Top rating of the most famous athletes of Russia. Star composition: which artists, athletes and TV presenters will go to the polls

A sports career is short, especially in professional or high performance sports. Yesterday's budding juniors reach the peak of their form for a year or two, and by the age of 33-35 they already become veterans. Only one out of five athletes high level can count on two Olympics in his career, one out of ten Olympians gets three. And we are only talking about the most prominent representatives sports. And what to do after the finish? Maybe go to the cinema? For some, such a reforging was given, and it was given well. We dug into the history and remembered several champions who achieved the love of the audience not only on the sports fields.

Let's leave the American swimmer Johnny Weissmuller to open the history of changing sports victories to cinematic achievements. An immigrant from Austria-Hungary, Johnny, on false documents, got into the US swimming team and became one of the most outstanding Olympians in history. Five gold awards and 67 world records - on the water surface of the pools, Weissmuller had no equal in the 20s of the last century. After the end of his sports career, Johnny traveled around the states with water show, but became truly beloved by the public in 1932 after the main role in the film "Tarzan: Man-Ape". The impressive torso of the athlete drove the spectators crazy, and the loud call of Tarzan became calling card for a whole series of twelve films!

Weissmuller's example was not the only one. In 1936, another well-deserved athlete moved from big-time sports to the big screen - figure skater Sonya Henie. The Norwegian from a sports family became the Olympic champion three times and held the title of world champion in women's single skating for ten years in a row. Henie's main achievement in cinema was the leading role in the famous Sun Valley Serenade, a film that even in the Soviet Union became one of the most beloved films.

Of course, more modest athletes came to the cinema, but they were orders of magnitude more talented. An example of this is Steve McQueen, who combined his acting career with a passion for auto and motorsports. It is interesting that professional sports (and McQueen participated in fairly large competitions) brought him money, and the acting path rather took them away, because Steve came to great success at the age of thirty, when the actor became the star of The Magnificent Seven. Then The Great Escape and Bullitt finally made a screen superstar out of McQueen, but the memory of the actor’s passion for racing was not erased and was reflected in the Pixar cartoons Cars, where main character named Lightning McQueen.

Now it's time to turn your eyes to Europe. The sixties and seventies were the heyday of French and Italian cinema, so it is not at all surprising that in these countries there was a significant influx of people from various walks of life into the cinema. Take at least Jean-Paul Belmondo. Although this Frenchman was not a professional athlete and never entered the ring at the international level, he boxed quite tolerably in his youth, even becoming the champion of Paris in his weight. But this is more of a choice at the beginning of a career, but Lino Ventura, a French actor of Italian origin, is quite suitable for our list - in 1950, Ventura became the European champion in Greco-Roman wrestling, but was seriously injured and was forced to end his sports career. Lino Ventura came to the cinema in 1954 and eventually became one of the most beloved movie stars in Europe, who felt equally comfortable both in the shoes of a bandit and in a police uniform.

But back to Hollywood. In the 70s, American cinema moved towards the mass production of action films, which required the attraction of fearsome jocks to the set. The main supplier of such thugs was the American National Football League, which regularly retired the most colorful people. The list of quarterbacks featured in movies is endless. We will only mention that Fred Williamson, familiar to the audience from Starsky and Hutch and From Dusk Till Dawn, Carl Weathers, Stallone's partner in Rocky and Schwarzenegger in Predator, Bubba Smith - the famous Hightower from Police academy" and the infamous OJ Simpson, who became famous for "The Naked Gun" before the lawsuit.

Also, do not forget about the Asian side of the issue. To understand all the intricacies of martial arts competitions, you need to spend a lot of effort, so we will have to believe in the titles with which the actors adorn themselves. Someone, like, for example, Sonny Chiba, familiar to Western viewers from the Kill Bill dilogy, Chuck Norris or Jet Li, has real talents, someone, like Jean-Claude van Damme, Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan, is only promoter of martial arts. Be that as it may, Asian athletes and Western followers of karate, wushu or judo deserve a mention.

