From Lida to the Stars: An Exclusive Interview with Dasha Vereshchagina, the New Alice Selezneva

Discover the inspiring journey of Dasha Vereshchagina, the talented actress from Lida, Belarus, who captured the hearts of many with her portrayal of Alice Selezneva in the movie “100 Years Forward.” Join us as we delve into her life, career, and the premiere event in Minsk.

The Quest for the New Alice Selezneva

The search for the new Alice Selezneva was no easy task. The film’s director, Alexander Andryushchenko, recalled the challenging process of finding the perfect actress for the role. Hundreds of aspiring young actresses from Russia and Belarus auditioned, but it was the “girl from Lida,” Dasha Vereshchagina, who stood out.

Dasha Vereshchagina: A Rising Star

Dasha Vereshchagina is a professional actress born and raised in Lida. She studied at the Institute of Culture and the Academy of Arts in Minsk before being accepted into GITIS (Russian Institute of Theatre Arts, Moscow) on her third attempt. Since then, she has appeared in numerous plays, films, and TV series, including “Difficult Teenagers,” “Offline,” “Sex. Before and After,” and “Anna K.”

Family First: A Glimpse into Dasha’s Personal Life

At the press conference, Dasha’s first words were, “Let me see my family! I want to see their reactions as they watch the movie and laugh!” This statement reflects the strong bond between Dasha and her loved ones, much like her character Alice Selezneva, who is driven by her love for her family throughout the film.

Dasha’s dedication to her family is evident in her actions. Despite her busy schedule, she always finds time to embrace her mother, grandmother, brother, aunt, friend, and teacher. Her week leading up to the premiere was packed with interviews, autograph sessions, and travel. She flew to Minsk from Novosibirsk with the film’s director, Alexander Andryushchenko, and immediately after the premiere, she was off to Moscow.

The Search for a Unique Girl

Director Alexander Andryushchenko shared his vision for the role of Alice Selezneva: “We were looking for a girl unlike anyone else. Someone who would walk into a school, and it would be clear that she couldn’t live in Moscow in 2024.” Dasha’s unique charm and talent made her the perfect fit for the role.

Pursuing the Dream: Dasha’s Journey to Becoming an Actress

From a young age, Dasha knew she wanted to be an actress. After watching the film “Guest from the Future,” she confidently told her grandmother, “I will play Alice Selezneva.” However, as she grew older, her dream seemed more unattainable. Her grandmother advised her to pursue a more practical career, but Dasha remained determined.

In her final year of school, Dasha decided to follow her passion and enrolled in the Institute of Culture in Minsk. After a year, she attempted to transfer to a school in Moscow or St. Petersburg but was unsuccessful. She then switched to a correspondence course at the Academy of Arts in Minsk and spent a year preparing for her next attempt. She was accepted into GITIS but had to decline due to financial constraints.

Undeterred, Dasha dedicated herself to preparing for her third attempt. Her persistence paid off, and she was accepted into the directing and acting faculty at GITIS. She recalled, “Every time I applied to Moscow, people would say, ‘What are you doing? Just study at the Institute of Culture in Minsk. Stop dreaming!’ But when I was accepted into Oleg Lvovich Kudryashov’s course at GITIS on my third try, everyone was amazed. And when I started acting, everyone calmed down a bit: ‘What a miracle!’ No one in my family could have imagined that this was possible.”

For more information about Dasha’s films, visit her Kinopoisk page.