Brezhneva's father.[2][3] She has three sisters;[1] one older sister named Halyna, and younger twins Nastya and Vika. She bought a flat for her parents in Boryspil, a town close to Kyiv. The father of Brezhneva's daughter, Sonia, is Vitaliy Voychenko, to whom Brezhneva was married to for a few years.[4] She earned a degree by correspondence from the faculty of economics of the Dnepropetrovsk Institute of Railway Engineering.[1]
Career
2002–2007: Nu Virgos (also known as "VIA Gra")
In 2002, Brezhneva was invited to a casting organised to find a girl to replace Alena Vinnitskaya in the group Nu Virgos, in which she succeeded. In January 2003, Nu Virgos started performing in the new lineup; Nadiya, Anna and Vera, that, due to its massive popularity, gained the name of "the golden line up".
In July 2007, Brezhneva decided to take a break from the band. In December 2007, an official announcement was made stating that she was leaving Nu Virgos.[5] She was then replaced in the group by Tatiana Kotova.
2008–2012: TV presenting and return to music
Brezhneva was the presenter of the Russian version of the Power of 10 game-show called Магия 10-ти (lit. Magic of 10), which ran on Channel One Russia for two seasons from 7 January 2008 to 31 August 2008.[6]
In May 2008, Brezhneva premiered her first single called "Ya ne igrayu" (Я не играю; I Don't Play). The song was written by her former producer Konstantin Meladze. The second single "Nirvana" was released on 27 October 2008. The third single "Ljubov v bolshom gorode" (Любовь в большом городе; Love in the Big City) was released in 2009. She then appeared in the music video for the song "Leto vsegda" (Лето всегда; Summer always) by the group Diskoteka Avariya, with actresses Anastasia Zadorozhnaya & Svetlana Khodchenkova. The fourth single was released in April; "Ljubov spasyot mir" (Любовь спасёт мир; Love will Save the World) and reached No. 1 in Russian Airplay Weekly. The next single "Pronto", a duet with Potap was released in September. Her sixth single "Lepestkami slyoz" (Лепестками слез; Petal Tears) was a duet with Dan Balan. In early 2011, Brezhneva premiered her new single "Realnaya zhizn" (Реальная жизнь; Real Life), and the single "Sexy Bambina" at the end of that year. In early 2012, the single "Ishu tebya" (Ищу тебя; Searching for You) was released.
Films
Brezhneva has appeared in numerous Russian-language films. She played Katya in the film Love in the Big City (Любовь в большом городе) in 2009, and its two sequels in 2010 and 2013. In 2016, she starred in 8 Best Dates. She also had a major part playing as herself in Yolki (Ёлки) and Yolki 2, and also appeared in Jungle (Джунгли). Most of her film work has been in romantic comedies.
Discography
Singles
| Year | Single | English translation | Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ukraine | Russia | |||
| 2008 | "Я не играю" | I don't play | — | 6 |
| "Нирвана" | Nirvana | — | 80 | |
| 2009 | "Любовь в большом городе" | Love in the big city | — | 19 |
| 2010 | "Любовь спасёт мир" | Love will save the world | 1 | 1 |
| "Пронто" (with Potap) | Pronto | — | 31 | |
| "Лепестками слез" (with Dan Balan) | By the petals of tears | 1 | 1 | |
| 2011 | "Реальная жизнь" | Real life | 1 | 1 |
| 2012 | "Sexy Bambina" | 1 | — | |
| "Бессонница" | Insomnia | 6 | 20 | |
| "Ищу тебя" | I am looking for you | 7 | — | |
| "Любовь на расстоянии" (feat. DJ Smash) | Love from a distance | 48 | 14 | |
| 2013 | "Хороший день" | Nice day | 2 | 11 |
| "Дом" | Home | — | — | |
| 2014 | "Доброе утро" | Good morning | 1 | 12 |
| "Luna"(feat. Aleksandr Revva) | Luna | 142 | — | |
| "Девочка моя" | My girl | — | — | |
| 2015 | "Мамочка" | Mommy | 15 | — |
| "Этажи"(feat. T-killah) | Floors | — | — | |
| 2016 | "Номер 1" | Number 1 | 16 | — |
| "Feel" | Feel | 854 | — | |
| 2017 | "Близкие люди" | Close people | — | — |
Albums
Studio albums
- Lyubov spasyot mir (2010)
- VERVERA (2015)
EP
- V. (2020)
Awards
Vera Brezhneva has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the celebrated title of the "Woman of the Year" in Russia.[7] She is considered one of the most beautiful women in Russia.[8] In 2007, 2012, 2015, and 2016 she was named the sexiest woman in Russia by the men's magazine Maxim.[9][10]
References
- "brezhneva.com Биография". Archived from the original on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
- Вера Брежнева / Vera Brezhneva (биография и фотоподборка) | Блог X3M-Slider(а)
- Виталий Войченко: Пресс-Портрет
- Когда продюсер «ВИА Гры» Дмитрий Костюк узнал, что принятая в группу вера галушка из… — Газета «ФАКТЫ и комментарии»
- "Вера Брежнева навсегда покидает "Виа Гру"". Randevucity.net. 30 July 2007. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
- "Первый канал. Зарубежное и тематическое вещание / Эфир / Магия десяти". 1tvrus.com. 14 January 2008. Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
- "Russian glamour". The Voice of Russia. 19 November 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- Morozov, Evgeniy [in Russian]. "Vera Brezhneva". M Premiere. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- Shumov, Vasily (1 October 2013). "The evolution of Russian female pop singers". Russia & India Report. Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
- "Russia's sexiest woman announced". NEWS.am STYLE. 19 November 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2014.