Leyla Badirbeyli

Leyla Aghalar gizi Badirbeyli and Leyla Badirbeyova – (after marriage, Javanshirova; ); (1920–1999), Soviet and Azerbaijani actress of theatre and cinema, People's Artiste of the Azerbaijan SSR, laureate of the State Stalin Prize of the second degree (1946), member of the CPSU from 1945. She is buried in the Alley of Honor.

Biography Leyla Badirbeyli was born on 8 January 1920 in Baku, in the family of Aghalar Badirbeyov, from the generation of Shamkir beys. In 1936, she became the soloist of the Song and Dance Ensemble of Azerbaijan, where she worked until 1942. In 1942, under the guidance of the Azerbaijan State Drama Theatre, named after Meshadi Azizbeyov's invitation, she began to perform on the stage of this theatre. Later she narrated:

"Theatre is related to me with the names of such coryphaeus as Mehdi Mammadov, Adil Isgenderov, Aliheydar Alakbarov. My activity in cinema and theatre was in wartime, but in spite of that, these years were very productive in the world of arts and also for me…"

In 1945, Bedirbeyli played Gulchohra's part from "Arshin mal alan" musical comedy. Henceforth, she played memorable roles in such films as "Fatali khan", "Meeting", "Shadows are crawling", "Her great heart", "Koroghlu", "Indomitable Kura", "Sevil", "Boys of our street", "One fine day", "Dervish is blowing up Paris" etc. In 1951, Leyla Badirbeyli graduated from Azerbaijan State Theatrical Institute named after M.A.Aliyev. Badirbeyli married Fərəc Cavanşirov, a Javanshir noble descended from Ibrahim Khalil Khan. The two had a son named Javanshir, known as Elhan. The couple split up later in life.

The actress died on 23 November 1999.

Filmography Year Title Role 1937 Wild crowd 1941 Sabuhi Tubu khanim 1942 Souvenir 1945 The Cloth Peddler Gulchohra 1947 Fatali khan Tuti-bike 1955 Meeting Bilgeyis 1958 Her great heart Khalida 1958 Shadows are crawling Leyla 1960 Koroghlu Nigar 1969 Indomitable Kura Zarnigar 1970 Waiting Mother 1970 Sevil Tafta 1972 Cherry tree 1973 Boys of our street Leyla 1974 In the tracks of Charvadars Marfuza 1975 Light of slaked fires 1976 The Darvish Detonates Paris Shakhrabanu khanim 1977 One fine day Mother 1977 I am going to volcano Gulsum 1978 I am composing a song Nadir's mother 1983 Asif, Vasif, Agasif 1987 Men's word 1988 Man for a young woman 1990 Trap Gunel’s grandmother 1991 Gazalkhan 1992 I'll burn in the fire of cleansing Zahra’s aunt 1993 Hello from the other world Fatma of Karbala

Awards State Stalin Prize of the second degree (1946) – for playing Gulchohra's role in the film "Arshin mal alan". State Premium of the Azerbaijan SSR, named after Mirza Fatali Akhundov (1972) People's Artiste of the Azerbaijan SSR (1959)