Ukrainian actress Maria Bogoslavets: Theater and acting revealed a truth to me – you don’t just perform on stage, you live through it all, and only then will the audience truly feel the energy

Maria Bohoslavets is a budding Ukrainian actress who is already making her mark on the stage of Nora Theater. Her debut role was in the play "One Minute Before" directed by Eleonora Kravchenko. Now, she is preparing for her next performance, "The Marriage of Figaro," where she will play the lead role. Maria shared with Drive Music Media about her journey of self-discovery, the opportunities that come after taking acting courses, her passion for voice dubbing, and her upcoming play.

Interviewer: "The Play of My Heart" – this is how you described Eleonora Kravchenko's production of "One Minute Before," in which you played one of the characters. Could you share what the premiere of this play was like for you? Tell us about your role and the process of preparing for the premiere.

Maria: This was my very first play with Nora Theatre, so it truly holds a special place in my heart. Before, I could only imagine what it would be like to stand on a big stage and have people give me flowers. But then, during the premiere, I couldn’t believe it was actually happening to me. I realized that dreams have no limits; even after just a year of seriously pursuing acting, I was already performing! I’m almost afraid to imagine where I’ll be a year from now and how many more plays I’ll have performed in! We prepared for this play for a little over six months. Each of us brought in poems that resonated with us, so in a way, we all created the play together. Everyone was involved in building the staging, selecting the music, and even preparing the set decorations. There were many changes during each rehearsal. In fact, I’ll tell you, there were even changes on the day of the performance! I don’t know how we remembered everything, but it was incredible. Theater and acting have revealed a truth to me – you don’t just act on stage, you live each poem, each movement, and only then can the audience feel all the emotions, all the feelings, and the energy.

Interviewer: How did your journey in the acting field begin? What were your first steps, and what was the most challenging at the start?

Maria: At first, I actually wanted to pursue a career in radio because I had been a volunteer at Radio Maria for two years, hosting live shows. After the war began, I spent six months in my parents' village, then returned to Kyiv and realized that I could no longer put my life on hold!

I came across a course online called "Dubbing and Radio". The hardest part was finding the courage to stop procrastinating and actually sign up. But one day in September, I simply picked up the phone and did it! At that time, I wasn’t even thinking about dubbing, let alone acting. But during that course, I fell in love with dubbing even more than radio and wanted to pursue it further. After three months of learning and practice, I wanted to look for opportunities to work in this field, but I realized I still lacked the necessary skills. So, I started attending dubbing workshops, seeking more learning opportunities, and eventually enrolled in another, more advanced dubbing course.

At the same time, I stumbled upon an acting course (again online) and thought that acting skills would be valuable for dubbing. I hesitated for a long time, wondering whether I should go because I didn’t want to become an actress, but I decided to take the plunge! I have this rule: it’s better to take a risk and try than to not go and regret it later. It wasn’t until I completed both courses that I realized I wanted to move more towards acting, although I didn’t want to leave dubbing behind either because I had grown to love it as well.

Interviewer: Your next project was a role in the film "NYAD" as part of Eleonora Kravchenko's workshop masterclasses. What is this film about? Could you share your experience of participating in its production? What was your role?

Maria: This film course began while preparations for the poetic performance "A Minute Before..." were still underway. To give you an idea, I was at the workshop four times a week, even though I had a full-time office job, so I went there after work. The film, a clip from which we used for the shoot, is based on real events and tells the story of Diana Nyad, who attempted to swim across the Florida Straits. I played the role of Nyad’s close friend and trainer, Bonnie. This film course revealed to me that one of the most important aspects of filmmaking is character development. I studied my character's biography, motivation, mood in the scenes, personality, and movements. I also built a relationship with my co-star, spending time together. To add realism, we even had a fight the day before the shoot. I genuinely thought she was upset, even though we had agreed beforehand that whatever was said during the argument wasn’t real. The tension lasted until the director said "cut," and we hugged afterward.

Interviewer: In addition to acting, you are passionate about poetry. You've been writing poems since you were 9 years old. Do you remember your first professional poem? What was it about? What is its title?

Maria: I've had a knack for composing poems since kindergarten, as my teachers still recall how I would make up poems and songs on the spot. But I wrote my first actual poem when I was 9 years old. It was very simple, but it was still a poem. I began writing more conscious and professional poems at 17 when I moved to Kyiv for my studies. Everything was new and unfamiliar to me, and that’s what my poem was about – my life in the city, the struggle to keep up with its pace, the nostalgia for my carefree past, and the desire to conquer Kyiv and accomplish something great, something meaningful. Although I didn't allow myself to dream of anything unrealistic, I still dreamed. The poem was also about love, which I longed for more than anything at the time, though it was unrequited during that period. The poem is titled "There Are Times When You Can't..." (2017). You can find it on my Instagram page.

Interviewer: Tell us about the film course. What was the learning experience like, and what opportunities are available after completing studies in cinematographic arts?

