The legless beauty from the movie "Mermaid" was left without funds and without work. Portraits of Russia: Veronica, Legless Rebel Up the Stairs in Her Arms

The legless beauty from the movie "Mermaid" was left without funds and without work

Today Veronika Skugina lives in the northern capital with friends

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At the Fifth Festival "Cinema Without Barriers" in Sochi this fall, Anna Belyankina's film "... Nika ..." received the Grand Prix. The heroine is the legless actress Veronika Skugina. The girl is known to the audience for her bright role in Anna Melikyan's film "Mermaid". A disabled hooligan, laughingly destroying a cosmetic store with the main character, is a symbol of an indifferent glamorous world.

Veronica says she doesn't look like her character in Mermaid at all. However, she is also prone to risky actions - she does not want to live in the provincial town where she was born, to exist on benefits in a room in a nursing home - where the state provided the orphan with living space. Once Nika packed up her belongings and waved to conquer the capital.

And what to do in Volkhov? Skugin says. - Sleep in your little room? I want to live, work in the cinema, develop.

Veronica lost her legs in a car accident. She and her father were driving in a car to the dentist when a drunk driver of the Volga crashed into the car (later it turned out that the policeman fell asleep at the wheel). The father died instantly, the ten-year-old girl was squeezed by the seat. A traumatic brain injury, one leg was completely broken, the other was shattered into pieces - the doctors did not manage to collect it. The girl lay in a coma for a long time, the doctors did not hope that she would survive.

But a miracle happened - after months of dreary hopelessness, Veronica went on the mend. Today she does not like to remember those days - everything was too hard. She only says that she accepted the news that she was left without legs without tantrums. I realized the full horror of the tragedy while still there, in the car, in the moments when my consciousness cleared up.

The legless girl had nowhere to study in her hometown, her mother sent her daughter to a boarding school for the disabled. When Nike was fourteen, her mother died.

She experienced grief, clenching her teeth, she was well aware that she had lost the last loved one. Her relatives did not care about her, no one else came to visit the boarding school. I studied, gained strength and again learned to enjoy life.

I was almost driven to the grave by the scandalous program of Andrei Malakhov on Channel One, ”recalls the actress. - I seriously then decided to commit suicide. I was invited to the program to talk about the problems of the disabled, but they called me a prostitute. They accused me of earning my living in this way. Our people believe in television unquestioningly. When I returned to my city, they simply did not let me pass. They called me names, offered money for intimate services. And I fought in response to nasty proposals! I think that it is ugly, but then I could not endure these humiliations.

However, in addition to humiliation, Malakhov's program brought fame. Nika was seen by the director of "Mermaid" Anna Melikyan and invited to her film for the role of a legless hooligan, an accidental girlfriend of the main character.

Veronica then did not think long about the proposal. I threw my things into a suitcase and left for Moscow.

There was success, and then there was great love. After the series, - said Veronica. - Life has become easier. People finally looked at me with different eyes.

Then a new job in the TV series “A Word to a Woman”, where a legless girl was offered to work as a script supervisor - an assistant script director. In between filming, she met director Belyankina. Anna was amazed at the courage, cheerfulness of the legless beauty. Then she decided to make her film about Veronica.

For almost four years, love continued with the operator - Alexei. Together they went to the shooting. Nika worked as a “watch for mistakes” - she made sure that foreign objects did not get into the frame, often her work was only on a voluntary basis. And if they did, it was very little. However, money was not the main thing for Veronica, it is important that she did what she loved in life.

I don’t particularly aspire to an acting career, Veronica says today. - But I really love cinema and I'm glad if it happens to work on the creation of a picture.

It has long been an acquaintance with Alexei's parents, friends thought that the wedding was about to take place. However, a happy family was not destined to work out - Veronica and Alexei broke up this spring.

Today Veronika Skugina lives without housing and practically without work and money with friends in St. Petersburg. In Moscow, where there are more opportunities to get into a serial project, into your favorite movie, you don’t want to return at all - the sad memories of the departed love are oppressed ... And still, she does not give up. For twenty years of not at all sweet life, the legless beauty has learned to endure and overcome any difficulties.

