The usual image of a hysterical woman from the humorous program "Once Upon a Time in Russia", which is firmly entrenched in the show's participant Ekaterina Morgunova, completely collapses when you see this fragile, friendly and pretty girl. And as soon as you start a conversation with her, you get the impression that these are two different people at all - that's what acting skills mean. Catherine went from a certified dressmaker to a philosopher, but found herself in humor. And after that she received an invitation to participate in the television project "Once Upon a Time in Russia" on TNT. Interviewed by Alexey Stefanov.
All countries in the Caucasus are close to me
- Katya, I would like to ask you about the roots right away. You yourself are from Pyatigorsk, but your maiden name is Utmelidze - according to your father, Guram Ruslanovich, you are Georgian.
— Yes, my dad is Georgian, he comes from Borjomi. My own grandmother Valentina and my father's younger sister, Aunt Maka (Maya), still live there with me. I didn’t go there very often — only a couple of times as a child, but I was baptized in Georgia. From that time, I even remember some pictures - what was the situation in the apartment, the nature around, and it is very beautiful in Georgia, in the resort area of the House of Composers, where my grandmother worked ... I really like this country - for its energy, wonderful people.
Comedy Club Production
— And I also heard that you have Armenian roots? Surely, dad came to Pyatigorsk to study and met mom there.
- Yes, it was study or even practice, he studied in Tbilisi. And my mother is a native Pyatigorsk woman and just an Armenian - Larisa Arkadyevna Arushanova. And if my "Georgian grandmother" is Russian by nationality, then everyone here is Armenian. Her family has been living in the North Caucasus for several generations.
Maybe that's why we didn't go to Armenia in childhood - the Arushanovs took root in Pyatigorsk a very long time ago. I filled this gap myself when my husband and I hosted the Russo Turisto travel show. Somehow they filmed a program in Yerevan, and I fell in love with this city and this country. Armenia is also very beautiful.
But I grew up in the Caucasus, so all the cities and countries of this region are close to me. The people there, of course, are very kind, hospitable, sincere, everything is so emotional. I'm used to it. That is why the first time in Moscow it was difficult for me to adapt. Here people are completely different, indifferent. And in the Caucasus, everyone knows everything about everyone, they worry about everyone, they ask about everyone, they are interested in who lives, how and where, who gave birth to whom, and so on.
— Did you manage to visit Georgia as an adult?
- Yes, we also filmed a plot for a travel show there, drove past Borjomi and made a stop. While the film crew was resting, we went to the grandmother. It was a spontaneous meeting, but no less warm. Georgia is very impressive, Tbilisi is beautiful, and Batumi too. I would like to return there.
- It turns out that you have Georgian, Armenian and Russian blood. And who do you think you are?
- I don’t even know ... Probably more Georgian, I still went through 27 years with a Georgian surname (Utmelidze - approx. Ed.). In addition, the Georgians successfully and moderately combine modernity and tradition, this is very close to me.
Girl with a candidate minimum
- I followed your search for yourself - you either wanted to become a fashion designer, then you wanted to manage personnel, then you went into philosophy. What were those throws?
- (laughs) I wanted to become a fashion designer, because I really liked to sew - my mother does it wonderfully. She was engaged in individual tailoring, taught at a technical school. And, of course, since childhood, our sister had the most elegant dolls, and we ourselves had very beautiful dresses.
And although I graduated from school with a silver medal, I went to a sewing college. My mother knew that they give a good base there, they teach wonderfully. But this is a rare case when a girl with a medal goes to a sewing college (laughs). And so the selection committee was very surprised, they even called the director: "Look, a medalist has come to us." But in parallel with this, I entered the correspondence department at the university as a personnel manager.
- So, who did you want to become in the end?
- In my thoughts, when all this was drawn in my head, I wanted to open my own atelier, do what I love, but at the same time lead.
- But they went in a different direction altogether - they began to study philosophy.
- I just had the opportunity to enter the postgraduate department. And there was a choice - a technical direction or a humanitarian one. But I am neither a mathematician nor a physicist, so social philosophy turned out to be the closest among the directions.
- But you left your studies, and if you finished, what would you become?
