Severija Janušauskaitė

Severija Janušauskaitė (born 22 October 1981) is a Lithuanian stage and film actress, occasionally performing as a singer, composer, costume designer and fashion model. She is well known for her role in the drama film Star (2014), for which she received an Award for Best Actress at the Kinotavr Film Festival, a Golden Eagle Award for Best Supporting Actress as well as Nika Award and White Elephant Award nominations in several categories. Other popular works include the comedy film The Norseman (2015) as well as the TV series The Optimists and Babylon Berlin (both 2017).

Severija Janušauskaitė
Janušauskaitė in 2014
Born (1981-10-22) 22 October 1981 (age 42)
NationalityLithuanian
OccupationActress
Years active2003–present
AwardsKinotavr (2014)
Golden Eagle (2015)

Early life

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Severija Janušauskaitė was born on 22 October 1981 in Šiauliai. Her mother is a teacher and her father is a power engineer. She has a sister working as an intellectual property lawyer, currently at the trade association representing the recording industry.[1][2]

Janušauskaitė showed interest in arts already as a child, taking example from her grandfather, a multi-instrumentalist. Later on, she studied music and graduated from a fine arts school.[1][3] Finally, she chose a theatre and film study program and graduated from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in 2005.[1][4]

Career

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Since 2003, Janušauskaitė has performed at several Lithuanian theatres, such as the State Youth Theatre of Lithuania, Oskaras Koršunovas Theatre (OKT), VDU / Mens Publica Theatre, and Lėlė (Vilnius Puppet Theatre), as well as the Arts Printing House, a creative space in Vilnius.

After being selected in an open competition, Janušauskaitė was hired in 2006 to play her first major stage role in Woman from the Past, based on a play by Roland Schimmelpfennig.[5] One year later, she played the role of Queen Margaret in Ivona, Princess of Burgundia,[6] accepting an offer by Jonas Vaitkus, her postgraduate studies professor.[1] For her role of Liucija in the drama Patriots at the Lithuanian State Youth Theatre,[7] in 2008 Severija Janušauskaitė was nominated for the Golden Stage Cross, the highest theatre award of Lithuania.[8] She later played other main characters, such as Barbara in Barbara and Sigismund[9] and Elisabet Vogler in an adaptation of Ingmar Bergman's film Persona.[10] The actress was awarded a Fortune Diploma and a Young Theatre Critics Award in 2013[11] for her portrayal of Lulu in Intimacy at VDU Theatre.[12]

Janušauskaitė started her film career in 2004 with the short film The Flame.[13] Later, she appeared in two TV series, War and Peace (2007), an international co-production, and the Norwegian Honeytrap (2008). Her first feature film was the Lithuanian-Hungarian ironic drama Anarchy Girls [lt] (2010), where she played one of the main roles. This film, directed by Saulius Drunga, won the Silver George Award for the best film in the Perspectives competition at the 33rd Moscow International Film Festival.[14] Its screenplay received the New Talent Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007.[13]

Janušauskaitė gained popularity in Russia and abroad for her role in Anna Melikian's film Star (2014). Her performance of socialite Margarita was highly praised by film critics, resulting in the Best Actress Award at the 25th Sochi Open Russian Film Festival (2014),[15] a Golden Eagle Award for Best Supporting Actress (2015)[16] as well as Nika Award and White Elephant Award nominations in the categories Best Actress[17][18] and Discovery of the Year (both 2015).[17] Following the success in Sochi, Severija Janušauskaitė participated as a jury member in the 15th Tbilisi International Film Festival [de].[19]

The following years were characterized by growing critical and public acclaim. In 2013 and 2015, Janušauskaitė was nominated for the Best Lithuanian Actress Award at Vilnius International Film Festival.[20][21] Her performances in the TV series Godfather (2014) and films such as The Norseman (2015) and Dreamfish (2016) were also widely covered by the news media.[22] The latter film participated in the competition of the 27th Kinotavr Film Festival in Sochi[23] and was nominated for the Russian Guild of Film Critics Award in the category Best Debut Film (2016).[24] For her role of the mermaid Helena in Dreamfish, Janušauskaitė received the Best Actress Award at the 25th Honfleur Russian Film Festival.[25] She was nominated for the national film award of Lithuania, the Silver Crane [lt], in 2017 in the category Best Supporting Actress for her role in the historical drama film Emilia (2016).[26]