To see this country, we record the stories of the most different people. They come from different places and social strata, they have different wealth and different level education. This story has no end: how many people - so many Russias. A resident of a mountain village in Ossetia tells how he built a small power plant and shares his own electricity with his neighbors for free. The funeral agent hates people because they do not mourn their dead, but in a hurry look for hiding places. An old man who sings Soviet songs near the metro tells how he came to Moscow from Tambov with an accordion to raise money for the treatment of his sick wife, and won the hearts of Muscovites.

Each storyteller draws his own portrait. Portraits of Russia are not portraits of Russians performed by PublicPost journalists. This is a gallery of country portraits created by our interlocutors. They talk about themselves and about the world they live in. Many of these lives - this is the same Russia.

Veronica, legless rebel

Despite the lack of legs, Veronica manages to lead an extremely eventful life: ride a motorcycle, act in films, work as a TV presenter, listen to declarations of love and not feel disabled.

A girl recently wrote to me: "I would like to make friends with you, I have the same disease as you. I also have no legs." I ask her: "And why did you decide that this is a disease? Why are you chewing snot? Humble yourself! Take the world easier." The girl replied that I was a star.

About childhood

I am 26. At the age of 12, I was in a car accident and have been living without legs ever since. When I became disabled, my mother handed me over to an orphanage on the other side of the country. I come from the Krasnoyarsk region, and the orphanage was in Bolkhov, in the Oryol region. I tried to keep in touch with my mom, but elder sister I was then told that our mother had died. A few years ago I found out that she lied, my mother is still alive.

How I almost got adopted

So, Bolkhov is a small, deaf city, where every second thumps. I was lucky, I met Tanya from Moscow. She once came to our boarding school. She liked me because I was a rebel, and she wanted to adopt me. I was against guardianship - it's wrong when a person has two mothers. But from the age of 14, Tanya began to take me to her place in Moscow every summer. There were exhibitions, museums, cinema. Tanya showed me what good cosmetics is, how to eat right, how to hold a spoon and fork. They don't teach that in boarding schools.

About the German groom and Malakhov

Tanya had her own marriage agency. She was looking for foreign husbands for disabled girls. She also picked up the German Stefan for me when I was 18, but I refused her services. Of course, he was handsome, but I only wanted to marry for love. When I was already 20 years old, Tanya was invited to the Big Wash program. There was a program about how girls went abroad to work, and there they fell into slavery. Tanya was invited as a "light at the end of the tunnel": they say, she is engaged in such a noble cause. As a result, she was exposed in the program as a pimp, and me as a prostitute.

About the first filming

Shortly after that transmission, I returned to Bolkhov. Of course, everyone there saw this program. They pointed fingers at me, called me a whore, offered money. I kept my nose up. Then I suddenly got a call from Mosfilm - they offered me a role in a movie. There, the director's assistant was looking for a person to play the role of a legless girl in the film "Mermaid". I agreed without hesitation. It took a year to shoot. In Bolkhov, I did not tell anyone about this - they would not have believed it anyway.

About meeting my husband family life and miscarriage

During filming, I met Lesha. He was the operator. A month and a half later, he asked me to move in with him. So I settled in Moscow permanently. I was very worried before meeting his parents. But his mother was very glad to me, she immediately called me a daughter. Lesha and I got married.

After "Mermaid" I hardly starred, only a few times - in episodic roles. For example, in one film about Chechnya, a guy gets blown up by a mine, he needed a legless understudy. But for the most part, I worked behind the scenes, helping the director restore details on set. For example, if the scene with a quarrel was not filmed in a day, the next morning I reminded the director whether the heroine’s mascara was smeared, what expression she had on her face, how the curtains hung.

We lived with Lesha for three years and divorced. We did not have enough time for each other, both were busy with work. The whole household was on me: washing, ironing, cooking, filling the refrigerator, walking the dog. Lesha didn't do much. Yes, I'm stupid too. I immediately raised the question that I am independent. Like, I can do everything myself, and I don’t need pity. He began to cheat on me, and I kicked him out of the house. Then he somehow came and beat me. I had a miscarriage. I have a 1% chance of having a baby again.

