“In acting, I reveal a different side that I keep secret from the outside world and even from myself.”
Zarina Eva admits that she went to acting for a long time and purposefully, because this is the main passion in her life. She has worked in many well-known projects that have already won a huge number of awards at international festivals. The film "Tomiris" with the participation of Zarina was nominated for the Golden Globe and entered the long list of "Best Foreign Language Film" in 2020, received the prestigious Taurus Award and won the Grand Prix at the Paris Film Festival L'Étrange Festival. Historical drama “Kazakh Khanate. The Golden Throne" by Rustem Abdrasheva, in which Zarina played, was nominated for an Oscar from Kazakhstan as "Best Foreign Language Film" in 2020.
GP: Zarina, how did your career start?
EVA: My career began with a supporting role in the film "Kelinka Sabina", where I played the main character's friend. "Kelinka Sabina" is a real folk comedy that has gained popularity far beyond the borders of Kazakhstan, and I am very glad that I passed the casting for this film. After that, many castings began. But there were moments when I didn’t have roles, and I worked behind the camera as an assistant director or assistant producer in order to know the kitchen from the inside, to understand the process of making a movie.
GP: What was the most memorable project for you? Why?
EVA: I consider the painting "Tomiris" to be one of the most important projects in my life. The historical picture, based on real events, tells about the actions of the 6th century BC, when the Saka tribes, led by Queen Tomiris, managed to give a crushing rebuff to the Persian king Cyrus II, who was trying to conquer the Great Steppe. It is worth noting that the text for the film script is written in the ancient Turkic language, which was approved by historians and linguists. The film received many positive reviews from critics and won the Grand Prix at the prestigious Paris Film Festival L'Étrange Festival. I had the role of commander-in-chief of the Amazon army. My heroine is a brave, brave, valiant girl. It was quite difficult for me to get used to the role, but I coped with this task, while gaining invaluable experience.
HP: What was the hardest part of filming this movie?
EVE: The filming of the project lasted 93 days, and the production as a whole lasted about two years. Before the start of filming, all the actors were sent to a training camp, where they were taught horseback riding, weapons, and martial arts. Historians and consultants were invited for filming, who monitored the authenticity of the language and lifestyle of those times. To reproduce a realistic atmosphere, complex make-up was applied to us in order to achieve the effect of weathered tanned skin, characteristic of the inhabitants of the steppe. Filming in the film "Tomiris" made me leave my comfort zone, I felt those emotions that I did not experience in real life. In addition, thanks to the training in the training camp, I mastered fencing, learned to ride a horse and shoot from a bow.
HP: They say that the best role is close in spirit and character. What roles are best for you?
EVE: Previously, I thought that my role was dramatic roles. But at the NYFA classes, I unexpectedly discovered that comedy roles are close to me in spirit and succeed. I also think that I could play a glamorous, frivolous person. One of my favorite roles is the main role of Sabina in the film by the famous Kazakh director Ermek Shinarbayev. It is very close to me, because this script was written completely for me. And it's a beautiful love story, triangle. A very emotional role, where absolute return was required from me. Filmed in a small village near Almaty, in the cold in winter, but these were the most pleasant memories.
HP: What role would you never take on?
EVE: I didn't even think about it, I always focus on what I want ... I prefer not to limit my creative process, and not to set any boundaries. After all, it happens that it seems that the script on paper is not the most exciting, but from the joint work of actors, directors and the film crew, a masterpiece grows before our eyes.
GP: Have you ever wanted to change careers? What is acting for you?
EVE: No. Sometimes something may not work out, but this only pushes me to analyze my actions and improve myself. Acting for me is Prayer. I feel something very personal, intimate in this - this is a conversation with God. In acting, I open up, on the other hand, which I keep secret from the outside world and even from myself.
GP: Is your job your favorite pastime or is it work?
EVA: I purposefully went for several years to acting. Today I get great pleasure from my work, but at the same time, it is a great work that brings me joy.