Having studied the past, it would be good to turn to today. Who is the most athletic right now? There is someone to choose from, judge for yourself. Jason Statham successfully combined the beginning of his acting career with sporting achievements - the current action hero was a member of the UK diving team and participated in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Canadian synchronized swimmer Estella Warren became the champion of Canada three times before changing the pool to a model podium and the big screen, she has roles in Racer and Planet of the Apes. Mickey Rourke poured out his energy in the boxing ring, he achieved victories infrequently, but even worse, he combined boxing with drugs, which almost ruined himself. Danny Trejo was also a state boxing champion, who at one time trained Eric Roberts and thus caught the eye of casting directors. Football bruiser Vinnie Jones brought all his emotions from the green lawn to the screen, now he is one of the directors' most beloved supporting actors in action and thrillers. Javier Bardem was a member of the Spanish Olympic rugby team as a young man, Thomas Kretschmann was a professional swimmer during his life in the GDR, Gina Carano was a professional Muay Thai before defecting to the set of Steven Soderbergh. Let's leave it up to you to add Arnold Schwarzenegger to this list of bodybuilders and

Even at the beginning of the last century, the actor had to not only be able to create the image of his hero, but also sing and dance. Let us recall, for example, the great Charlie Chaplin, who was an actor, screenwriter, director, and composer who wrote amazing melodies for his films. Until about the 60s, the combination of "in one bottle" of a singer, dancer and actor was a normal phenomenon. Suffice it to recall the names of Lyubov Orlova, Marlene Dietrich, Marika Rekk, Kalman Latabar and many others. Films with their participation entered the golden fund of world cinema, concerts and performances were sold out, and records sold out in a few months.

In the second half of the last century, universality was perceived rather as an exception. But even then there were world-class stars, about whom it was impossible to say which specialty was leading for them. Films with the participation of Rafael were seen by almost all of Europe, but he always considered and still considers himself primarily a singer. By the way, this legendary Spaniard found himself on television, becoming the host of one of the most popular cultural programs in Spain.

In the 1960s, concerts by the remarkable Chilean singer Violeta Parra were held in Paris with great success. At the same time there was an exhibition of her paintings. Violeta was then considered a left-wing songwriter, so her own country's ruling classes didn't like her much. But she wrote many beautiful songs and became a true star of her genre. And for her paintings and ceramics best museums world and the owners of private collections are willing to pay stunning money.

AT early XXI century, too, there are universal stars. Oddly enough, the situation in modern world, which seems to require specialization, at the same time stimulates people to show themselves in the most different areas. Fashion changes very quickly and what talented person succeeded does not guarantee him stability in the future. Something else needs to be found. One of the most clear examples wagon star - Jennifer Lopez. Singer and actress, but at the same time, a successful business woman who has created her own brand.

Shakira is gradually starting her career as an actress - one of the most popular Latin American singers. The fact that she is going to play an Indian goddess in a new 3D film has been known for a long time.

Often, athletes also strive to “change roles”. Julio Iglesias started as a football player and for a long time combined his favorite sport with performances on the stage. There was once a football player and one of the outstanding opera singers- Zurab Sotkilava, who started playing in Soviet time in Dynamo Tbilisi, and then became a soloist of the Bolshoi Theater.

Outstanding Hong Kong and American actor Jackie Chan started out in Hong Kong as a martial artist. He first appeared in films as a stuntman. However, it turned out that he has considerable acting talent. His cinematic career was dizzying, and over the years of his work in the cinema, he managed to prove himself both as a director and as a screenwriter.

One of the brightest actors of modern Russian cinema is Nikolai Valuev. He began his career as an athlete and basketball player, then decided to take up boxing - and it was in this form that he reached the top. But now we see him more often in the movies than in the ring, and he plays not only in action movies. By the way, Nikolai successfully combines his work in the cinema with social activities. He was elected to State Duma, having managed to prove himself as a politician.

Norwegian Sonja Henie still holds the unbeaten record of three Olympic medals in singles. figure skating. A ten-time world champion and six-time winner of the title of the best figure skater in Europe, at the age of 24 Henie finished her professional career and first switched to ballet on ice, and then opened up to the audience on the big screen. The first serious appearance in the cinema for Sonya was the film "One in a Million", but Henie tasted the real love of the audience only with the release of the famous "Sun Valley Serenade". One of the biggest international hits of its time, even in the Soviet Union, won the love of the audience, and the magnificent Karen became a favorite of the public, entering the name of Sony Henie in golden book cinema history.