About a new life in St. Petersburg

Three years ago I moved to St. Petersburg to start all over again. Here I am very much loved by citizens aged 40 and older, who watch all sorts of tearful, cute stories on TV. They recognize me all the time on buses. Everyone strives to help. I don’t understand why, if I’m doing great on my own.

Life, it seems, has improved, sometimes it just happens lonely. I wanted to adopt a child, otherwise I already have a dog all kissed, she has a lot of clothes. Only the disabled cannot adopt children, especially without an apartment. By law, I am entitled to an apartment, but only where I was born, that is, in Krasnoyarsk. Obviously, I won't go there.

Now I work in the St. Petersburg Central Park of Culture and Culture, organizing cultural events there. Prior to that, she worked as a presenter on the St. Petersburg channel "100 TV". I hope to be in films again soon. A friend of mine wrote the script especially for me. I don’t know what the film will be about, but I already agreed. I hope that I will play an action baby.

About motorcycles

I love motorcycles. Fortunately, I have a lot of biker friends here who ride me. The main thing is to hold on tight, because sometimes we do such tricks! They are close to me in spirit: in 90% of cases, their accidents occur through no fault of their own, and injuries are often incompatible with life. They are more responsive. If one of them gets into an accident, they immediately rush to help, because they know that the same thing can happen to them tomorrow. Motorcycles are drugs. Then you can’t live without this adrenaline rush, you seem to be without hands.

About fans

There are days when I feel 40 years old. But I know how to keep myself - who wants to communicate with a depressed, tortured person? And I have a lot of fans. Just last week, a boy proposed to me. In fact, I turned him down.

13

The girl lost both legs in 1983 while walking in Kindergarten. She ran out onto the road and was hit by a truck. Li's life changed in an instant. At the age of 8, she learned to "walk" again. Two wooden stools help the girl.

Another person, finding himself in a similar situation, might despair in her place. But Lee is distinguished by the desire to live, learn and be useful. The girl wanted with all her heart to become a doctor. Li left her village to enter Medical College. She graduated in 2000.

Lee has been taking care of patients in his native village for 15 years. “I just do what I have to. Even if I didn’t get paid, I would still continue to work as a rural doctor,” the girl shared.

Li Yuhong measures blood pressure.

She provided assistance to almost every inhabitant of her village and nearby settlements.

Li lives in the small Chinese village of Wadian in the southwest of the country. It seems that her work is a real feat, but she thinks otherwise. She just loves to do what she loves. It's not easy for the girl, but seeing how her patients recover, Lee understands that one should not relax and feel sorry for oneself. She is truly needed.

Lee examines the homes of patients who different reasons can't come to see her.

In her 15 years of work, Lee demolished 30 wooden stools.

Lee truly loves his job.

The girl charges her patients with optimism.

She does not lose willpower, endurance and patience.

Li married a man named Xing from her home village. Xing quit his job to help around the house and carry his wife to patients in his arms when Li can't reach them on his own. Sometimes he takes her to neighboring villages if the patients are too old or in serious condition. Li manages 300 houses, where about 1,000 people live.

Li's husband helps her walk the long distance to the patient's home.

AT recent times Lee also uses a chair, but it's not always suitable for the rough roads around the farms.

Xing supports his wife in everything.

Lee's story inspires and strengthens faith in goodness.

We found the heroine of the newspaper publication "Anna and the Tram" Anna Fetisova already at home, in a small-family hostel on the street. Pervomaiskaya, where her mother Svetlana lives. On December 15, Anna was discharged from the hospital, and at the family council it was decided that she would be more comfortable in her mother’s tiny apartment than in the same “mansions” of her common-law husband Dmitry Smirnov. No, Dima is still around. He and his mother are now the main support for Anna.

Up the stairs in my arms

Anna, how did you get home?

- From the ward to the taxi, Dima drove me in a hospital wheelchair, and here he lifted me up to the fifth floor in his arms.

