Maksim Matveyev
Maksim Aleksandrovich Matveyev (born 28 July 1982) is a Russian theater and film actor recognized for his dynamic portrayals across stage productions and screen roles, earning him the title of Honored Artist of the Russian Federation in 2018.[1] Born in the town of Svetly in Kaliningrad Oblast, RSFSR, Soviet Union, Matveyev developed an early interest in acting and graduated from the theater department of the Saratov State Conservatory named after Sobinov in 2002 under the course of V. Ermakova. He further honed his craft at the Moscow Art Theatre School, completing his studies in 2006 and joining the theater's troupe that same year, where he debuted as the knight Joffrey in the play The Piemonte Beast.[2][3] Matveyev's theater career at the Moscow Art Theatre features an extensive repertoire of leading roles, including Laurence in The Drunks by Tennessee Williams and Dulchin in The Last Sacrifice by Ivan Turgenev.[4][3] His transition to film began with supporting parts, but he gained prominence with the role of Fred in Hipsters (2008), a musical drama about 1950s Soviet youth culture.[5][6] Subsequent notable film appearances include the lead in the war drama August Eighth (2012), directed by Dzhanik Fayziev, and the historical epic Union of Salvation (2019), where he portrayed Sergei Trubetskoy, earning a nomination for the Golden Eagle Award for Best Actor in 2021.[7][5] On television, Matveyev has starred in acclaimed series such as Mosgaz (2012–present), a crime drama set in 1970s Moscow, and the spy thriller Trigger (2018), for which he won the Golden Eagle Award for Best Television Actor in 2021.[7][1] His work spans over 60 projects, blending intense dramatic roles with occasional comedic elements, solidifying his status as one of Russia's prominent contemporary actors. As of 2025, he continues to appear in ongoing series like Mosgaz and recent films such as Chuzhie dengi (2024).[2]Early life and education
Childhood and upbringing
Maksim Matveyev was born on July 28, 1982, in the town of Svetly, Kaliningrad Oblast, within the Russian SFSR of the Soviet Union.[8][9] His parents, a sailor father and a philologist mother named Lyudmila Vladimirovna, divorced when Matveyev was three years old, after which he had limited contact with his father and was primarily raised by his mother and maternal grandparents in Svetly.[8][10] His mother worked multiple jobs, including as a librarian, to support the family during this period.[11] Matveyev later described his early childhood as somewhat isolated and introverted, shaped by the stability provided by his grandparents, whose professions included craftsmanship for his grandfather and cinema ticket sales for his grandmother.[11] When Matveyev was ten, his mother remarried Alexey, another sailor originally from Saratov, leading the family to relocate there in 1992; this move introduced a half-brother, Vladimir, into the family shortly thereafter.[8][10] The relocation to Saratov marked a significant shift, exposing Matveyev to a new environment that fostered his emerging interests in the arts amid the cultural changes of the post-Soviet 1990s.[9] In Saratov, Matveyev attended an art school where he developed skills in drawing and visual arts, initially as a creative outlet during his adolescent years.[11][10] He also engaged in extracurricular activities, including fencing, where he achieved candidate master of sports status, but his passion for performance began to surface through school theater initiatives and local influences, such as participating in dramatic events that highlighted his talent around age 17.[10] These early experiences in the 1990s, supported by encouraging teachers, laid the groundwork for his later pursuits in acting without formal professional training at that stage.[9]Academic training
Maksim Matveyev graduated from high school No. 2 in Saratov in 1999 with a silver medal, having developed an early interest in the humanities influenced by his mother's profession as a philologist.[12] During his school years, he initially considered pursuing law but was encouraged by a teacher to explore theater after performing at a graduation ball.[13] In 1999, Matveyev enrolled in the theater department of the Saratov State Conservatory named after L. V. Sobinov and was admitted directly to the second year, where he studied acting under the guidance of V. Ermakova.[14][15] His training emphasized classical dramatic techniques and performance skills, laying a foundational understanding of stagecraft essential for his future career. As part of his studies, he participated in student productions that honed his interpretive abilities, culminating in his diploma performance as Vaslav Nijinsky in the play God's Clown in 2002.[16] This role showcased his emerging talent for embodying complex historical figures through physical and emotional depth. Following his graduation from the conservatory in 2002, Matveyev moved to Moscow and was admitted to the Moscow Art Theater School-Studio (MXAT), completing the program in 2006 under the course led by mentors Igor Zolotovitsky and Sergei Zemtsov.[14] The MXAT curriculum, rooted in the Stanislavski system, focused on psychological realism, ensemble work, and rigorous textual analysis, which significantly refined Matveyev's approach to character development and improvisation. During his time there, he gained early stage experience by debuting as a student in the Moscow Art Theater production of The Piedmont Beast in 2003, playing the role of Knight Joffrey, an opportunity that bridged his academic training with professional exposure.[17] These formative experiences at MXAT equipped him with the disciplined technique and collaborative ethos that would define his acting style.Career