American athlete Johnny Weissmuller, at the age of 24, inscribed himself in the history of world sports, becoming a five-time Olympic champion. Born on the territory of modern Romania, Johnny ended up in the United States as a child, where, after suffering from polio, he took up swimming and reached unprecedented heights. At two Olympics, in Paris and Amsterdam, Weissmuller had no equal, and Johnny finished his sports campaign undefeated. In life, a new test awaited him - competitions on the water were replaced by a large screen, but even here the handsome athlete could do a lot. Weissmuller not only became a symbol of his generation, but also embodied on the screen an image that is still recognized today, Tarzan with his famous cry - that's it, Johnny. Three dozen films loved by the audience are an excellent addition to sports gold medals.

The first half of the life of Siberian Alexei Vanin can be compared with the path of Ivan Poddubny - the future champion found himself in the ring almost by accident, but as a result turned out to be “impassable” for most of his rivals. From the champion of a small town, Alexei went through all major allied competitions and ended his career as a classic wrestler with four prizes in the USSR championships. At the end of his career, Vanin wanted to use his talent in the coaching field, but fate decreed otherwise - the cinema called Alexei and did not let him go. Six dozen films were recorded by the Soviet strongman, the audience will recognize him in "Gentlemen of Fortune" and "They Fought for the Motherland", "Athos" and "Midshipmen, Forward!". Truly - National artist!

Internet meme hero Chuck Norris became an athlete quite by accident. passing military service in the US Air Force stationed in South Korea, Carlos Ray (this is the real name of the actor) out of boredom began to take judo and karate lessons from his colleagues, and then from local masters. The innate talent quickly showed itself - already at the age of 22, Chuck (the new name was received at a military base) became the owner of a black belt. Returning to the States, Norris not only continued to win competitions (seven years in the rank of world champion is no joke), but also took up the education of the younger generation, opening many karate schools throughout the country. Chuck Norris approached his film career with all his usual seriousness, he even took acting courses. The audience, however, does not love this actor for his exposed diction and dramatic skills, "Return of the Dragon", "Operation Delta" and "Missing" - that's what fans of vintage action movies still go crazy about.

Professional American football player O.J. Simpson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985, and his main achievement is the record set in the 1973 season, when Simpson ran over 2,000 rushing yards in 14 games. And although the next three or four years running back was regularly awarded awards, Simpson's career was on the decline and logically came to the commentary craft and filming in commercials. From TV screens, Simpson confidently stepped into the halls of cinemas, first in the thriller "Capricorn One", and then in the comedy trilogy "The Naked Gun", which made him famous all over the world. For the fame of the comedian, however, very soon came notoriety - the murder charge sent O.J. Simpson behind bars until 2017.

Perhaps among our readers there will be those who will not call bodybuilding a real sport, but let them try to tell this to the eyes of those mountains of muscles that compete on the platforms of the Mr. Olympia tournaments and the like. At a certain stage in his life, young Arnold could follow the path of a football player, but he preferred bodybuilding and succeeded in this so that he became a model for millions of boys around the world. However, performances at bodybuilding tournaments and the title of “Mr. Olympia” alone would not be enough for this - more significant victories are needed. For example, screen, and here Schwarzenegger has no equal. "Terminator" and "Total Recall", "Conan the Barbarian" and "Commando", "Predator" and "Eraser" - all the classic action movies of the 1980-2000s - it's all him, Arnold Ailbibekovich Schwarzenegger.

The indefatigable energy of Mickey Rourke from childhood was looking for an outlet, and this thirst for adventure on his “fifth point” often caused problems for the young American. Participation in school baseball tournaments and bodybuilding did not suit Mickey, as they did not lead to anything good and his connection with crime, the answer to the questions was found in the middle - Rourke took up boxing and very soon became a decent fighter who was offered a professional career. The ring, however, did not bring much money, and in search of a livelihood, Mickey went to Hollywood, where he was seen not only as a wiry athlete, but also as a charming bully, in front of whom women cannot restrain their desires. "9 1/2 Weeks" and "Wild Orchid" opened up a completely different Mickey Rourke, and although the action films took their toll over time, the actor's main post-sport achievements were erotic melodramas.