GP: What is the most difficult thing for you in your career as a model?
EVE: The hardest thing about being a model is not to lose heart. In connection with the pandemic, global changes have taken place around the world. And the main thing in the career of an actor or model is not to despair when there are no projects. Always believe in yourself and in your success, no matter what. Always be positive, even when things don't work out. It happened that there were simply no projects, and I tried my best to believe in the best, and so it happened. Before something is realized in the external world, it must be created in the internal, in your mind and consciousness. I really believe in visualization.
GP: Can you remember the most unusual photo shoot, what do you remember about it?
EVE: Recently, I had a photo session with a horse. This unusually smart animal posed like a real model. Working with her was easy and pleasant. She felt me and understood what they wanted from her. But, at some point, the horse saw that other horses were taken from the site to the stable to rest, and then her obedience and understanding disappeared. She began to act up and show with all her appearance that she also wants to go home, to the corral. I had to stop filming.
HP: How do you like to spend your free time?
EVE: In my free time, I prefer to engage in spiritual self-development. I especially enjoy sports and meditation. I love free running in nature. While running, I get the most important insights, and it also helps to concentrate on my own thoughts. All this fills me with energy and positive.
GP: What are the three rules that you think are the key to success in any business?
EVE: The three rules that are the key to success in any business are:
focus of attention and intention on what you want to achieve;
an all-encompassing belief that it is possible;
constant actions and steps to achieve the goal. Even small ones, but every day. What matters is perseverance and perseverance.
Well, I would add a good mood and a positive attitude to this cocktail of success. Everything is easier to achieve when a person is on a high, a drive and a positive wave. When life is high, and success comes easier, and it is much easier and more pleasant to establish communications with people.
GP: What is the most important thing in cinema for you?
EVE: I think you have to be smart about your choice of films. Be sure to view the paintings that are recognized as world masterpieces. As Faina Ranevskaya said: “A bad movie is like spitting into eternity.” Instilling good taste, on the advice of my mentors, is helped by silent films: pictures with Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. It is also worth paying attention to the era of "talkies" when the actors "had a voice."
GP: What actors have you already worked with on set?
EVA: After graduating from the German Sidakov School, I starred in two Russian projects. The first project is the film by the talented director Dzhanik Fayziev “The Goalkeeper of the Galaxy”, in which the famous Russian actor Mikhail Efremov starred in one of the main roles. Working with him on the same set was an unforgettable experience for me. The second project is Temporary Difficulties directed by Mikhail Raskhodnikov, where I starred with Yan Tsapnik, Rinal Mukhametov and Ivan Okhlobystin. In "Tomiris" the acting team consisted of experienced and famous artists in Kazakhstan. The role of the Persian king Cyrus was embodied by Hollywood actor Hassan Massoud. The role of the adult queen was played by Almira Tursyn. It is always a pleasure to work with professionals in their field, exchanging experience.
HP: Which actress do you consider the most talented? And with which celebrity would you like to play in the same film?
EVA: There are several actresses who will always inspire me and be a role model - these are Meryl Streep, Audrey Hepburn and Faina Georgievna Ranevskaya. My dream is to be on the same set with Meryl Streep and Johnny Depp.
HP: Would you like to change something in your life after rewinding time?
EVE: If I rewind time, would I like to change something in my life? No! Before, I always regretted something. Now I have grown to such a consciousness when I believe that "Everything that happens - Everything is from God, everything that is from God - everything is for the good." So everything is already perfect and the best option of all possible. At that stage of life when this happened, it was the most ideal option of all possible, according to my perception of life and my energy. So why waste time on disappointment? It is necessary to direct this energy into a creative channel in order to create something good. Focus, attention, is very important. Where you direct it, you will create it in your life. By directing it to disappointments and regrets, you will create more of this in your life. By focusing on goals, creativity, success, you will create more of this. Choice for everyone!
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