In 2017, Janušauskaitė became known to a broad audience in Russia and Germany thanks to her roles in major television films. In Russia, the actress is currently widely associated with her performance as Ruta Blaumane, chief of an analytical group in the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the 1960s, in Alexey Popogrebsky's historical drama The Optimists screened on Russia-1 TV channel in April.[27] In Germany, Janušauskaitė is known for her role as double agent Svetlana Sorokina in another period drama set in 1920s Berlin, Tom Tykwer's Babylon Berlin that had its premiere in October on Sky 1. In this to date most expensive German TV series,[28] the actress also appears as the singer Nikoros and performs inter alia the film's main theme, Zu Asche, Zu Staub, released under the pseudonym Severija.[29] In October 2018, after the series started to air on free TV, the song became the most popular song in Germany's Amazon and iTunes download charts.[30] She considers the role in Babylon Berlin as her most memorable one so far.[31]

Janušauskaitė has many interests and does not work solely as an actress. She wrote music for the children's theatre performances The Little Match Girl[32] (at Arts Printing House) and Evolution,[33] designed costumes for Now You See It / Now You Don't[34] (both at Vilnius Puppet Theatre). Apart from that, she also appears as a fashion model.[35]

Personal life

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Janušauskaitė likes singing and plays piano. Her hobbies also include reading, painting, sewing, dancing, yoga, swimming, fencing and make-up design.[1][3] Besides Lithuanian, she speaks English, German and Russian.[13] She is married to the director of the Vilnius Puppet Theatre and has a son from her first marriage.[2][36]

"I can say one thing about my private life: I am not a sociable person. I live a closed life and do not allow anyone to stick their nose into it."[1]

— Severija Janušauskaitė

Works

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Theatre

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PremiereEnglish TitleOriginal TitleRoleVenue
2006Woman from the PastMoteris iš praeitiesRomiArts Printing House, Vilnius
2007Ivona, Princess of BurgundiaIvona, Burgundo kunigaikštytėQueen MargaretState Youth Theatre of Lithuania, Vilnius
2008FerrymanKeltininkasBeatričėVilnius City Theatre / OKT
2008PatriotsPatriotaiLiucijaState Youth Theatre of Lithuania, Vilnius
2010Barbara and SigismundBarbora ir ŽygimantasBarboraState Youth Theatre of Lithuania, Vilnius
2011PersonaPersonaElisabet VoglerArts Printing House, Vilnius
2013IntimacyIntymumasLuluVMU Theatre & Mens Publica Theatre, Kaunas
2014The Little Match GirlMergaitė su degtukais[composer]Arts Printing House, Vilnius
2015EvolutionEvoliucija[composer]Vilnius Puppet Theatre
2016Now You See It / Now You Don'tČia buvo / Čia nėra[costume designer]Vilnius Puppet Theatre