Unlike many other types of martial arts, karate is quite demanding on growth. The more tangible are the achievements of Cynthia Rothrock, who, with her 160 centimeters, made all her tall rivals tremble. Having been involved in martial arts since the age of 13, Cynthia earned black belts in six different types at once, with such baggage Rothrock was not afraid of any opponent. In addition, in the early 80s, Cynthia became the champion of American martial arts tournaments with weapons, and this automatically made her tidbit for film producers. And a career on the big screen was not long in coming: since 1985, Rothrock has become the favorite of millions of viewers - action movie fans. "Honor and Fury", "Tiger's Claw", "Best Squad" - Cynthia got the name "Dragon Lady" for a reason, now we are waiting for her participation in "Showdown in Manila".

There are many rumors about the sporting achievements of Jean-Claude Van Damme, they say, he never had serious rivals, and his victorious tournaments cannot be attributed to well-known ones, but, in fairness, the title of the absolute champion of Belgium in bodybuilding and the European champion in karate and kickboxing not a single ill-wisher will be erased from the athlete's resume. As for the film career, here Van Damme was helped by his athletic skills, he clung to several projects with the grip of a bulldog, until one of them made him a star. "Bloodsport", the script of which was gathering dust in warehouses for three years, was not even planned to be shown in the USA, but the success of the film in Asia, and then in Europe, changed the views of distributors, and American viewers learned about Jean-Claude. By the mid-90s, Van Damme could compete with both Stallone and Schwartz in his popularity.

Our longtime readers may not only have seen stories of Vinnie Jones' atrocities on the pitch or Youtube videos, but they have also watched this defender's tough playing style on live English Premier League broadcasts on our TV. Jones' dirty tricks became his calling card on the field, but they, together with a collection of yellow and red cards, served as a movie pass for this characteristic British giant with a stone face, nicknamed by enemies of the Ax. The debut, as well as for a whole galaxy of young Englishmen, for Vinnie was Guy Ritchie's film "Cards, Money, Two Smoking Barrels", which consolidated the image of Vinnie Jones, which has been exploited in the cinema so far: a taciturn tough guy who solves any problems with his fists. Today, in the filmography of Jones, there are already almost a hundred roles, among which the work in the film “She is the Man” stands out, in this comedy Vinnie again enters the football field!

Another football player on our list is the legendary Frenchman Eric Cantona, who, by the way, faced Vinnie Jones on the field when he was a player of the Manchester United club, with whom the midfielder collected all conceivable awards. The football player of Canton was both gifted and unrestrained, he managed to conflict with opponents, referees, teammates, coaches and even fans. The inability to control himself often cost Eric dearly, he was pursued by disqualifications and fines. But in the cinema, Canton seemed to have been replaced - from a street hooligan, he turned into a respectable monsignor, who found a place not only in primitive French comedies, but also in a production such as "Elizabeth", as well as in the drama "Finding Eric", nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.

Oleg Taktarov, who started at a provincial sambo school, became one of the most famous in the West in 1995 Russian athletes, speaking in mixed martial arts, not too popular at home at that time. Under the pseudonym Russian Bear, Oleg crushed opponents in the cage of UFC tournaments, won an outstanding victory in the competition and left the ring without suffering a single defeat by pain or choke hold. But even being among the ten most popular fighters in the history of the tournament could not change Oleg's dream - Taktarov wanted to become a Hollywood movie star. To a certain extent, he achieved his goal: "15 minutes of fame", "President's Airplane", "Predators" - Oleg was not deprived of roles, but, alas, like many "Russian Hollywood" he did not jump above his head, accent and Nizhny Novgorod face shape not allowed.

