When best friends go to a camp by the sea there are a lot of other children – pioneers. They all have adventures, experience first love, friendships, and betrayals… this is ‘I Give You My Word 2′ the feature film from Oliviia Tcargush. We sat down with the multi-talented Russian actress to talk about making award-worthy TV shows and movies.
Welcome to the Manhattan Herald Oliviia. Before we dig in, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Hello, I am Oliviia (with two ii) and I hail from Moscow with a mix of Abkhazian and Georgian heritage, known for our passionate nature. The combination of Moscow’s practicality and the lively Abkhazian and Georgian traditions has influenced my love for storytelling. It is a tradition in my family to connect our lives with the arts. My beloved grandfather, who held the prestigious title of “People’s Artist” in Georgia and Abkhazia, received this special recognition for his exceptional talent and contribution to the culture of both. After his passing two years ago, the State Ensemble of Folk Song and Dance of Abkhazia was named after him.
This diverse background gives me a unique viewpoint in creating and sharing narratives. I’ve always been involved in sports like martial arts, particularly enjoying Muay Thai and stage combat, along with basketball, swimming, and gymnastics. Additionally, I’ve been a huge fan of literature, spending a lot of time reading and analyzing classical literature and poetry. This love for literature has translated into a passion for script analysis and understanding my characters deeply. I’ve discovered that being an actress allows me to engage in various activities and experience different things while expressing myself through storytelling.
Tell about the movie ‘I Give You My Word 2.’
The show is about best friends who go to a camp by the sea. In this camp there are a lot of other children – pioneers. They all have a lot of adventures, experience first love, friendships, and betrayals. In the show,I portray one of the Girl Pioneers, and my character is very nosy. She enjoys gossiping with her best friend, running around to overhear conversations, and asking for new stories. My character always has her best friend by her side, and they both share the same goal of gossiping and staying informed about what’s happening in the camp. Despite being younger than everyone else, they make an effort to spend more time with the older pioneers.
Did you resonate with your character at all?
Not really, as I am not like that, but it was a lot of fun to play a carefree character who just enjoys being themselves without a single care about anything else!
How did you prepare for the role?
Honestly, I asked people older than me about their experiences as pioneers in the USSR – how it felt, what hobbies they had, what their day looked like, and what games they played outside. However, the essence of the show is about children in the camp, regardless of the time period. Children universally love having fun, being mischievous, pulling pranks, staying up all night, trying to escape through windows (ours was on the first floor), and sneaking in snacks. So, we didn’t have to do much preparation; we were just kids having the same kind of fun in front of the camera, with memorized lines and rehearsed dances.
What was the audition process like?
The audition process involved some improvisation, and I vividly remember the excitement and nervousness of showcasing my skills. Following the audition, I received a call that brought the news – I had successfully booked the part! The next step was an incredible journey to Gelendzhik, where we spent an entire month filming, creating lasting memories and experiences that contributed to my growth as an actor.
The final film is out onRussian streaming services.
You have been a working actor for a very long time now, if you had one message to give to your fans, what would it be?
I am all about spreading positivity and love – giving love, feeling love, and loved, and being love.
What’s the best way to follow you online?
The best way to find me is through my social mediaand website – I hope you can check them out!
