Anna Begunova performed before Nizhny Novgorod students with a "Reading Program."

      On April 16, 2026, at 11:13, Culture and Leisure In Nizhny Novgorod, a meeting was held at the Nizhny Novgorod Industrial College with a lecturer from the Russian Society "Knowledge," actress of theater and cinema Anna Begunova. The event took place as part of the federal project "Reading Programs," which is implemented by the Russian Society "Knowledge" in collaboration with the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation at the request of the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and aligns with the goals and objectives of the national project "Youth and Children."

      The actress shared that she was born in Omsk, and her parents had no connection to the theater or the stage. The head of the family worked at a factory, while her mother was an ophthalmologist at one of the city's clinics. Interestingly, in her youth, the future celebrity envisioned herself in a police uniform; however, her creative nature emerged from an early age, although she retained the desire to play an investigator in films or on stage.

      When asked about her worldview or approach to her profession, the actress recalled how she prepared to enter the institute.

      "I was fifteen when my sister suggested that I finish school externally and engage in self-education. I admit, I didn't immediately fall in love with reading, but when I decided to apply to Moscow, I started reading a lot. The first novel that made a significant impression on me was 'War and Peace' by Leo Tolstoy. No one in the class read it, but I quoted it. For my application, I memorized the chapter with Natasha Rostova's first ball and recited it to my classmates," Anna Begunova shared.

      The actress confessed that it was the image of Natasha Rostova that opened the world of books to her, and her own nature is reflected in a literary character like Carlson. Among her favorite authors, the lecturer from the Society "Knowledge" mentioned Agatha Christie. She also recommended that everyone read Dostoevsky's novel "The Idiot." From classical literature, she would like to play the role of Anna from Leo Tolstoy's novel "Anna Karenina."

      For the master class with the students, Anna Begunova chose Krylov's fable "The Cat and the Nightingale." The students read it in roles. Also, during the meeting, one of the students read an excerpt from Ivan Bunin's story "Dawn All Night," where the heroine expresses her emotions. The actress herself read the story "Ryulina Mama" by Teffi in full, demonstrating a high level of expressive reading and acting skills, turning it into a true theatrical performance.

      In response to students' questions, the actress noted that working in comedic genres is more challenging yet simultaneously more interesting. In conclusion, she advised everyone to read more and visit theaters and museums, as this helps in personal development.

      Every school can open the world of Russian classics and register its literary club—this can be done by visiting the website of the Russian Society "Knowledge."

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