Another graduate of Guy Ritchie's "card money" comedy thriller, Jason Statham, also established himself in sports much earlier than on the screen. To some, it may not seem the most courageous sport that Jason chose for himself - instead of football, which his friends played, Statham devoted himself to diving - but now try to compete with the actor in strength and endurance! Jason's sporting achievements are impressive - as part of the British team, he traveled around the world for 12 years, and the peak of his career was Statham's participation in the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. Acting, at first, did not particularly appeal to Jason, much closer to him was the modeling business, but acquaintance with Guy Ritchie changed his opinion about the cinema, and the audience received not only the Turk from the Big Jackpot, but also two dozen movie characters that all action movie fans know, Statham - the star of "Transporters", "The Expendables" and "Adrenaline".

The titles and regalia of Dwayne Johnson, who took the pseudonym The Rock back in 1997, can be listed for a very long time. The trouble is that all the ups and downs of the championships of the WWF and WCW wrestling associations are practically unknown in our country, so we will not bother you with the proceedings with the championships and their winners, just believe me: The Rock is a truly legendary fighter. Physically gifted, Dwayne shone at school in running, wrestling and American football, but at the behest of his heart he chose wrestling as the most spectacular sport, and did not fail - the ring brought Johnson into orbit of worldwide popularity. Popularity among sports fans was inevitably followed by acting fame - The Rock made his debut on the big screen in the fantasy action movie "The Scorpion King" and instantly became a superstar. Today, Dwayne is filming with great pleasure in films of various genres: from the comedy "Tooth Fairy" and the pseudo-historical "Hercules" to the furious "Fast and the Furious", the last of which is now rewriting box office records in the cinemas of the planet.

female face mixed martial arts MMA Gina Carano could well be lost among her peers if she continued to play basketball, softball or volleyball at school, in which she showed her abilities. But the girl chose for herself a more dangerous, but also much more spectacular sport and devoted herself to Muay Thai and boxing. Fights involving Carano invariably attracted increased attention, and the number of fans of the stocky girl, sweeping away rivals like a tornado, grew by leaps and bounds. Hollywood was not slow to show its attention. Steven Soderbergh was the first to pull out Gina on the big screen, composing his “Knockout” specially for Carano, then the athlete appeared in Fast and Furious 6 and Bloody Revenge. However, Carano's plans look even more impressive than the work already done: Gina signed up to participate in the female version of The Expendables, her participation in the Kickboxer reboot was announced, and comic book fans will meet the actress-athlete in Deadpool. The main battles are yet to come!

Olympic champions working in the State Duma are not going to return to sports, and artists are not going to the stage: they are again running for parliament, according to lists and districts. The ranks of the Duma celebrities will be replenished with TV stars

Nikolai Valuev (left) and Vladislav Tretiak plenary session State Duma of the Russian Federation. January 2014 (Photo: Mikhail Japaridze/TASS)

It's easier in the Duma than in a sports club

Deputies-athletes do not want to leave politics - they all intend to participate in the elections of the new convocation of the State Duma which will be held on September 18. All athletes from United Russia» have already applied for participation in the preliminary voting (primaries) of the party.​

Information about the participants in the primaries and the method of their nomination (by list or single-member district) scheduled for May 22 is published on the party's website, applications are accepted from early March to April 10. Primaries of "United Russia" - a mandatory procedure for intra-party voting for the selection of candidates for deputies.

Former boxer Nikolai Valuev will go to the polls from the Bryansk region on a single-member district and list, three-time Olympic champion in Greco-Roman wrestling Alexander Karelin - single-mandate from the Novosibirsk region, President of the Russian Ice Hockey Federation Vladislav Tretiak - from the Ulyanovsk region (on the list and district), speed skating Svetlana Zhurova - from Leningrad region(according to the district and the list), and tennis player Marat Safin - from Nizhny Novgorod region(according to information on the website of the regional branch of the party). The Duma Paralympians Mikhail Terentyev (Moscow region, list) and Rima Batalova from Bashkortostan (list and constituency) will also be nominated.

LDPR deputy, Olympic bronze medalist in judo Dmitry Nosov also decided to take part in United Russia preliminary voting as a single-seat member in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party had not previously approved the participation of the deputy in the detention in September 2015 of the rapper Guf in Krasnoyarsk on suspicion of drug use. Igor Lebedev, vice-speaker from the Liberal Democratic Party, explained then that Nosov's actions had nothing to do with the party, but were "personal PR", and "he will no longer be a deputy from the Liberal Democratic Party." Athletes who have political weight “may be better heard by children and parents,” Zhurov motivates his decision to stay in the State Duma. The status of a deputy helps a lot in promoting hockey, Tretiak noted to the R-Sport agency.