Film

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YearEnglish TitleOriginal TitleRoleNotes
2004The Flamewomanshort film
2006No FocusNefokusesmoking girlshort film
2007War and PeaceВойна и мирgipsy dancer and singerTV series
2008HoneytrapHonningfellenVaida BalandytėTV series
2009The Other Side of the WallLes dernières heures du murMarlene
20102h_Two Hours2h_Dvi valandosAgnijashort film
2010Anarchy GirlsAnarchija Žirmūnuose [lt]Sandra
I Love The Bullet In Your HeartMyliu kulką tavo širdyjeLaura
Laima Determines the DestinyTaip Laima lėmė [lt]voice role
2011The Crown JewelsKronjuvelernaprison guard
The Fortress of Sleeping ButterfliesMiegančių drugelių tvirtovė [lt]Silvija
2012CommaKomatsactressshort film
ExpermanExpermenasLucyshort film
Letters to SofijaLaiškai SofijaiHelen
ReebaRybashort film
2013ViolenceSmurtasJulieshort film
2014GodfatherКрёстныйKristinTV series
StarЗвездаMargarita
Sugar TimeZuckerzeitannounced
2015Chasing SolaceLinashort film
Until NoПока нетshort film
The Exact AddressТочный адресshort film
The NorsemanНорвегBrynhild
Sinickis - Juokas pro ašarasSinickis - Juokas pro ašarasmusic video
The Roop - Be MineThe Roop - Be Minemusic video
2016About Football and AngelsО футболе и про ангеловangelshort film
DreamfishРыба-мечтаHelena
EmiliaEmilija iš Laisvės alėjos [lt]actress
2017The OptimistsОптимисты [ru]Ruta BlaumaneTV series
Babylon BerlinBabylon BerlinSwetlana Sorokina / NikorosTV series
2018MotherlandGimtinėViktorija
IsaacIzaokasElena
What Silent Gerda KnowsKo zina klusā GerdaBaroness Emma
UnburiedNepalaidotasEglėshort film
Short WavesКороткие волны
Bloody LadyКровавая барыня [ru]Catherine IITV series
PolinaПоліна [uk]Varvara
MermaidsРусалкиUlyanaTV series
SelfieСелфиLera
Sleepers (season 2)Спящие (season 2) [ru]Ingrid WatsonTV series
A Rough DraftЧерновикRenata IvanovaTV series
2020The Silver SkatesСеребряные конькиSeverina
2022The PlaylistMaxine SilversonTV miniseries

Dubbing

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YearEnglish TitleLocal TitleRole
2007RatatouilleLa TroškinysColette
2007The Simpsons MovieSimpsonų filmasBart
2007Shrek the ThirdŠrekas 3Rapunzel