- Candidate of Philosophical Sciences. Honestly, I don't know what to do. I liked to study in graduate school, but then a new stage in my life had already begun - I played in KVN. And I no longer immersed myself in my studies, I didn’t write my dissertation, I understood that I would not complete it, but only spend a lot of time on initial articles. Why do it? So I only have a candidate minimum.
Admittedly, I didn’t get any proof of that. Everyone scolds me for this - others are studying, trying, and you didn’t even take the documents. In theory, somewhere in the archives of graduate school there is proof that I passed the candidate's minimum.
- So you can go back and still defend your dissertation?
- It turns out, I can, but I can’t imagine it.
They literally forced me to go to KVN
- Tell us how you got into KVN.
- This happened thanks to my beloved Irina Leonidovna Karmen. The college where I studied as a fashion designer was attached to the North Caucasian State Technical University. This is the same university where I studied at the same time in absentia. But extracurricular creative activities did not concern correspondence students, and when we were united, it turned out that there are a lot of sections there.
At that time, these were a circus studio, two choreographic studios, national and modern dances, a vocal and theater studio, and KVN. And now the director of this university, Irina Leonidovna Karmen, every year held and still holds these castings among freshmen, one of which I once got to.
- And you also decided to try yourself?
- No! We were literally forced to go there, no one from our college wanted to. Everyone was shy, afraid - there is a university, students, they are all cool (laughs). And so our head of educational work made me and another girl from our college go to the casting ... We came to this casting, showed a sketch with this girl, Irina Leonidovna became interested, asked: "Who came up with it?". I replied that I did. "Excellent. You will play in KVN," she said.
So I first got into the faculty team, then into the university team, started going to festivals in Sochi, played in the city league, and then we were all united by Olga Kartunkova, the captain of the Gorod Pyatigorsk team. She decided to gather everyone she liked in the league in Pyatigorsk, the best, no matter how immodest it may sound.
- When your relatives first saw you on stage, what did they say?
- Parents, probably, were simply surprised that I was performing at all. There were no artists in our family. Mom participated in some kind of amateur performances when she was studying, and that was all. Therefore, mom and dad, and all my big relatives were happy for me and were surprised. You have to have the courage to go on stage. People who do not do this themselves, it seems that this is akin to a feat. For some reason, I was especially worried when my mother went to my games. This added responsibility, and I already had enough stress before the games.
Throw tantrums only on stage
— How did you get into the Once Upon a Time in Russia project? Were there any doubts or did you immediately agree to participate in it?
- That was four years ago. Vyacheslav Dusmukhametov, producer of Comedy Club Production and author of the show, brought together KVN members from different teams and said that he wanted to make such a show, explained why he had gathered all of us. And, of course, I immediately liked the idea - I wanted to participate in this project. The show invited people with whom we were on the same wavelength. And it was immediately clear that it would be comfortable and extremely interesting for us to work together.
- Did you hesitate for a long time?
- I didn't hesitate at all. It was a television project, which means a certain growth, development. Some pluses, I think. To this day, I'm glad I agreed.
- Usually you play hysterical ladies. How did this image come about, from which you have not left for several years?
- It so happened, we all have already developed certain acting images. And for a humorous scene, conflict is always needed. So, Olga is impudent, which means that someone who “yapps” at her was needed. And I did very well with it. And visually it looked comical - I'm so small and thin, and I'm always in conflict with Olya. So this image stuck with me. But now in the show "Once Upon a Time in Russia" I began to have different images.
- I wonder if you are as sharp at home or vice versa - white and fluffy?
I don't cry at all at home. By the way, my husband laughs when I throw tantrums on stage. But in our lives this, thank God, does not happen. Even if there is some misunderstanding, minimal conflict, I do not raise my voice. I miss it on stage. If in my life they will yell like that (laughs) ... You can go crazy.
Ekaterina Utmelidze was born on August 17, 1986 in Pyatigorsk. Her parents have nothing to do with creativity. Mom works as a fashion designer (creating clothes), and dad is now working as a foreman in a construction organization. Katya also has a younger sister, who by profession and vocation is a wife and mother.