Theater career
Matveyev graduated from the Moscow Art Theater School in 2006 and immediately joined the troupe of the Moscow Art Theatre named after A.P. Chekhov, marking the start of his professional theater career with ensemble roles in several productions.[17] His early work there included the role of Dulchin in Alexander Ostrovsky's The Last Sacrifice (2003, continued post-graduation) and Valère in Molière's Tartuffe (2004).[17][8] By the late 2000s, Matveyev had transitioned to more prominent parts at the Moscow Art Theatre, showcasing his versatility in adaptations of Russian classics. In 2009, he portrayed Borkin in Anton Chekhov's Ivanov, directed by Yevgeny Pisarev.[17] A standout role came in 2013 as Perkhotin (along with multiple ensemble parts like Miussov, an expert, professor, and pathologist) in the theater's production of Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Karamazov Brothers, adapted and directed by Nikolai Levashov, which highlighted his ability to embody complex, multifaceted characters in epic literary works.[17] In 2018, he took the lead as Grisha Drobuzhinsky in Yury Butusov's contemporary staging of The Man from the Fish, earning acclaim for his nuanced performance in this experimental piece blending drama and absurdity.[17] Parallel to his tenure at the Moscow Art Theatre (2006–2020), Matveyev collaborated with the Oleg Tabakov Theatre from 2004, beginning with roles that solidified his reputation across Moscow's theater scene. In 2012, he played Yevgeny Ivanovich Irtenev in Lev Tolstoy's The Devil, for which he received the Oleg Tabakov Prize for reviving the image of a romantic hero on the Russian stage.[8] The following year, 2013, he earned another Tabakov Prize for his ensemble contribution to Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband (as Father Artemiy), underscoring his skill in comedic and satirical formats.[8] By the mid-2010s, he starred as Edward Kynaston in the 2017 production of Kynaston by Yevgeny Pisarev, a role that won him the 2018 "Star of the Theatre" award from Moskovsky Komsomolets for best male performance.[8] In 2020, Matveyev left both the Moscow Art Theatre and his collaborations with the Oleg Tabakov Theatre, relocating to St. Petersburg to focus primarily on film and television projects.[18] His contributions to Russian theater, particularly through innovative interpretations of literary giants like Chekhov, Dostoevsky, and Tolstoy, established him as a pivotal figure in Moscow's stage community by the 2010s. In recognition of these achievements, he was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Russian Federation in 2018.[8]Film and television career
Matveyev's entry into film came shortly after establishing himself in theater, where his stage experience honed the expressive physicality essential for screen roles. His cinematic debut featured in the 2007 drama Vice, directed by Valery Todorovsky, marking an early supporting appearance that showcased his versatility. A pivotal breakthrough arrived with the 2008 musical Hipsters, also directed by Todorovsky, in which Matveyev portrayed Fred, the charismatic leader of a rebellious youth subculture in 1950s Soviet Moscow. The film's critical and commercial success, including multiple Nika Award wins, propelled Matveyev into wider recognition, transitioning him from ensemble theater work to prominent screen presence.[19] Throughout the 2010s, Matveyev's film career evolved toward more demanding lead roles, blending action, drama, and historical narratives. In Dzhanik Fayziev's 2012 war drama August Eighth, he played Lekha, a reconnaissance commander aiding a civilian evacuation during the 2008 Russo-Georgian conflict, earning praise for his portrayal of quiet heroism amid chaos. This was followed by international collaborations, such as the 2016 miniseries Mata Hari, a Russia-Luxembourg co-production where Matveyev depicted Vladimir Maslov, a Russian officer entangled in espionage during World War I, highlighting his ability to navigate multilingual, period-specific ensembles.[20] Matveyev further solidified his leading man status with the title role in Karen Shakhnazarov's 2017 adaptation Anna Karenina: Vronsky's Story, embodying Count Alexei Vronsky in a modern reimagining that shifts focus to the officer's perspective during the Russo-Japanese War. The performance garnered a Golden Eagle Award nomination for Best Actor, underscoring his command of complex emotional depth in literary adaptations.