This is an editorial selection of ten women to know in 2026: actresses from Russia, plus a model, a former tennis player and a Ukrainian singer who have appeared on screen. It is not a ranking. Descriptions of looks and style are our opinion; credits listed are selected screen credits.
If you’re interested in exploring beauty on a global scale, check out our blog on the Most Beautiful Korean Actresses for a similar editorial selection.
About This Selection
We picked these ten for their screen work or public profile. Several are not full-time actresses, and one is no longer living; each entry says so. The list is editorial opinion and the order is not a ranking.
10 Women to Know in 2026
1. Oksana Akinshina – Actress
Oksana Akinshina is a Russian actress who was born in Saint Petersburg in 1987. She is known internationally for the drama Lilya 4-Ever and for a role in The Bourne Supremacy.
Selected screen credits: Lilya 4-Ever, The Bourne Supremacy
2. Irina Shayk – Model and Actress
Irina Shayk is an internationally known Russian model who has also taken acting roles. She made her acting debut as Megara in Hercules (2014).
Selected screen credits: Hercules (2014)
3. Elizaveta Boyarskaya – Stage and Screen Actress
Elizaveta Boyarskaya is a Russian stage and film actress, born in Leningrad in 1985. She appeared in the film Admiral and in a screen adaptation of Anna Karenina.
Selected screen credits: Admiral, Anna Karenina
4. Svetlana Khodchenkova – Actress
Svetlana Khodchenkova is a Russian film, television and stage actress. She played the villain Viper in the 2013 superhero film The Wolverine, opposite Hugh Jackman.
Selected screen credits: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), The Wolverine (2013), Bless the Woman
5. Natalia Vodianova – Supermodel
Natalia Vodianova is a Russian supermodel who has also taken a small number of acting roles.
Selected screen credits: Clash of the Titans (2010), Belle du Seigneur (2012)
6. Anastasia Zavorotnyuk (1971-2024) – Actress
Anastasia Zavorotnyuk was a Russian actress best known for her lead role in the sitcom My Fair Nanny (2004-2009). She died on May 29, 2024. We include her in remembrance of her career.
Selected screen credits: My Fair Nanny (2004-2009)
7. Ksenia Rappoport – Actress
Ksenia Rappoport is a Russian actress, born in Leningrad in 1974, who has worked in Russian and Italian films.
Selected screen credits: The Unknown Woman (2006), The Double Hour (2009)
8. Anna Kournikova – Former Tennis Player and Public Figure
Anna Kournikova is a Russian former professional tennis player and media personality. She is not a full-time actress; she had a minor role in the 2000 film Me, Myself & Irene.
Selected screen credits: Me, Myself & Irene (2000), minor role
9. Vera Brezhneva – Ukrainian Singer and Actress
Vera Brezhneva is a Ukrainian singer and a former member of the group VIA Gra. She has also acted in Russian-language films, including Love in the Big City (2009).
Selected screen credits: Love in the Big City (2009), The Jungle (2012)
10. Daria Poverennova – Actress
Daria Poverennova is a Russian television and film actress, born in Moscow in 1972.
Selected screen credits: Brigada (2002, TV series)
Selected profiles at a glance
| Actress | Role | Selected screen credits |
| Oksana Akinshina | Actress | Lilya 4-Ever, The Bourne Supremacy |
| Irina Shayk | Model and actress | Hercules (2014) |
| Elizaveta Boyarskaya | Stage and screen actress | Admiral, Anna Karenina |
Conclusion
These ten women come from different parts of screen, fashion and sport. Beauty is subjective, and this list is our editorial selection rather than a ranking.
If you enjoyed reading about the Most Beautiful Russian Actresses, explore more exciting content on Grey Journal for more inspiring articles.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which people on this list are also known as models?
Irina Shayk and Natalia Vodianova are internationally known as models; both have also taken acting roles.
2. Is everyone on this list a full-time actress?
No. Anna Kournikova is a former tennis player with a minor screen role, Vera Brezhneva is a Ukrainian singer who also acts, and Anastasia Zavorotnyuk (1971-2024) was an actress who has died.
