1. Early Life and Background
Zhanna Vladimirovna Friske, born Zhanna Vladimirovna Kopylova on 8 July 1974, came from a family with German heritage. Her early life in Moscow was marked by a diverse range of interests and educational pursuits.
1.1. Family and Early Education
Friske's father, Vladimir Kopylov, who later adopted the surname Friske, was of German descent. Her mother, Paulina Friske, was born into a Black Sea German family in the Odesa Oblast of the then Soviet Union.
Zhanna Friske graduated from secondary school No. 406 in the Perovo District of Moscow in 1991, where she was actively involved in school activities. From a young age, she engaged in various physical and artistic disciplines, including ballet, sports dancing, acrobatics, and rhythmic gymnastics. She pursued higher education, studying in the choral faculty of the Moscow Institute of Culture. Later, she enrolled in the journalism faculty at Moscow University, but ultimately abandoned her studies there without graduating. Before her career in entertainment, Friske also worked as a sales manager for a company specializing in office furniture.
2. Career
Zhanna Friske's career in the entertainment industry was multifaceted, encompassing successful ventures in music, acting, and television, establishing her as a widely recognized figure in Russia.
2.1. Group Career: Blestyashchiye
Friske began her creative career in 1996 when she joined the popular Russian girl group Blestyashchiye. During her tenure with the group, Blestyashchiye achieved significant fame both within and outside Russia. With Friske as a member, the group recorded four studio albums and presented three solo programs to their fans. Her time with Blestyashchiye lasted until 2003, when she decided to leave the group to pursue a solo career. This decision came shortly after her participation in the reality show The last hero-4, where she reached the final.
2.2. Solo Music Career
Following her departure from Blestyashchiye in 2003, Zhanna Friske launched her solo music career. Her first solo album, titled Zhanna, was released on 4 October 2005. The album featured 14 songs, including the popular track "La-la-la" and two remixes of it, as well as "You Don't Close Your Heart" and its two remixes. Three music videos were produced for songs from the album: "La-la-la," its remix, and "Somewhere in Summer." Her single "I Was" became particularly successful, reaching the top of the Russian charts. The album Zhanna itself was a major success, topping charts across all Russian-speaking countries.
2.3. Acting Career
Zhanna Friske also established a notable acting career, appearing in several films and television series. Her most prominent roles were in the fantasy films based on Sergey Lukyanenko's novels. In 2004, she appeared in Night Watch as Alisa Donnikova, a demoness and the lover of the antagonist Zavulon. Although many of her scenes were cut from the final version of Night Watch, she had a more significant role in the sequel, Day Watch (2006), where her portrayal of Alisa Donnikova was featured prominently on the film's posters. Friske performed many of her own stunts in these films, showcasing her physical abilities. A 20-minute love scene involving Friske was notably edited out of Day Watch by director Timur Bekmambetov.
In 2010, she played herself in the film What Men Talk About, which was an adaptation of the popular play Conversations of the Middle-Aged Men by the Kvartet I. The same year, she took on a major part as Anya in Klim Shipenko's detective story Who Am I?. She also appeared as herself in Novogodnie Svaty in 2010. Beyond film, Friske also ventured into television series, taking on roles in "Nanny" and "Sorrow Multiplies." Her voice acting credits include providing the Russian voice for Holley Shiftwell in Pixar's animated film Cars 2 in 2011.
2.4. Television and Other Activities
Beyond her music and film careers, Friske was a familiar face on Russian television and engaged in various other public activities. In 2003, she participated in the reality show The last hero-4, making it to the final stages. She returned to the reality show format in 2005 for The last hero-5. In 2008, she showcased her ice skating skills on the television program Ice Age 2, where she skated with professional partners Vitaly Novikov and Maxim Marinin.
Friske also had a notable modeling career, gracing the pages of prominent magazines such as Penthouse, Maxim, and Elle. In 2006, she became the face of the Japanese company ORIENT WATCH. Her public life was often a subject of media attention; tabloids frequently covered her relationships with figures like Sergey Amoralov from the group "Naughty Swindlers" and Mitya Fomin from the group "Hi-Fi," as well as an unnamed businessman. Despite Friske's efforts to keep her private life out of the spotlight, her striking appearance, romantic endeavors, and sometimes revealing attire consistently drew the attention of the mass media, cementing her status as a celebrity.
3. Personal Life
Zhanna Friske's personal life included a significant relationship with Russian singer and television personality Dmitry Shepelev. The couple was in a common-law marriage. On 7 April 2013, Friske's official website announced that she had given birth to their son in Miami, Florida.
4. Illness and Death
Zhanna Friske's life took a tragic turn when she was diagnosed with a severe illness. On 20 January 2014, her common-law husband, Dmitry Shepelev, publicly announced via Friske's website that she had been diagnosed with cancer. It was later reported that she had a stage IV glioblastoma, a highly aggressive and malignant brain tumor.
The diagnosis came two months prior to the birth of her son. During her pregnancy, Friske was offered chemotherapy as a treatment option, but she made the courageous decision to refuse the treatment to ensure the safety and health of her unborn child. After her son was born in April 2013, her cancer worsened. Zhanna Friske fought her illness for an extended period, becoming a symbol of courage for many. However, on 15 June 2015, she succumbed to the disease and passed away at the age of 40.
5. Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Night Watch | Alisa Donnikova | Demoness |
| 2005 | Day Watch | Alisa Donnikova | Demoness |
| 2008 | Need for Beauty | Zhanna Friske | |
| 2010 | What Men Talk About | Herself | |
| 2010 | Novogodnie Svaty | Herself | |
| 2010 | Who Am I? | Anya | |
| 2011 | Cars 2 | Holley Shiftwell | Russian voice version |
6. Discography
; Albums
- Zhanna (2005)
; Singles
- La-La-La (2004)
- Somewhere in Summer (2005)
- Mama Maria (feat. Timati) (2006)
- Malinki (feat. Diskoteka Avariya) (2006)
- I Was (2007)
- Jeanna Friske (2008)
- American (2009)
- Portofino (2009)
- Vestern (with Tanya Tereshina) (2009)
- Pilot (2011)
- Ty Ryadom (feat. Geegun) (2011)
- Forever (2012)