Abashidze Leila

Leila Abashidze (01.08.1929, Tbilisi – 08.04.2018, Tbilisi) was a film actress and the People’s Artist of Georgia (1965).

In 1951, she graduated from Drama Faculty at Shota Rustaveli Theatre and Film Georgia State University. Her film debut was in 1941 in K. Pipinashvili’s movie Kajana, where she spectacularly portrayed Little Kato. Before finishing school, she played two more roles: Iuta (Okros Biliki [Golden Path], directed by K. Pipinashvili, 1945) and Nazibrola (Akakis Akvani [Akaki’s Cradle], directed by K. Pipinashvili, 1947). When she was a student, she was cast in Keto and Kote (a girl with flowers, directed by V. Tabliashvili, M. Gedevanishvili, 1948) and Gazafkhuli Sakenshi [Spring in Sakeni] (Nino, directed by N. Sanishvili, 1950). Her first big success came after playing role of Marina in S. Dolidze’s film Chrichina (The Cricket, 1954). Her other roles were: Lela (Isini Chamovidnen Mtidan [They Came from the Mountains], directed by N. Sanishvili, 1954), Lia (Abezara, directed by N. Sanishvili), Manana (Chveni Ezo [Our Yard], directed by R. Chkheidze, both in 1956), Maia (Maia Tskneteli [Maia from Tskneti], directed by R. Chkheidze), Mzia (Sad Aris Sheni Bedniereba, Mzia?  [Where is Your Happiness, Mzia?], directed by N. Sanishvili, both in 1959), Dagmara (Me Vitsekveb [I Will Dance], directed by T. Tagizade, 1963, Azerbaijanfilm), Dzidzia (Khevisberi Gocha [Eldert of the Gorge Gocha], directed by N. Sanishvili, 1964), Nino (Shekhvedra Tsarsultan [A Meeting With the Past] directed by S. Dolidze, 1966), Lali-Mzevinari (Sekhvedra Mtashi [A Meeting in the Mountains], directed by N. Sanishvili, 1966), Vardisakhari (Didostatis Marjvena [The Right Hand of the Grand Master], directed by K. Tabliashvili, D. Abashidze, 1969), Ketevan (Molodini [Expectation], she was a co-writer and the movie was directed by Sh. Managadze and N. Managadze, 1969), Leila (Gaseirneba Tbilisshi [A Walk in Tbilisi], directed by N. Mchedlidze, 1976), Manana (Oromtriali [Mayhem], directed by L. Ghoghoberidze, 1986), etc. In 1980, she directed and co-wrote (together with L. Chelidze) movie called Tbilisi-Paris-Tbilisi, where she played Tea. She has received numerous state awards.

A. Gventsadze