Sofiko Chiaureli

Sofiko Chiaureli (Georgian: სოფიკო ჭიაურელი; 21 May 1937 – 2 March 2008) was a Georgian actress, thought to be the muse of filmmaker Sergei Parajanov. She played a wide variety of roles on stage of the Kote Marjanishvili Theatre (1960–1964, 1964–2008) and the Rustavelli Theatre (1964–1968).

Sofiko Chiaureli was born in Tbilisi. Her parents were the film director Mikheil Chiaureli and the actress Veriko Andjaparidze. She graduated from the All-Russian Institute of Cinematography in Moscow and moved back to Tbilisi. In 1975 she was a member of the jury at the 9th Moscow International Film Festival.

She appeared in Soviet films including:

• Sayat Nova, a 1968 film in which she played no less than six roles;
• Don't Grieve, a popular Georgi Daneliya film;
• Natvris khe;
• Peristsvaleba;
• Ambavi erti kalishvilisa;
• Ambavi Suramis tsikhitsa;
• Ashug-Karibi;
• Khevsurian Ballad (Best Actress Award at the Locarno International Film Festival);
• Alibaba Aur 40 Chor
• Ischite zhenschinu;
• Million v brachnoy korzine.

Married to:

• Giorgi Shengelaya (? - ?) (divorced) 2 children;
• Kote Makharadze (? - 19 December 2002) (his death).

Honors

• People's Artist of Georgia (1976);
• People's Artist of Armenia (1979);
• Best Actress Award at The All-Union Film Fesival (1966, 1972, 1974);
• Best Actress Award at the Locarno International Film Festival (1965);
• USSR State Prize (1980).

Family

• Daughter of Mikheil Chiaureli (Georgian film director) and Veriko Andjaparidze (Georgian actress).
• Cousin of Georgi Daneliya (Georgian and Russian film director)
• Former sister-in-law of Eldar Shengelaya.
• Mother of Nikoloz Shengelaya.