[21] In historical epics like Andrei Kravchuk's 2019 Union of Salvation, he portrayed Prince Sergei Trubetskoy, a key Decembrist conspirator, contributing to the film's ensemble depiction of the 1825 uprising and its box-office success as one of Russia's highest-grossing period pieces. On television, Matveyev's progression mirrored his film work, with roles that demanded sustained character arcs. He led the 2017 miniseries Trotsky as Frank Jackson (Ramon Mercader), the assassin of Leon Trotsky, in a lavish international production exploring revolutionary intrigue. The 2018 psychological thriller series Trigger featured him as Artyom, a provocative therapist pushing ethical boundaries, a role that spanned multiple seasons and earned acclaim for its intensity, as noted in industry coverage of its innovative therapy-drama format.[22][23] In the 2020 adaptation Sherlock: The Russian Chronicles, Matveyev took on the iconic role of Sherlock Holmes, pursuing Jack the Ripper across imperial Russia, blending deduction with cultural specificity in a fresh take on the detective genre. He also appeared in the MosGaz anthology series, notably as investigator Vlad Vikhrov in episodes tackling Soviet-era crimes, reinforcing his affinity for procedural narratives rooted in historical context.[24] By the mid-2020s, Matveyev continued to diversify with contemporary projects, including the 2024-2025 crime series Chuzhie Dengi (Other People's Money), where he played dual roles as Voronov and Afanasev in a tale of identity theft and survival. His most recent film role came in the 2025 biographical drama Red Silk, portraying Soviet spy Richard Sorge, emphasizing his ongoing exploration of real-life figures in high-stakes espionage.[25] This body of work reflects a steady ascent from supporting parts to multifaceted leads, often in productions that bridge Russian cinema with global themes.Personal life
Marriages and relationships
Maksim Matveyev married Latvian-Russian actress Yana Sekste in 2008 after meeting her during rehearsals for a theater production at the Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre.[26] Their marriage lasted only a year, ending in divorce in 2009 amid reports of emotional difficulty for both parties.[27] Sekste later described the split as a profound blow that led to depression, exacerbated by media scrutiny and unfavorable comparisons to Matveyev's subsequent partner, while Matveyev called the experience "hellish" and emphasized the challenge of moving forward.[28][29] Over time, Sekste noted that they had found the strength to forgive each other and maintain a positive post-divorce relationship.[30] Matveyev first briefly encountered actress Elizaveta Boyarskaya during auditions for the 2007 film 1612, though neither secured a role.[31] Their paths crossed again in 2009 on the set of the film I Won't Say (Ne skazhu), where they portrayed romantic leads, sparking a connection that developed into a relationship despite Matveyev's ongoing marriage.[32] Boyarskaya later reflected on falling deeply in love during this period, describing it as plunging into an abyss of emotion.[32] The couple kept their romance private initially, with Matveyev divorcing Sekste before they wed on July 28, 2010—his birthday—in a low-key civil ceremony attended only by close family, avoiding public fanfare.[33] Matveyev and Boyarskaya's shared acting careers have intertwined professionally, including their collaboration in the 2017 television adaptation of Anna Karenina, where Boyarskaya played the titular role and Matveyev portrayed Vronsky, allowing them to explore complex romantic dynamics on screen.[34] The couple has made joint appearances at premieres and cultural events, often presenting a united front that underscores their partnership.[35] Media coverage of Matveyev's relationships initially focused on controversy surrounding the overlap between his divorce and new romance, with some outlets portraying Boyarskaya as having "stolen" him from Sekste, fueling public gossip and scrutiny of Sekste's appearance.[31] However, by the 2010s, perceptions shifted positively, with the pair widely regarded as one of Russia's most harmonious and attractive actor couples, celebrated for their enduring stability amid persistent but unfounded divorce rumors.[36] In recent years up to 2025, Matveyev has publicly praised Boyarskaya's professional achievements, such as her 2025 monodrama premiere, reinforcing their mutual support without major scandals.[37][38]Family and children
