Lucky star of talented and beautiful Leyla Badirbeyli

/By AzerNews/

By Laman Sadigova

Leyla Badirbeyli was born in Baku in 1920 on January 20 in the family of Agalar Badirbekov, a native of Shamkir nobles and Pikyahanum Musakhan gizi, khan's daughter.

When Leila was a child, she often visited an all-girls club with her mother, where she showed her dancing and artistic skills - sweetly pretty girl with long beautiful braids charmed everyone.

The love of art fascinated the girl so much that she continued dancing lessons even when she went to school, surrendering her heart to this hobby.

However, in 1936 dancing turned from hobby to livelihood when Leila became was offered a spot in the Song and Dance Ensemble named after Muslim Magomayev, successfully touring throughout the Soviet Union. She was lucky to work with outstanding artists of that time, gaining experience and developing her talents.

Meanwhile, Leyla recognized in herself an actor talent and, led luckily by fate, became an actress of the Azerbaijan Drama Theatre. Leyla Bedirbeyli’s art coincided with the "golden age" of Azerbaijani theater in the 1940s to 70s, when the nation’s greatest artists of several generations met on the stage at the same time.

"My activity in the cinema and the theater fell on the war time, but these years have been very fruitful for the Azerbaijani art and for me also... “she said later on life.

Azerbaijani artists indeed supported people’s hope and patriotic spirit with their art, creating masterpieces that went down in history.

An invaluable contribution to patriotism and national pride were made by prominent musical composers Uzeyir Hajibeyov, Gara Garayev, Fikret Amirov, Dzhovdet Hajiyev, Soltan Hajibeyov, Tofig Guliyev, Suleyman Aleskerov, Shafiga Akhundova, Adil Huseynzade, Afrasiyab Badalbeyli and many others. Many musicians and composers created their pieces while in the army.

Meanwhile, a timeless duet between Rashid Behbudov and the beautiful Leyla Bedirbeyli championed the film "Arshin Mal Alan" to audiences in almost 50 countries! The film, created in a time of war, delighted the entire post soviet area.

The actress’s biography is also connected with a famous story.

The actress’s beauty and unique actor play melt the heart of the leader of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, who publicly stated that Leyla Bedirbeyli has a real oriental beauty.

A commemorative meeting was a lucky star for the young talented actress and she will remember it after many years.

"... An unforgettable meeting took place in 1938. Artists of Azerbaijan were attending in the Decade of Azerbaijani Culture in Moscow... St. George's Hall in the Kremlin hosted an evening in honor of the decade. All the members of the Politburo were there. Uzeyir bey, Shovket Alekperova and Bulbul were sitting next to Stalin. I was dancing to the song "Beri bah", Stalin was telling about his revolutionary activities in Baku. Then, when the western music tuned up, I start dancing with Papanin when Stalin saw me for the first time. Later, when I, the third women in the Soviet Union, was awarded the prize named after his name, I was very proud of it, " says Leila.

Leyla Badirbeyli left a bright mark on the history of Azerbaijani art, remaining an inspiration for young artists even now. Her internal spirit, sense of purpose and love of art made her an outstanding actress and dancer.

The actress past away in 1999 and was buried in Baku, in the Alley of honorary burial.