Nonna Kronidivna Koperzhynska (Ukrainian: Нонна Кронідівна Копержинська; 1 May 1920 – 10 June 1999) was a Soviet and Ukrainian stage and film actress, People’s Artist of the Ukrainian SSR (1967). Winner of the Kyiv Pectoral Theater Award (1995).

Nonna Koperzhynska was born on 1 May 1920 in Kyiv.^[1] When she was 2 years old, her father died.^[2] Then Koperzhynska moved to Donbas where her mother worked until 1937.^[3] Later her mother was transferred to work in Kyiv and they moved back there.^[4]

In 1938, Koperzhynska entered the Kyiv Theater Institute where she took courses with Amvrosy Buchma.^[5] Soon her talent was noticed by Ukrainian director Oleksandr Dovzhenko and Koperzhynska made her film debut in film Shchors directed by Dovzhenko.^[6]

In 1941, Koperzhynska had to interrupt her studies because the World War II began.^[7] After the war she returned the Kyiv Theater Institute and in 1945 played a role in Hnat Yura’s play that became her student’s diploma work.^[1]

In 1946, Koperzhynska was accepted into the troupe of Ivan Franko Kyiv Academic Ukrainian Drama Theater, where she worked until the end of her life.^[8] In 1952 Koperzhynska starred in the film Stolen Happiness.^[1] She became recognized by the public after her roles in the films Chasing Two Hares (1961) and Queen of the Gas Station (1963).^[6] In 1967, Koperzhynska was awarded the title of People’s Artist of the Ukrainian SSR.^[9]

Nonna Koperzhynska died on 10 June 1999 in Kyiv.^[10] She is buried in Baikove Cemetery alongside her husband.^[11]

A memorial plaque in honor of Nonna Koperzhynska also known as the Mother of the Ukrainian Theater was erected on 9 June 9, 2009 at 2 Mykhailivska Street in Kyiv, where the actress lived since 1981.^[1]

In 2019 a book “People's Artist. About Nonna Koperzhynska” by Oleg Vergelis was published.^[11]

• Shchors (1939)
• Stolen Happiness (1952)
• Marina's Destiny (1953)
• Chasing Two Hares (1961)
• Queen of the Gas Station (1963)
• Rome, 17 (1972)
• Love Island (1995)