Today is the birthday of the legendary Azerbaijani actress Nasiba Zeynalova

Today is the birthday of the beloved of the entire nation, People's Artist Nasiba Zeynalova.

Nasiba Zeynalova was born on April 20, 1916, in Baku. Her father, Kerbalai Jangir Zeynalov, was a hereditary merchant, an actor beloved by all, and moreover, he played an important role in the formation of Azerbaijani realistic theater.

In 1934, a collective and state farm theater began operating in Baku, which was also called a seasonal theater (as it operated from April to October); it was in this theater that Nasiba Zeynalova began working as an actress. After working for one year, Zeynalova joined the newly opened Musical Comedy Theater on April 4, 1938, as a first-category actress. That same year, Nasiba khanum enrolled in the theater technical school in the acting department (graduated in 1942). In 1973, she graduated from the Azerbaijan Institute of Arts.

Nasiba khanum Zeynalova appeared in many scenes, interludes, and television plays — Gamiza in "Ady menim dady senin," Sevdagul in "Sevdagul and Charlotte," and others produced for television. Numerous unforgettable characters created by Nasiba khanum at the "Azerbaijanfilm" studio made the actress an idol of millions of viewers.

For her contributions to the development of national theater, Nasiba khanum Zeynalova was awarded the title of Honored Actress of the Azerbaijan SSR on May 24, 1960; on October 21, 1967, she was awarded the title of People's Artist of Azerbaijan; and on April 24, 1974, for her role as Gyzbaji in the play "Hijran," the actress became a laureate of the State Prize.

During the years spent on the stage of the State Musical Comedy Theater, N. Zeynalova was awarded a number of orders, medals, and honorary distinctions; on April 20, 1997, for her invaluable contributions to the development of national art, she was awarded the Order of "Glory"; and on March 10, 2004, she was awarded the medal of the "Union of Theater Workers."

Having devoted more than 60 years of her life to the Azerbaijani stage, Nasiba khanum Zeynalova passed away on Theater Day, March 10, 2004, at the age of 88. The actress was buried in the Alley of Honorable Burial.