Leylo Aqnazarqyzy Beknazar
Leylo Aqnazarqyzy Beknazar is a renowned theater and film actress, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan, recipient of the “Kurmet” and “Parasat” Orders, laureate of the State Youth Award of Kazakhstan, and a professor at the Kazakh National University of Arts.
From 1977 to 1981, she studied dramatic “Theater and Film Acting” at the Almaty Theater Institute. She honed her skills in the workshop of the People’s Artist of the USSR and State Prize laureate K. Bökeeva. In 1981, Leylo Aqnazarqyzy joined the M. Auezov Kazakh Academic Drama Theater.
Roles at the M. Auezov Kazakh Academic Drama Theater:
- T. Akhtanov, “The Lost Friend” – Galiya
- S. Smataev, “My Star is High” – Sholpan
- B. Mukay, “The Night of Fulfillment” – Bayan
- M. Auezov, “Ayman-Sholpan” – Sholpan
- I. Gayip, “Is There Poison I Haven’t Drunk?” – Aigerim
- “Chingis Khan” – Qulan
- W. Shakespeare, “The Taming of the Shrew” – Katherina
- B. Atabaev, A. Tasymbekov, “Girls in Cloaks” – Zhaniya
- V. Volodin, “Locust” – Singer
- E. Amanshaev, “If I Were Sultan” – Zarina
- E. Shvarts, “The Little Dumpling Girl” – The Little Dumpling Girl
- Sh. Khusainov, “Ukyli Ybyray” – Altin
- “Persian Myths” – Zarina
- M. Baizhiyev, “The Bride and Groom” – The Bride, among many others.
Her incredible skill in portraying a wide range of roles has made her a favorite of the audience. Leylo’s dedication and talent earned her recognition after working at the theater for eighteen years.
In 1996, she was awarded the Kazakhstan Youth Union Prize.
When the capital moved to Akmolinsk (now Nur-Sultan), and experts from various fields joined forces, Leylo Beknazar-Khaninga, in 1999, was invited by the Mayor of Nur-Sultan and the Ministry of Culture of Kazakhstan to join the Qalybek Quanyshbayev State Academic Kazakh Musical Drama Theater and the M. Gorky State Academic Russian Drama Theater.
At both the Q. Quanyshbayev and M. Gorky theaters, she performed roles such as:
- A. Chekhov, “Uncle Vanya” – Elena Andreyevna
- A. Nurpeisov, “Blood and Sweat” – Akbala
- M. Auezov, “Qaraqypşaq Qobylandy” – Qarliğa, “Ayman-Sholpan” – Tenge
- M. Shahanov, “The Last Days of Chingis Khan” – Akerke
- D. Isabekov, “The Parrot in the Golden Cage” – Actress
- J. Molière, “Tartuffe” – Darina
- E. Zhuasbek, “Marriage” – Derekgul, “For You” – Woman
- J. M. Chevre, “The Formula of Virtue” – Marivonne
- R. Mukhanova, “Sarra” – Sarra
- R. Mukhanova, “Bopai Khanum” – Bopai Khanum, etc.
In recognition of her immense contribution to theater and film arts, she was named “Honored Worker of Kazakhstan” in 2001.
In 2002, she was appointed head of the “Theater and Directing” department at the Kazakh National Academy of Music, where she founded the department. She holds the title of Professor (JAC), with over forty of her students being laureates of international competitions and winners of prestigious awards such as the “Serper” Youth Union Prize and Kazakhstan’s “Daryn” Youth Prize.
In 2011, she was awarded the “Kurmet” Order.
In 2016, she received the “Parasat” Order for her contributions to the cultural development of Kazakhstan.
In 2012, at the Republican Theaters Festival in Kostanay, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of I. Omarov, Leylo Beknazar-Khaninga received the “Best Female Role” award for her performances as an Actress in “The Parrot in the Golden Cage,” Elena Andreyevna in Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya,” Akerke in Shahanov’s “The Last Days of Chingis Khan,” and Woman in Zhuasbek’s “For You.”
She is a seven-time winner of the “Best Actress” award at international and national festivals. This success is attributed to her natural talent and the ability to perform in both Kazakh and Russian-language productions.
In 2018, she was awarded the “Special Contribution to Theater Arts” prize at the “Sahna ger” National Theater Awards.
In 2019, Leylo Beknazar-Khaninga played the role of Fate in the play Fariza by R. Mukhanova, which premiered at the M. Auezov Kazakh State Academic Drama Theater in Almaty on September 5-6. The play was later staged at the “Sovremennik” Theater in Moscow on October 31 and in Nur-Sultan on November 15-16, receiving great acclaim.
The play Bopai Khanum, in which Leylo Beknazar-Khaninga portrayed the title role, won the “Best Play of the Year” nomination at the Tikketon Awards in 2021.
In 2021, her book, “My Star is High,” covering her 40 years of stage and film work, was published.
In 2021, she was awarded the First President of Kazakhstan’s State Scholarship for Culture.
In 2022, she received the “Sahna Saңlağı” award for her role as Bopai Khanum in the play Bopai Khanum during the “Qaleki Tınısı” premiere week.
Leylo Aqnazarqyzy Beknazar is a prominent figure in the development of Kazakh theater and film, widely recognized as an actress, teacher, and professor. She continues to contribute significantly to the cultural landscape of Kazakhstan.
