Galina Yablonska, a legendary actress at the Frank Theater, has died
After a serious illness, People’s Artist of Ukraine Galina Yablonska passed away. The legendary actress of the Franko Theater was 98 years old; she was in her 99th year of life. Galina Gilyarivna Yablonska was the official record holder for the longest theatrical career.
“I must share some sad news with you, theater family: today, the soul of a Great Artist and Patriot, People’s Artist of Ukraine, and full recipient of the Order of Princess Olga, Laureate of the Maria Zankovetska Prize, the “Bronek” Prize, and the Amvrosiy Buchma “Kyiv” Art Prize, Honorary Chair of the international project-competition “Taras Shevchenko Unites Nations,” a native of Ivano-Frankivsk with seventy years of creative work behind her, not a lonely “Lonely Lady”—Galina Gilyarivna Yablonska! “After a serious illness, her ailing heart stopped beating at the age of 99…,” the statement reads.
Yablonska devoted the last decades of her life not only to the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater, but also to the Heroic Theater “Memory” and the international project-competition “Taras Shevchenko Unites Nations.”
“Our gratitude to you for everything is boundless… and our memory of you will be great, enduring, and long-lasting! As bright as you were, and as eternal as the legacy you left us!” Nedin wrote.
What is known about Halyna Yablonska
Galina Yablonska was born on January 2, 1928, in Uman. Her mother was an actress, and her stepfather was an actor and director. The future People’s Artist first stepped onto the theater stage at the age of six, playing a minor role as a boy. By the age of eight, she had already landed the role of Topsy in the production of *Uncle Tom’s Cabin* at the Vinnytsia State Theater.
Yablonska joined the Frank Theater in 1951. Prior to that, she had performed in theaters in Proskuriv, Kamianets-Podilskyi, Mohyliv-Podilskyi, Vinnytsia, and Dnipro. Her first director at the Franko Theater was the legendary Amvrosii Buchma.
Yablonska was a student of Buchma and a contemporary of Hnat Yura, Natalia Uzhviy, Nonna Koperzhynska, and other prominent figures of Ukrainian theater. In 2022, the actress spoke about her many years of work at the Franko Theater. At that time, her name had appeared on the theater’s playbills for 71 consecutive seasons.
Halyna Yablonska was the senior member of the troupe at the Ivan Franko National Theater. She continued to perform on stage well into her old age and only stopped participating in productions in the final years of her life.
The actress was inducted into the National Register of Records of Ukraine for “The Longest Period of Performance on a Theater Stage.” One of her most iconic roles was that of Olesia Bohdanivna in the play *The Lonely Lady*. The 100th performance of the play took place in February 2020.
Over the course of her decades-long career at the Franko Theater, Yablonska played dozens of roles. Among them were Halya in “Nazar Stodolia,” Regina in “Crossroads,” Nastya in “Stolen Happiness,” Lady Macduff in “Macbeth,” Olga Franko in “The Mystery of Being,” and Olesya Bohdanivna in “The Lonely Lady.”
In addition to her work on stage, Yablonska was involved in public and cultural-educational activities. She founded and led the International League “Mothers and Sisters—Youth of Ukraine,” and in 2007, the “Memory” Heroic Theater was established on her initiative. The actress also worked as a reciter, performed in solo programs, and appeared on radio and television.
In 1960, Yablonska was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Ukrainian SSR, and in 1982, she was named People’s Artist of the Ukrainian SSR. She was also a full Knight of the Order of Princess Olga.
The news of the actress’s death was announced by her colleague, actress and public figure Larisa Nedin.
Actress Brenda Fricker, who played the “lady with the pigeons” in *Home Alone 2*, has died.
Ann Shadin, an actress from the TV series *Alf*, has died.
