Chavchavadze, Tamara

Born Oct. 16 (29), 1900, in Tbilisi; died there Apr. 26, 1968. Soviet Georgian actress. People’s Artist of the Georgian SSR (1943).

In 1922, while still a student in A. N. Pagava’s theater studio, Chavchavadze played the role of Laurencia in K. A. Mardzhanishvili’s production of Lope de Vega’s Fuente Ovejuna in the Sh. Rustaveli Theater. She helped found the State Theater in Kutaisi (1928; since 1933, the Mardzhanishvili Tbilisi Theater), where she worked until 1942. She later performed at the Rustaveli Theater, and in 1964 she began working at the Sukhumi Theater. Her roles included Marguerite in La Dame aux camelias by Dumas fils, Zeinab in Sumbatov’s Betrayal, the title role in Gorky’s Vassa Zheleznova, Sanata in Bakhtrioni (based on a work by Vazha Pshavela), the title role in Sardou’s Madame Sans-Gêne, and the Mother in Rozov’s Good Luck! She appeared in motion pictures beginning in 1926.

Chavchavadze was awarded the Order of Lenin, the Order of the Badge of Honor, and various medals.