Biography of Ekaterina Utmelidze
The blood of different nations flows in Catherine's veins. In her family there are Armenians, Georgians, and Russians. Katya grew up the right child. The girl was engaged in choreography, ballet and a little gymnastics. Then she began to learn rapidly. First, our heroine graduated from college with excellent marks (specialty "tailor" and "fashion designer of garments"). Then she entered the Pyatigorsk State Technical University with a degree in personnel management. Then she went to graduate school in the department of "social philosophy", but her. KVN quickly burst into Catherine's life, so it became more difficult to study, and in the end she made her choice in favor of the stage.
KVN in the life of Ekaterina Utmelidze
Ekaterina Utmelidze got into KVN by chance. The college, where she studied as a fashion designer, was attached to a local university. There she was noticed by the head of the educational institution and enrolled in the ranks of KVN-shchikov. Ekaterina still remembers this woman, loves and is very grateful to her for giving her a “ticket to KVN”. Since then, our heroine began to move up the "steps of glory."
In the beginning there was a faculty team. Then - the team of the university "KVN Pyatigorsk". Ekaterina Utmelidze was confidently moving towards the Higher League of KVN. And thanks to her character and talent, she successfully succeeded. Of course, not immediately. I had to work hard, work on my image. Then the team "City of Pyatigorsk" appeared in the life of Catherine. It was formed from three teams of the Pyatigorsk League, for one of which Katya played. But the guys from each team lacked something, so they decided to unite. Then their affairs went uphill, and soon they got into the Higher League of KVN.
KVN team "City of Pyatigorsk"
The date of birth of the City of Pyatigorsk team can be considered 2009, when their first game took place. Later, they began to advance to the Major League at an accelerated pace.
In 2010, the members of the team became champions in the League of the International Union of KVN. In 2011, the team plays in the Higher League of KVN for the first time and immediately goes to the final, where it receives bronze medals. In 2012, having won all three games of the Major League, the team becomes a participant in the final. Having shared the second place with the team of St. Petersburg, the guys become the silver medalists of the season. The team also receives the third most important "KiViN" at the music festival in Jurmala.
In 2013, the guys won the main prize at the Jurmala Festival, and the team captain was awarded a separate award. At the moment, the team (after winning in 2013 in the Higher League of KVN) leads a touring life. They perform both in Russia and abroad. Tours take place in countries such as Germany, Estonia, the USA, Canada and others.
An offer of marriage
Playing in KVN, Ekaterina Utmelidze not only earned audience appreciation, but also met a loved one. Her chosen one was a member of the Parapaparam team Leonid Morgunov.
Of course, this issue was affected by the fact that Leonid and Ekaterina are avid KVN players. Our heroine received a marriage proposal from Lenya in a non-standard way. It happened right on the stage where the "Musical KiViN" was held. Leonid knelt in front of Katya and held out a box in which there was an engagement ring. Naturally, our heroine accepted the offer. Thus, announcing their engagement, Ekaterina Utmelidze and Leonid Morgunov became a bride and groom. They began to prepare for the upcoming happy and solemn event in their lives.
Wedding of Ekaterina Utmelidze
But due to the fact that KVN takes quite a lot of time in the lives of the guys, the wedding took place only a year later from that amazing and touching proposal on stage.
Since relatives and relatives live at a decent distance (our groom is from Novosibirsk), then, perhaps, there will be not one wedding celebration, but two or three. This is all because our bride has Caucasian roots, and she is characterized by scope and hospitality.
And the official part of the wedding, of course, took place in Pyatigorsk on June 7, 2014. It was an outstanding event. All day the young people with guests and relatives had fun. Their fans, who specialize in weddings, helped them a lot in this, for which Leonid and Ekaterina are immensely grateful to them. For every girl, marriage is an event that is remembered for a lifetime. Ekaterina Utmelidze was no exception in this. Photos from the wedding speak brightly about this. She and Leonid look amazingly beautiful and happy couple.
Personal life of Ekaterina Utmelidze
In the past, Ekaterina Utmelidze was very fond of sewing and needlework. Now, in her free time from a life full of tours, the best rest for her is to lie down in front of the TV, and, of course, meetings with her now beloved husband, friends and relatives. Katya also likes to see her teammates outside of the game, as she considers them her family. But due to the tight tour schedule, unfortunately, these meetings do not take place as often as we would like. Despite this, Katya does not lose heart and in no case complains about her life, since everything suits her herself, and she is absolutely happy.