Batalova from the Committee on Sports and Youth Affairs became the most active legislator among the deputies-athletes, signing 96 bills on the most different topics- from creating conditions for unhindered access of disabled people to residential infrastructure to providing the Bank of Russia with a mechanism to support the interbank lending market, follows from the information provided on the website of the State Duma. Her colleague on the committee, Valuev (42 bills), in addition to sports development projects, was involved in anti-alcohol and anti-drug initiatives. A significant part of Zhurova's proposals (56 projects) from the international committee relate to the support of culture.

Nosov, who is a member of the Committee on Security and Anti-Corruption, introduced mainly bills aimed at combating the use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs (a total of 32 initiatives). Safin from the Affairs Committee public organizations dealing with indigenous issues small peoples and control over activities non-profit organizations— foreign agents (19 projects).

Cultural Initiative

All Duma cultural figures from United Russia will also participate in the primaries. Applications were submitted by singer Iosif Kobzon (according to the list from the Trans-Baikal Territory), Opera singer Maria Maksakova-Igenbergs(according to the list and according to the majority district in St. Petersburg), actress Maria Kozhevnikova (according to the list from Vologda region). Director Stanislav Govorukhin is also going to run, his representative told RBC.

A Just Russia deputy, actress Elena Drapeko (on the list and in a single-mandate constituency in St. Petersburg) and a representative of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, director Vladimir Bortko (in the constituency in St. Petersburg), will also be re-elected to the new Duma. They told RBC about this.

In the field of cultural protection, there are shortcomings, Drapeko explains his desire to continue working in the Duma. “In the near future, our country is expected big changes, good or bad. And I would like to participate in this,” says Bortko.

The record holder for the number of bills signed is Maria Kozhevnikova, deputy from the Committee on Culture. She put her name under 101 short stories on various topics - from mortgages to ethyl alcohol turnover. Almost always, these are collective bills of United Russia, which are signed by dozens of deputies. In second place is Elena Drapeko (now she is the first deputy chairman of the committee on culture), who signed 65 bills, most of them related to her profile. Bortko, together with his colleagues, introduced only seven initiatives, among them a proposal to ratify the article on illicit enrichment of the UN Convention against Corruption.

Yury Kara intends to join his fellow directors in the new Duma. He applied for participation in the United Russia primaries on the list in Moscow. Kara was often in solidarity with the position of the authorities. In 2014, Kara signed a letter in support of the president's policy in Ukraine. Kara also proposed to ban the distribution of American films in Russia after the US imposed sanctions. His proposal was supported by Govorukhin. Having been blacklisted by the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture, Kara said he was proud of it.

Deputies from the sphere of culture in their public statements sometimes behave more freely than their counterparts in the Duma. Maksakova in the summer of 2014, during her speech at a meeting of the State Duma, a law banning propaganda of homosexuality, although she voted for its adoption a year earlier.

Iosif Kobzon, after the publication in winter by the Anti-Corruption Foundation of Alexei Navalny of an investigation into the family of Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika, sought to study the facts and sent a request to the TFR on one of the episodes of the investigation.

TV people

Aleksey Pushkov, the author of the analytical program on the TV Center channel, the chairman of the international committee, plans to continue his work in the Duma. He is going to be elected to the new Duma on the list in the Perm Territory. Pushkov, the main speaker of the State Duma on international policy, who was on the sanctions list, signed only four bills, including one on non-profit organizations - foreign agents and a ban on the production of low-alcohol energy drinks.

TV presenter Oksana Pushkina also decided to join the parliamentary ranks - they also applied for participation in primaries

Pyotr Tolstoy, the great-great-grandson of the writer Leo Tolstoy, led the final program “ Sunday time”, and in the Duma elections of 2011 and the presidential elections in 2012 he led pre-election debates. AT last years hosts talk shows "Time Will Show" and "Politics". In February of this year, Tolstoy was elected to the supreme council of United Russia.