Maksim Matveyev and his wife Elizaveta Boyarskaya welcomed their first son, Andrei, on April 7, 2012.[39] The couple, who have maintained their marriage as the foundation of their family life, chose to keep details of their personal milestones relatively private, sharing limited updates through social media or interviews.[40] Their second son, Gregory, was born on December 5, 2018.[41] In line with their approach to family privacy, Matveyev and Boyarskaya rarely publicize images or extensive details about their children, with announcements typically brief and focused on celebrations like birthdays, as seen in a 2021 post marking Gregory's third birthday that drew fan inquiries about sharing more.[41] This discretion helps shield the boys from public scrutiny amid their parents' high-profile careers. The family resides in St. Petersburg, where Matveyev has noted the ability to spend more quality time with his sons, such as driving them to school himself.[42] To balance parenting responsibilities with acting schedules, Matveyev often takes on primary caregiving duties during periods when Boyarskaya is working, allowing him to prioritize family involvement.[43] Family considerations have notably influenced Matveyev's career decisions, including his relocation from Moscow to St. Petersburg to align with his wife's commitments and their shared home life, as well as transitioning from theater to more flexible film and television roles that accommodate parenting.[44] Up to 2025, this selective approach to projects has enabled him to maintain a strong presence in his sons' upbringing, such as engaging in daily routines and discussing their potential interests without pushing them toward the industry.Awards and honors
Major awards
Maksim Matveyev received the Best Ensemble award at the IX Spirit of Fire International Film Festival in 2011 for his breakthrough performance in the film I Won't Tell (Ne Skazhu), shared with co-star Elizaveta Boyarskaya; this debut-focused festival, held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, highlights emerging talents in international cinema and marked an early recognition of Matveyev's potential in ensemble dynamics.[45] In 2014, Matveyev was honored with the "Male Cinematic Image of the Year" at The Hollywood Reporter Russia Awards, often referred to as the "Event of the Year" ceremony, for his role in the television adaptation The Devils (Besy); this prestigious event, organized by the Russian edition of The Hollywood Reporter, celebrates standout contributions to film and TV, particularly noting Matveyev's versatile portrayal that blended intensity with subtle humor in comedic elements of his broader repertoire.[46] Matveyev won the Golden Eagle Award in 2021 for Best Actor in a Television Series for his leading role in Trigger, a critically acclaimed crime drama; administered by the National Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Russia, the Golden Eagle is one of the country's highest film honors, akin to the Oscars, underscoring Matveyev's impact in streaming and television formats during a year when the awards emphasized innovative storytelling.[47] The TEFI Award in 2023 recognized Matveyev as Best Actor in a Dramatic Serial for his performance in Trigger 2; presented by the Russian Academy of Television, TEFI is the premier national accolade for television excellence, highlighting Matveyev's commanding presence in ongoing serialized narratives and affirming his status as a leading figure in Russian TV drama.[48] On October 25, 2018, Matveyev was conferred the title of Honored Artist of the Russian Federation by presidential decree, in a formal ceremony attended by cultural officials and peers; this state honor, one of Russia's most esteemed distinctions for performing artists, acknowledges decades of contributions to theater and cinema, granting recipients professional privileges such as enhanced access to state resources and symbolic prestige within the national arts community.[49]Nominations and recognitions
Matveyev has garnered multiple nominations from major Russian film awards bodies, underscoring his versatility in both leading and supporting roles across cinema and television. These recognitions highlight his ability to portray complex characters in diverse genres, from historical dramas to contemporary thrillers. In the Golden Eagle Awards, administered by the National Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences of Russia, Matveyev received a nomination for Best Actor for his performance in the 2013 romantic comedy Weekend. He was nominated again in 2018 for Best Television Actor for his titular role as Vronsky in the miniseries Anna Karenina: Vronsky's Story. In 2021, he earned another Best Actor nomination for his role in the historical epic Union of Salvation.[50][51] For television work, Matveyev has been recognized by the TEFI Awards, Russia's premier television honors. The 2014 miniseries Demons, in which he starred, was nominated for Best TV Movie/Series, with co-star Anton Shagin nominated for Best Actor in a TV Movie/Series.[52] The film Vice (2007), Matveyev's screen debut, competed at the Kinotavr Open Russian Film Festival, marking an early acknowledgment of his potential in the industry.[53] These nominations, complementing his award wins such as the 2021 Golden Eagle for Best Television Actor in Trigger, have significantly enhanced Matveyev's profile, fostering greater opportunities and public acclaim through 2025.Filmography
Feature films