- Have you discussed the issue of exchanging an apartment for the first floor?

We discussed and decided what needs to be changed. Mom is ready for this, but you won’t solve the problem quickly.

Our fears of seeing a girl in a depressed state were not confirmed. Anna, of course, did not shine with optimism, but she did not give the impression of a person who fell into a deep depression. She reasoned calmly and sensibly, objectively assessed her current physical capabilities and told with sad irony that the distance to the bath and toilet can now be overcome only with the help of Dima.

Maresyev's syndrome

When asked if she was in pain, Anna replied that she felt some kind of tingling, as if nerves were twitching in non-existent lower limbs.

- The legs are amputated, but it feels like they are there and ache. Like Maresyev, she explained. - Recently, the stumps suddenly began to ache. Dmitry called a doctor from the clinic, the therapist came, looked and sent a surgical nurse - she removed the suture threads remaining after the operation, it became easier.

Small pleasures

On one of the vacation days in January, Dima wrapped Anya in a blanket, carried her out into the street, put her on a sled and rolled near the house.

- I have not been in the fresh air for more than three months, and here is such a sun, snow! Dima rode me for several hours, it was great! - Anna shared her impressions with delight.

They celebrated the New Year here, on Pervomayskaya: Anna, mother, Dmitry and Doll - a cross between a mongrel and a Japanese chin. What did you wish for yourself? To complete the procedure with the registration of disability faster (the case was stalled due to the lack of a passport). A group will be established - it will be possible to go to the rehabilitation center of the prosthetic and orthopedic enterprise for prosthetics and the payment of a pension will begin: the family is tight with money.

Future plans

“You can’t change anything,” Anna thought philosophically. “You have to be patient and adapt to the new circumstances. I'm not going to sit on my relatives' necks. I want to learn computer. Maybe with his help I can find some work.

Unfortunately, today Anna does not even have basic computer skills. And she doesn't have that kind of technology.

How can Anna be helped?

1. Wheelchair.

2. Personal computer.

If readers have the opportunity to transfer such equipment to the girl (you can use it), call the editorial office at 900-491 or write to: [email protected].

Letter to the editor

There are no legs, but the head is in place!

Quite a long time ago, my wife (then still future) got into a similar situation - as a result of a railway injury, she was left without a leg. However, this did not stop her from graduating higher. educational institution and get a job in their specialty, and later get married. Today we have been together for more than 20 years, we have three sons, now they are 17, 11 and 3.5 years old. We were able to start a small business of our own, which feeds us to this day. We employed two people with disabilities in accounting. With my help, my wife mastered the car, has a driving experience of more than 15 years, and confidently drives around Moscow. Based on our family experience, I want to say that Anna has prospects in life, like any other person, although taking into account the prevailing circumstances. It is desirable that she realize this and correctly build her life plans. After such a sharp turn, everything depends only on the person himself, on his understanding of the new realities, the ability to adapt to them, find a feasible employment for himself and not lose his main personal qualities. He must HIMSELF, albeit with the help of others, to rebuild his life. There are legs or not, but the head must remain in place! Unfortunately, far from all people who find themselves in a critical situation cope with this task, the other opposite is alcohol and gradual degradation, up to zeroing the intellect.

The first steps that Anna must take are obvious: to restore her passport, to issue a disability group and a pension, to resolve the issue of rent and other benefits that are available to you. Naturally, get a stroller that goes through the door of the house, and not any. Next, think about new job for myself. It can be computer technology, elementary - dispatching work on the phone or on the Internet at home.

About myself: in the past, a military man, an officer of one of the law enforcement agencies of Russia. I live with my wife and children in Moscow. Now we are on holiday abroad.

Andrew, Spain

How did readers react to the publication about Anna?

Alexander Belotserkovsky: “People must have some common sense. Thousands of people have already been injured due to alcohol, but they continue to rummage through dark alleys, stumbling, falling under cars, cranes, flying saucers and more. Drink as much as you like and wherever you want, but if you want to get home in one piece, if you please, beware.