Accolades

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YearAssociationCategoryWorkResultRef.
2008Golden Cross of the Stage [lt]Best Supporting ActressPatriots (State Youth Theatre of Lithuania, Vilnius)Nominated[8]
2013FortuneFortune DiplomaIntimacy (Mens Publica Theatre, Kaunas)Won[11]
2013FortuneYoung Theatre Critics AwardIntimacy (VDU Theatre, Kaunas)Won[11]
2013Vilnius International Film FestivalBest Lithuanian ActressNominated[20]
2014Sochi Open Russian Film FestivalBest ActressStarWon[15]
2015Golden Eagle AwardBest Supporting ActressStarWon[16]
2015Nika AwardBest ActressStarNominated[17]
2015Nika AwardDiscovery of the YearStarNominated[17]
2015White Elephant AwardBest ActressStarNominated[18]
2015Vilnius International Film FestivalBest Lithuanian ActressNominated[21]
2016Honfleur Russian Film FestivalBest ActressDreamfishWon[25]
2017Silver Crane AwardBest Supporting ActressEmiliaNominated[26]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Klusas, Mindaugas (13 October 2010). "S. Janušauskaitė: visos chameleono spalvos". Lietuvos žinios (in Lithuanian). Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  2. ^ a b Абакумова, Анна (18 December 2014). "Северия Янушаускайте, "Звезда": "Мне уже не 17 лет, чтобы зацикливаться на внешности"". Вокруг.тв (in Russian). Archived from the original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  3. ^ a b Шабынина, Женя (15 December 2015). "Северия Янушаускайте: "Меня удивило поведение русских мужчин"". Кино-Театр.ру (in Russian). Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Aktorė Severija Janušauskaitė: "Mane išvysite visai kitu amplua"". lrytas.lt (in Lithuanian). 14 April 2015. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  5. ^ ""Moteris iš praeities" – meilės pažadai grįžta bumerangu". Menų faktūra (in Lithuanian). 18 September 2006. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  6. ^ "Ivona, Burgundo kunigaikštytė". Lietuvos teatro metraštis (in Lithuanian). Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  7. ^ Trinkūnaitė, Šarūnė (2008). "Patriotai". Lietuvos teatro metraštis (in Lithuanian). Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Teatro dienos proga bus tradiciškai įteiktos Auksinio scenos kryžiaus premijos". Alfa.lt (in Lithuanian). 3 March 2008. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  9. ^ "Barbora ir Žygimantas". Lietuvos teatro metraštis (in Lithuanian). Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  10. ^ Braškytė, Alma (11 April 2011). ""Persona": programa minimum". Menų faktūra (in Lithuanian). Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  11. ^ a b c "Fortune". Kaunas Artists' House Lithuanian art news website. 25 March 2014. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  12. ^ "Intymumas". VDU teatras (in Lithuanian). Archived from the original on 4 August 2017. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  13. ^ a b c "Severija Janušauskaitė CV". Actors Agency Lithuania. Archived from the original on 12 January 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  14. ^ "2011". Moscow International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  15. ^ a b "Winners of the 25th Open Russian film festival Kinotavr". Kinotavr. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  16. ^ a b "Лауреаты премии "Золотой Орёл" за 2014 год". Национальная академия кинематографических искусств и наук России (in Russian). 22 January 2015. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  17. ^ a b c d "Номинанты Национальной кинематографической премии "Ника" за 2014 год". Российская академия кинематографических искусств (in Russian). Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  18. ^ a b "2014 - Номинанты и призеры Национальной премии кинокритики и кинопрессы "Белый Слон"". Гильдия киноведов и кинокритиков России (in Russian). Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  19. ^ "Jury of International Competition". Tbilisi International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  20. ^ a b ""Kino pavasaris" skelbia pretendentes į geriausios lietuvių kino aktorės titulą". moteris.lt (in Lithuanian). 1 March 2013. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  21. ^ a b "Paskelbti Geriausio metų Lietuvos kino aktoriaus ir aktorės nominantai". Kinfo (in Lithuanian). 13 March 2015. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  22. ^ "Северия Янушаускайте". Россия 1 (in Russian). Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  23. ^ "Competition". Kinotavr. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  24. ^ "2016 - Номинанты и призеры Национальной премии кинокритики и кинопрессы "Белый Слон"". Гильдия киноведов и кинокритиков России (in Russian). 13 January 2016. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  25. ^ a b "Palmarès - 24e Festival du Cinéma Russe à Honfleur". Festival Honfleur (in French). Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  26. ^ a b "Sidabrinė gervė 2017". Lietuvių kino akademija (in Lithuanian). Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  27. ^ Fry, Andy (14 June 2017). "From Russia with love". Drama Quarterly. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  28. ^ Denk, David (13 October 2017). "So überwältigend und doch so steril". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  29. ^ "Severija - Zu Asche, Zu Staub (Psycho Nikoros) – (Official Babylon Berlin O.S.T.)". YouTube. 24 November 2017. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  30. ^ ""Babylon Berlin"-Song stürmt die Charts – darum ist "Zu Asche, zu Staub" so gut".
  31. ^ "Blitz kino klausimai "Sidabrinė gervė" nominantei S. Janušauskaitei: su kuo norėtų papietauti žinoma aktorė?". Kinfo (in Lithuanian). 2 June 2017. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  32. ^ "Lėlių ir gyvo kino spektaklis vaikams "Mergaitė su degtukais"". Menų spaustuvė (in Lithuanian). Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  33. ^ "Evolution". Vilniaus teatras „Lėlė“. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  34. ^ "Now You See It / Now You Don't". Vilniaus teatras „Lėlė“. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  35. ^ "Ramunės Piekautaitės kolekcijos veidu tapo aktorė Severija Janušauskaitė". lrytas.lt (in Lithuanian). 15 April 2017. Archived from the original on 11 January 2018. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
  36. ^ Štuikienė, Dovilė (13 February 2016). "Aktorė Severija Janušauskaitė: "Mane vadina kino maniake, nes jaučiu satisfakciją, kai varau iki paskutinio"". 15min (in Lithuanian). Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2017.

Further reading

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