Matveyev made his transition from theater to feature films in 2008, marking the start of his cinematic career with roles in both mainstream and genre productions.[2]| Year | Title | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Hipsters (Stilyagi) | Fred | In Valery Todorovsky's musical comedy set in 1950s Moscow, Matveyev portrays Fred, the charismatic leader of a group of jazz-loving stilyagi (hipsters) rebelling against Soviet conformity through vibrant fashion and music; his performance highlights the subculture's defiant energy and mentorship of the protagonist, contributing to the film's box office success as one of Russia's highest-grossing releases that year with over 3 million viewers.[19][54] |
| 2008 | Dark Planet (Obitaemyy ostrov) | Maxim Kammerer (voice) | Directed by Fyodor Bondarchuk, this sci-fi adaptation of the Strugatsky brothers' novel follows a 22nd-century Earth explorer crash-landing on the dystopian planet Saraksh amid political turmoil; Matveyev provides the voice for the protagonist Maxim Kammerer, infusing the character with determination as he navigates rebellion and tyranny, in a film that grossed over 30 million USD worldwide across its two parts.) |
| 2012 | August Eighth (Avgust. Vosmogo) | Lyokha (Aleksei) | Dzhanik Fayziev's war drama depicts a single mother caught in the 2008 Russo-Georgian conflict while searching for her son; Matveyev plays Lyokha, a reconnaissance commander and romantic interest who aids the protagonist amid the chaos, delivering a grounded portrayal of military resolve that helped the film achieve Russia's top box office spot for 2012 with approximately 10 million USD in earnings.[55] |
| 2017 | About Love. For Adults Only (Ya lyublyu. Istoriya lyubvi) | Nikita Orlov | This anthology comedy directed by multiple filmmakers, including Mikhail Segal, explores modern love stories in Moscow through interconnected vignettes; Matveyev stars in the segment "Legend" as Nikita, a famous actor grappling with fame and relationships, bringing nuance to themes of celebrity isolation and fleeting romance in a film that premiered at the Kinotavr Festival.[56][57] |
| 2019 | The Lenin Factor (Lenin. Neizbezhnost) | Aleksey Mezentsev | Vladimir Khotinenko's historical drama portrays Vladimir Lenin's exile in Switzerland and his plotting to return to Russia during World War I; Matveyev embodies Aleksey Mezentsev, a key revolutionary ally involved in secretive negotiations and transport schemes, adding depth to the film's focus on ideological intrigue and historical inevitability.[58][59] |
| 2019 | Union of Salvation | Sergei Trubetskoy | Historical epic depicting the Decembrist revolt of 1825; Matveyev portrays Sergei Trubetskoy, earning a nomination for the Golden Eagle Award for Best Actor.[60] |
| 2025 | Red Silk (Krasnyy shelk) | Richard Sorge | Andrey Volgin's Russian-Chinese spy thriller unfolds on the 1927 Trans-Siberian Express, where spies vie for USSR-China documents; Matveyev plays Richard Sorge, the young Soviet intelligence operative navigating espionage and alliances with a Red Army soldier and ex-Tsarist agent, enhancing the film's tense retro-mystery atmosphere based on real events.[61] |
Television series
Matveyev began his television career in the mid-2000s, appearing in supporting roles before gaining prominence in historical and crime dramas. His television work often features him in complex characters, from investigators to historical figures, contributing to popular Russian series that blend mystery, biography, and social commentary.[2]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Vice (Вice) | Denis | TV series; early supporting role in a crime drama.[62] |
| 2010 | Tulskiy Tokarev (Tula Tokarev) | Artem Tokarev | Miniseries; 4 episodes in a detective thriller about arms trafficking.[63] |
| 2011 | Okhotniki za brilliantami (Diamond Hunters) | Krasavchik | TV series; part of an adventure-crime ensemble.[64] |
| 2012 | Mosgaz (MosGaz) | Vlad Vikhrov | TV series; 8 episodes as a young investigator in a 1960s Moscow-set mystery.[65] |
| 2014 | Besy (Demons) | Nikolai Stavrogin | Miniseries adaptation of Dostoevsky's novel.[64] |
| 2016–2017 | Mata Hari | Vladimir Maslov | TV series; lead role in biographical spy drama.[66] |
| 2017 | Anna Karenina | Aleksey Vronsky | TV miniseries; romantic lead in Tolstoy adaptation. |
| 2017 | Trotsky | Frank Jackson (Ramón Mercader) | TV miniseries; key antagonist in biographical series on Leon Trotsky.[67] |
| 2018– | Trigger (Триггер) | Artyom | TV series; lead as a provocative therapist; 41 episodes across seasons.[22] |
| 2020 | Sherlock: The Russian Chronicles (Шерлок. Русские хроники) | Sherlock Holmes | TV series; titular detective in modernized adaptation. |
| 2021 | Spoyler (Спойлер) | Andrey Obolenskiy | TV series; political drama lead.[68] |
| 2023 | Mosgaz. Poslednee delo Cherkasova (MosGaz: Cherkasov's Last Case) | Vlad Vikhrov | TV miniseries; sequel to 2012 Mosgaz.[64] |
| 2024–2025 | Chuzhie dengi (Someone Else's Money) | Voronov | TV series; lead in crime drama about identity swap and fraud.[25] |