Anastasia Khanina:“In fact, this is the first text that gives this story from the back. Agree, before that, even news reports (how they seem to be priceless) served all this under the “drunk whatever you want” sauce.

Vasilisa Titova:“And the fact that everyone at least once wandered down the street under a bottle of wine is also true. But even a sober head will not save from this, if it is destined to be so. No one ever knows what will happen to him or his family. God forbid all those who spoke out caustically sip at least a spoonful of what is now with Anna. And it doesn't matter how it happened. It has already happened and cannot be changed.”

]
[Girl from Ezhou South Market]
[Yi-nian from Taiyuan]
[Amazing woman from the capital]
[Taoist from Shangyu]
[Wang Ba-lan] [Legless girl]
[Amazing meeting] [Sun Wu-ge]

LEGLESS GIRL

Guan Zi-tung (1) said that when his older brother served as a boshi (2) in the capital, he once saw a beggar woman dressed in rags, dirty, without both legs - she moved with the help of her hands - but amazing beauty. A certain courtier, filled with sympathy for the girl, stopped his horse and asked:

What, do you have parents?

No, was the answer.

What about your husband and family?

Do you know how to sew and darn?

I can, and very well.

Well, why beg and suffer like that, isn't it better for you to go to someone as a concubine?

Furrowing her brows sadly, the beggar woman answered with a sigh:

With my injury, I can't even feed myself! But the maid must also work for the owner, who will feed her just like that? Who needs me!

The courtier, returning home, told his wife about all this, and she, too, was filled with pity for the beggar woman. They took the girl to their house, washed her, gave her a new dress, fed and watered her. Then they entrusted her with sewing, and when she coped with a rather difficult job, they could not stop looking at it. Soon the courtier entered into intimacy with her.

So a little over a year passed.

One day the courtier went to Xianggosi Temple (3). There he met a Taoist.

You have a strong unclean spirit! Why would it? he exclaimed. Considering the chatter of the Taoist to be nonsense, the courtier became angry and did not answer. But the next day, on the road, he again came across the same Taoist.

You don't have time at all! - he said. - If you don’t tell me everything now, I won’t be able to help ... Do you have some old thing in your house - like a tripod with a broken leg?

Not! - threw the courtier, but the Taoist asked so relentlessly that he, no longer able to hide, told about his new concubine.

It's her, it's her! the Taoist exclaimed. - You need to run faster. Tomorrow, saddle your horse and ride away without stopping - a hundred or so from here. Maybe she won't be able to catch up with you. Her strength arrives in the evening, so where you stop for the night, firmly lock the doors and if you hear a knock at night, do not open it for anything! So maybe you can be saved. Otherwise you can't help!

The courtier was frightened. Then, without saying anything to his family, he borrowed a horse and galloped away at full speed all day long.

When evening fell, he stopped at a roadside inn. Before I had time to enter and settle down for a rest, dust swirled along the road, banners appeared, and some fine fellow rode up to the same inn on a black horse. Having made a bow to the courtier, he sat down and by a sign demanded for himself a room just opposite to where the courtier was staying. For all the time this fellow did not utter a word. The courtier, horrified, locked the door, not daring to close his eyes...

It was already deep night when the courtier heard a voice filled with suffering behind the door:

There has been a great misfortune in your house, sir, and I have been sent to you with a letter.

The courtier clung to the crack and in the light of the still-burning lamp he saw his legless concubine: she was standing, leaning on two wings, and the wings were black. The courtier was seized with such fear that sweat poured from him like rain. Then the door opposite suddenly opened, and the old fellow came out. He drew his sword, began to chop the concubine, and she rushed away with a long whistle.

The next morning the courtier jumped up and rushed to his neighbor. Biya bowed, began to thank:

If it wasn't for you, I don't know what would have happened to me! Dare I ask, who are you?

Don't you recognize me? - answered the good fellow. - I am the same Taoist who warned you in Xianggosy, I am the spirit of your star. All your life you have been respectful to me, so I have come to help you.

He said and disappeared, and with him - the retinue and horses ...