Maria: Do you know when I realized that I was exactly where I needed to be? It was when I attended my first lecture with Eleonora Kravchenko, and she started talking about scam agencies and how you should never pay for anything upfront. Just before that, I had paid 250 UAH for access to a film set that didn’t exist and for a film shoot that never happened (cue ironic laughter). I never got my money back, but I told them exactly what I thought and even made a TikTok video to warn others!

Overall, it was an unforgettable experience for me. Beyond working on my role, I was also discovering myself and learning to be genuine in my emotions, not just acting but truly living the part. I cried many times in front of my group, learning to push my boundaries and "fall into the abyss" in order to soar in terms of acting potential and reveal a side of myself that no one had seen before. Additionally, we had guest lectures from professionals in the field. Cinematographer Oleksiy Nazarchuk taught us how actors should work with the camera, how to set up lighting, and how to create a storyboard on our own. Alexander Pylypenko, a casting director, explained in simple terms how to create a video business card, which photos are best to submit for different types of auditions, the various types of shoots, and how to properly apply for roles. We also had a session with director Nikita Torzhevsky, where we learned about the interaction between actor and director, what to find in a role, and how to avoid working with non-professionals.

As for opportunities, after the course, I received photos for my acting portfolio and a professional video business card. I also gained access to various resources for applying for roles. The director continually submits us for interesting projects where there’s a chance to act in films.

Interviewer: Why do you identify more with the term "Performer" rather than "Actress," even though these words have the same meaning?

Maria: When we were recording our video business cards during the film course, the instructor mentioned that without formal training, we couldn’t call ourselves actors. I wanted to outsmart this rule (which, of course, I didn’t like) and also took into account that I needed to be memorable within the first 3 seconds of the video! But in general, the term "Performer" better represents me as a person because I have a more comedic and vibrant personality. It's also like a pseudonym for me.

Interviewer: What are the pros and cons of an acting career? I’m just starting out, but I’ve already noticed a few things.

Maria: Let me start with the pros! It’s a job that’s always unpredictable and constantly offers you something new to try. You’re never stuck in one place. If you’re on set, you get to experience new locations, work with different teams, partners, and meet new people. Acting exercises are something I truly love; they’ve helped me reveal my true self, become more open, and not be afraid to do the most unusual things. You get to interact with many different partners, try out various roles, and search for your true self! An actor always has to stay in shape, continually learn and develop throughout their career – there’s no limit to improvement. It’s great that besides film, acting also includes theater. Theater has a completely different energy and approach compared to film. You live in the moment; through theater, you feel and experience every scene and every word without pauses.

But, of course, there are cons too. Unpredictability is both a plus and a minus. For instance, you could be cast for a role late at night before the day of shooting and be given pages of dialogue to memorize. So you need to be good at working with scripts and memorizing lines quickly. Honestly, I haven’t fully mastered this skill yet, and it’s my biggest fear to end up in that situation. Sometimes on set, you have to wait a long time, and there isn’t always a place to sit – you could end up waiting five hours or more before your turn to shoot.

Interviewer: Who shouldn't pursue an acting degree? What types of people might find it difficult to study and work in this field?

Maria: Personally, I believe that everyone should try an acting course. It’s not necessarily to become a professional actor and perform on screen or stage. It’s about something else. Acting can help reveal a person’s true self! It’s even beneficial for other professions because it’s about diction, learning how to carry yourself in public, on stage, and building confidence in front of the camera. So, I recommend at least giving it a try and seeing where it takes you!

Like in any other profession, it’ll be difficult for those who don’t enjoy it, who aren’t passionate about it. If someone truly wants to be an actor, even the quietest introverts can become one.

Inerviewer: Before you decided to pursue acting, what field did you work in? Why did you decide to make a change?

Maria: I’ll let you in on a little secret – I’m still working my primary job. I’m in the consulting field. I wouldn’t say it’s interesting or something I enjoy, but I have a goal. I’m studying, and this job provides me with the finances that allow me to take acting classes.

And while we’re on the topic, I’ll mention another downside – acting isn’t a highly profitable profession, especially when you’re just starting out and especially in Ukraine. But I believe that step by step, I’ll be able to fully transition into working in the field I love.

Interviewer: Dubbing. Tell us about this part of your career. What’s important in the dubbing industry? Who have you voiced so far? So, what are you working on right now – poetry, your acting career, or dubbing?

Maria: Right now, I’m dedicating most of my energy and resources to theater and my acting career, as I’m preparing for a new play, “The Marriage of Figaro,” where I have the lead role. But I also write poetry when inspiration strikes. I recently attended a poetry evening, and the vibe was incredible!

I also create voiceovers and videos for my poems, with the help of my best friend, the camerawoman-photographer Olya Hryniova. Together, we create something truly beautiful. I share these videos on my page, and it makes me so happy when people enjoy them, but above all, I do it because I love it. I enjoy the process of writing poems and creating videos, whether it’s filming by a river in a village or at a botanical garden at 6 in the morning. I just love it. I’ve also discovered a new direction – TikTok ads – and recently worked on a project for a well-known mobile operator.

I know that many amazing projects and achievements await me in the future, so I value every experience in my life because it has brought me to where I am now.

Pictures were taken by Ann Kolom, Casting Online, Kateryna Serheeva's Workshop