“I constantly say that the political class must learn to clearly and clearly communicate their thoughts to voters. I want to try to put this idea into practice myself,” he explained to RBC. He will be elected to the Duma on the basis of a list and a single-mandate constituency in Moscow.

Pushkin, author and host of the program " female look”, applied for participation in the primaries in the Moscow region in a single-member district and list. In June 2015, on the proposal of the Governor of the Moscow Region Andrey Vorobyov, she was appointed to the position of Commissioner for Children's Rights in the Moscow Region. Pushkina in this work, according to her confession, “there are not enough certain laws, amendments” (quote from the website of the United Russia branch in the Moscow region).

At the primaries of "United Russia" in the Voronezh branch of the party, the deputy general director of the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, TV presenter Yevgeny Revenko also submitted documents. He plans to be elected on the regional list.

For athletes and artists, getting into the State Duma is an opportunity to become part of the establishment, to capitalize their personal fame into status achievements, explains political consultant Valentin Bianchi. According to him, the authorities need famous people, because to force them to vote for famous person easier: while it is not easy to convert fame into a motive for voting, it is very difficult for politicians to achieve a level of fame comparable to that of athletes and artists.

If a famous person goes to a single-mandate district, he has obligations to half a million voters, and his star status can help solve not only social, but also fundamental lobbying issues, political scientist Gleb Kuznetsov believes. “And if a celebrity is nominated to parliament on the list, then he will feel less responsibility, and this is often just selling his face,” Kuznetsov believes.

And it doesn’t matter how big the role or how much text is, whether the athlete plays himself or is he one of the main characters who has nothing to do with the athlete himself. "RG" decided to collect the most famous athletes who appeared on the big screen.

Wladimir Klitschko - boxing

The famous Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko could not help but appear in our rating. He managed to "light up" in several popular films, for example, in "Handsome" and "Handsome" 2 with Til Schweiger in the title role. Schweiger - good friend Klitschko, and therefore it is quite clear why he invited a boxer to a small role. Klitschko plays himself in the picture. Wladimir Klitschko also appeared in the film Ocean's 11. He and another equally famous boxer Lennox Lewis fought in a casino in Las Vegas. The last film work of Klitschko Jr. is a man boxing a pear in "Blood and Sweat: Anabolics".

Vinnie Jones - football

Now few people remember, but Vinnie Jones - the star of Guy Ritchie's films - was a famous football player, famous for his tough character. During his playing career, Jones has played for teams such as Wimbledon, Leeds United, Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers and Chelsea. In addition, he represented the Wales national team, for which he played 9 matches. He was repeatedly punished for his rough play, and once Vinnie Jones earned a yellow card 3 (!) seconds after he was on the field. After Vinnie Jones left the sport, he began to actively act in films. Behind him is work in the films "Cards, Money, Two Smoking Barrels", " big jackpot", "Gone in 60 seconds", "Password" Swordfish "", "Euro Tour", "X-Men", "Escape Plan" and many others. Almost everywhere, Jones played the role tough guy who prefers to solve cases by force.

Eric Cantona - football

The star of the English "Manchester United" boasts roles in little-known French films in Russia. However, one cannot fail to mention the picture "Elizabeth", a historical film about the life of Queen Elizabeth I of England. Cantona played the role of Monsignor de Foix, and the film itself was nominated for an Oscar, a BAFTA award and a Golden Globe. Another picture with the participation of Canton, which you can pay attention to, is the French film "Second Wind". Canton's partner in this film was the incomparable Monica Bellucci. The football player got the role of a bodyguard.

Michael Schumacher - "Formula 1"

The "Red Baron" was remembered by many not only for his breathtaking victories, but also for his role in the film "Asterix at the Olympic Games". Shummi played the chariot driver Shumix who wins the race. The great rider performed in his usual role - he went to the distance and almost without any problems left behind all rivals. And Schumacher's coach was played by Jean Toddt, president of the International Automobile Federation and former chief sports director of the Ferrari Formula 1 team in which Schumacher shone. By the way, many people played in this film famous athletes- tennis player Amelie Mauresmo, basketball player Tony Parker and wrestler Nathan Jones.