Comedian, player in KVN (member of the national team City of Pyatigorsk), host, participant of the show "Once in Russia".
Ekaterina Morgunova. Biography
Ekaterina Guramovna Morgunova (Utmelidze) was born on August 17, 1986 in Pyatigorsk in a Georgian-Armenian family. Her father Guram Ruslanovich is a surveyor-topographer, later a foreman in a construction company. Mother Larisa Arkadievna is a fashion designer. The younger sister is Victoria.
Katya grew up as a restless girl with diverse interests. I tried myself in ballet, sports and rhythmic gymnastics, for more than six years I was engaged in ballroom dancing. She graduated with honors from high school, then received a red diploma in a sewing college. Then she studied at the Pyatigorsk State Technological University, where she acquired the specialty of a personnel manager.
Ekaterina Morgunova in KVN
Five years of excellent study allowed Ekaterina to pass the competition for graduate school at the Department of Social Philosophy, but the girl did not graduate from her, because she devoted more and more time to playing KVN.
Ekaterina did not plan to become an artist. And yet, from the amateur team of her faculty, she was invited to the Khlabys university team, with which she played in the Central League of the Krasnodar Territory. And in 2009, the best Khlabys players teamed up with selected members of the Pyatigorsk team Bad Habits and the Vinsad Homeless Children from Stavropol. This team was declared the main city team and received the name "Gorod Pyatigorsk".
The Pyatigorsk team performed triumphantly: they won the First League and immediately, following the results of the Sochi festival, got into the final of the Higher League of KVN, where they took 3rd place. It was really a great achievement for the novice team, especially since in 2012 it improved its result by becoming the vice-champion, and in 2013 it won the main tournament of cheerful and resourceful.
Ekaterina several times became the owner of the honorary "Big KiViN".
Ekaterina Morgunova in the show Once Upon a Time in Russia
In 2014, Ekaterina began acting in the comedy show Once Upon a Time in Russia on the TNT channel, whose participants act out sketches on stage in front of the audience while they are being filmed. The host of the show is the famous Comedy Club member Vadim Galygin. The creators of the project are Semyon Slepakov and Vyacheslav Dusmukhametov. Among the participants are such well-known cavalrymen as Olga Kartunkova, Irina Chesnokova, Maxim Kiselev, Azamat Musagaliev, David Tsallaev and others.
Ekaterina Morgunova about the third season of "Once Upon a Time in Russia": The new season for me is full of surprises! Firstly, we were pleased with the new actors, fresh blood, so to speak! Secondly, a lot of new images, I personally discovered some very unexpected characters. But most of all I want to see the new splash screen! Because I'm a girl, and it should turn out very beautiful! That's it, I won't say anything more! We need intrigue! Don't miss the premiere of the new season! Everything is great there!
Ekaterina Morgunova in the Russo Turisto program
In September 2015 on the STS channel Ekaterina Morgunova began to conduct an entertaining and educational travel program "Russo Turisto", where another former kaveen worker became her partner Leonid Morgunov.
The essence of the project is to show the audience famous cities, but from a completely unknown side. The guys come to some popular locality among tourists and find little-known sights there, small cozy cafes, quiet embankments, etc. In addition to practical advice for avid travelers, Ekaterina and Leonid Morgunov give viewers a lot of positive emotions, as they conduct the program in their characteristic humorous manner.
Ekaterina Morgunova. Personal life
Ekaterina Utmelidze married in 2014 her colleague in KVN, a player of the Parapaparam team Leonida Morgunova. It is interesting that he proposed to his future wife on the stage of the Voting KiViN festival in Jurmala, presenting an engagement ring during one of the performances. After the wedding, Catherine took her husband's surname.
The actress is very fond of old Soviet comedies, especially paintings.
Ekaterina Morgunova
Ekaterina Morgunova has no acting education, but her vivid television images invariably impress the audience. Ekaterina appears as a very convincing exalted and diverse person in the show "Once Upon a Time in Russia".
- In the show "Once Upon a Time in Russia" your heroines are very exalted persons. Do they look like you in some way?
- Vice versa. I almost never raise my voice in my life. My characters in the numbers of the show are in conflict, screaming, swearing. This is not typical for me, even when I am very angry. So they are opposite characters.
- Sometimes the audience confuses the actor and his hero. Have you ever been perceived not as Ekaterina Morgunova, but as her character?
- Not yet, apparently, because there was no character who would "stick" to me. I played different heroines, but there didn’t seem to be a long-playing role or a specific character that would be remembered or brightly different from everyone else, at least for the duration of the broadcast.
- It can be assumed that comedians cannot act without jokes on the set. Which episode of Once Upon a Time in Russia do you remember the most?
“Perhaps it’s about Sherlock Holmes.” Each character is comical in their own way. In the course of the shooting, we “shot” several times. Either Azamat's pipe will fall out, or someone will forget part of the phrase - the concentration of humor in this scene was maximum.
At the same time, we know that you have no acting education. Is it really not necessary if you can play so organically?
- Creative producer David Tsallaev, who puts on the numbers, always looks at how organically we show ourselves. We are not allowed to do this. So don't be afraid to show up. We also feel each other well: we came out of the same environment, worked well together, we catch each other's serves, we feel the intonation. Hence the organic. When it comes to acting, it doesn't hurt anyone to learn. There are certain techniques, methods of work. The more you know, the better. I just haven't been able to find the time yet.
Do you have time to keep fit? In "Once Upon a Time in Russia" you are the most slender!
Apparently it's genetics. Because my parents are in great shape. Don't think I'm praising myself. (Laughs.) We have such a complexion - they are not predisposed to fullness. My weight has not changed since school - 45 kilograms. There were moments when the weight slightly decreased, during the games in KVN I lost weight to 43 kilos, because I was nervous, my appetite was catastrophically lost. Almost a skeleton came to the game. Now there is no such stress. Therefore, the weight is kept at around 46. Despite the fact that I eat everything and do not limit myself.
Many people dream about it. What is the secret? Caucasian health, mountain air, natural food since childhood?
- May be. My mother also weighed 46 kilograms for a long time. Then she gave birth to two children and added a little. But remains in great shape.
Instagram.com/ukaterina03
- Your dad is Georgian, your mom is Armenian, while you are a light-eyed blonde. Does that happen?
Many people are surprised by this. Stereotypes are such that the daughter of an Armenian and a Georgian is presented differently, I agree. But I have Russian grandmothers in my mother's and father's line. It looks like it got mixed up somehow. My sister is also light-eyed, more like a Slavic type of appearance.
— Caucasian families are famous for their strong table traditions. But you and your husband work and live in Moscow. How often do you manage to get out to your family for the holidays?
- Anniversaries, weddings, birthdays - a table is set for all events in Pyatigorsk, and all relatives gather. I am happy to break down there and enjoy communication, fresh air, goodies. Grandmother cooks, grandfather leads the table. By the way, they recently celebrated 56 years of marriage. Traditions are very strong, but at the same time we have a modern family: I have never been pulled: “when you get married.” Of course, gatherings with relatives are not enough. I am still getting used to Moscow because of this.
- Can you imagine yourself in the place of grandparents - at a large table with children and grandchildren?
Of course we want kids. It is in the plans. (Smiling.) But a huge family is unlikely to succeed. We still have a different rhythm of life and circumstances. But I really want to. My husband is a Siberian, he fell in love with the Caucasus from the first time. Such feasts are not very accepted among them, so he gladly travels with me to Pyatigorsk at the first opportunity.
- Both you and Leonid are artists. Two creative units in one family - is it difficult? Is there any disagreement or disagreement about this?
- We, on the contrary, always rejoice for each other and support, if there are experiences. We get along easily, due to the fact that we work in the same area. There is trust. We understand: if I leave for a week, then to work, and not who knows where. Or vice versa - if one of us needs to be alone, to relax, then the second does not touch, does not inquire. Complete harmony in this sense.
Did you also meet at work?