Zinedine Zidane - football

In the already mentioned film "Asterix at the Olympic Games" in a small but rather bright role, the star of French football Zinedine Zidane "lit up". image and appearance the legends deserve special attention: long black hair - and we are used to seeing Zidane with a completely different hairstyle, black mascara-lined eyes and, of course, Egyptian clothes.

Nikolai Valuev - boxing

Nikolai Valuev, unlike many of his colleagues in sports, not only acted in films, but also played a major role in one of the films. Behind the shoulders of the 40-year-old athlete are roles in several films, but perhaps the most famous is Yegor Golovin from "Stone Head". The hero is a boxer who has to return to the ring after a car accident. Film shot famous director Philip Yankovsky. Valuev was accompanied by actress Oksana Fandera. The picture itself received Grand Prize Film Festival "Window to Europe"

Dmitry Nosov - judo

Bronze medal winner Olympic Games in Athens, Dmitry Nosov, who was remembered by everyone for his selfless performance, went out on the tatami with a severe injury, played one of the main roles in the film "The Way". action movie dedicated eternal theme choosing the right path. By the way, in addition to Nosov, boxer Nikolai Valuev, gymnast Irina Chashchina, World Champion in MMA Oleg Taktarov and others played in the film.

Dennis Rodman - basketball

Extravagant basketball player Dennis Rodman has repeatedly pleased his fans with his appearance on the big screen. He played in the films "Kids", "Eddie", "The Avengers", "Super Agent Simon". But the most memorable was a character named Yaz from the movie "Colony". This is one of the main roles in the film, where, in addition to Rodman, such actors as Jean-Claude Van Damme and Mickey Rourke played. True, Rodman himself and his participation in the film was awarded the "Golden Raspberry" - as the worst male supporting role, the worst new star and Worst Screen Couple (with Van Damme).

Mike Tyson - boxing

Our list would not be complete without Iron Mike. He has played in more than 55 different films and series: such as Downhole Revenge, Very scary Movie 5", "The Hangover 2: From Vegas to Bangkok", "The Hangover", "Rocky Balboa", "Total Finish". But most often everyone remembers Tyson in the movie "Crocodile Dundee in Los Angeles". Here, as practically in all his films, Tyson played himself.

Djibril Cisse - football

French footballer Djibril Cisse "lit up" in the cult movie about taxi driver Daniel Morales, written by Luc Besson. Cisse appears, however, not for long in the last - fourth part of the comedy. And he played - of course - himself: the football player Djibril Cisse, who moved to the Marseille Olympique. In addition, Cisse starred in several series filmed in France.

Alexey Morozov, Darius Kasparaitis, Jaromir Jagr, Andrey Nikolishin - hockey

Four world-famous hockey players at once - Morozov, Kasparaitis, Jagr and Nikolishin appeared in one of the episodes of the film "Brother-2". All athletes played themselves in the film. By the way, then Morozov and Kasparaitis played together in the same Pittsburgh Penguins team. Morozov appeared in the film not only on his own, but also on a poster in the room of one of the film's characters, Konstantin Gromov.

Fedor Emelianenko - MMA

Four-time MMA world heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko could not help but play some cool and strong guy. So far, he has a role in only one film, but who knows, maybe this is just the beginning. Emelianenko played a special forces soldier named Fedor in the film "Key of the Salamander". In addition to him, Rutger Hauer and Michael Madsen starred in the film - a very solid company.

Bonus

There are also those athletes whose sports component of life has long been forgotten by everyone. For all of them, they are primarily actors who regularly appear on the big screen. Arnold Schwarzenegger - multiple winner of the title "Mr. Olympia" and a famous bodybuilder, Jason Statham took 12th place in the World Diving Championships, "cool Walker" Chuck Norris - martial arts master, Jean-Claude Van Damme - European champion in karate and kickboxing 1979 in the middleweight among professionals, the very first "Tarzan" Johnny Weissmuller is a five-time Olympic champion, Jet Li is a wushu master, Dolph Lundgren was the captain of the Swedish karate team, and Steven Seagal has 7 dan aikido aikikai.