- Yes, Leonid played in the Parapaparam team, and we often went to the same games and concerts. Before the games, I'm usually nervous - I repeat the words, I'm worried that everything will work out, it's better not to approach me. For two years we crossed paths backstage, but I did not notice him. So we started talking on tour: the atmosphere there is simpler, calmer, there are no competitions, the atmosphere is more relaxed. That is, we met two years after we met for the first time.
— Leonid long pursued you?
- I’m more of a closed person: “Oh, no, thanks” - that’s how I sent everyone. And with Lenya we began to communicate as friends, calmly and jokingly. It must have bribed me. And imperceptibly, our relationship moved into a different quality. The humor helped. Friendship gradually turned into feelings.
- Yes! His friends knew everything and prepared in advance. It was at a festival in Jurmala during an encore concert. Everyone knew but me! I didn't suspect anything. All these days, on the way to the concert hall, I walked past the attraction - a slingshot and set myself up for extreme sports, I had to jump from it. Therefore, all thoughts were about it, I did not pay attention to the fact that they were whispering around me and a surprise was being prepared. And here we are playing, the musical background of Leni's team went - he came out, he said everything. Everyone was crying. It was unexpected and extremely touching.
- As part of the Russo Turisto show, you traveled to many countries. What impressed you the most about your travels?
— We visited 24 cities from 18 countries. Asia seemed the most exotic. In Vietnam, a husband drank the blood of a cobra. In Hong Kong and Singapore, as if in the future - this is space! The transcendental level of technology, cleanliness, as if walking on the scenery. But in Cambodia, the opposite is true: we saw families living in boats. Six people sit in a boat and sleep in it. They don't have anything else. In gray-brown water, they wash their faces, brush their teeth, wash clothes and fish in the same place. In the same village, I roasted frogs. After such a trip, we rethought a lot. It was a strong impression.
Lenya made a very romantic proposal, right on the KVN stage at one of the performances .... Now the newlyweds are happily married, live in Moscow, are actively pursuing a career in the television field.
How it all began
I fell in love with Katya, obviously not in the image of that crazy "teacher" with which many associate her. For the first time I drew attention to her as a girl during one of the training camps. She was so touching, sweet, tired, without makeup in a simple T-shirt and red pants. At that time, I was dating another girl, but when I realized that I had truly fallen in love with Catherine, then, of course, I ended the old relationship, ”says the satisfied husband. - Then I began to “roll up” to Katya, and after a while she gave up.
KVN romance is not a hindrance
Despite the fact that we are both comedians, we know how to be gentle. For example, Lenya often gives me flowers for no reason. And the very way he proposed to me, it already says a lot. It was so unexpected that I didn’t even burst into tears right away, although there was a very touching moment, ”recalls Katya. He loves to feed me delicious food. Somehow I returned very late from a rehearsal, I come home, tired and hungry ... And there my beloved husband is waiting for me with my equally beloved Philadelphia rolls. And there are flowers, candles on the table... Of course, it was extremely pleasant.
The husband is on a “diet”, and the wife eats for two
My wife is a girl from the Caucasus, so her appetite is excellent! And most importantly, nothing is postponed anywhere, - Leonid smiles. “Now I’m trying to keep my figure, I eat a little less, but she doesn’t, she eats for two,” the KVN worker continues to joke.
I can eat at any time of the day, I was lucky by nature with a figure, - Katya confirms his words. - And I help my husband, I can “pull” something from his portion, I take care of him, - Utmelidze laughs.
We have a patriarchy
I am the head of the family, I solve all the main issues. Although sometimes I act wisely and let Katya think that she made an important decision herself, - says Lenya.
I'm not trying to fight for leadership. For what? We have even more equality, my husband always listens to me, - Ekaterina rejoices.
Cheer for one team
Katya and I have a favorite in the Major League season - this is SOYUZ. They are our friends, the guys have grown significantly as comedians in a few years, they have become more experienced. Especially since this is their last season. It would be great if the guys won. We were also impressed by DALS. If the “detectives” win, we will also be happy, - Leonid shares.
In the semi-finals, they amazed me, brought me to the "hysteria" - says Katya. - And off the stage - these are sincere good guys, I wish them good luck.
"Lawyer" and "seamstress"
Utmelidze is now actively involved in the comical project of the TNT channel "
