Rina Gri, actress: ”Our lives are in our hands, and how we react to the situations life brings us is our choice.

If I were to summarize this interview in a few words, I would highlight passion and sacrifices, continue with determination, hard work, and continuous learning, and conclude with confidence in yourself and your dreams.

Originally from Russia, Rina Gri is an actress and producer whose career reflects both her talent and the perseverance she has demonstrated throughout her journey. Opposing the war in Ukraine, she emigrated to Romania in March 2022, a decision for which she feels “grateful every single day.” She first stepped on stage at the age of four, and since then, her life has been like a movie—filled with challenges and hardships. Yet, Rina has always pushed forward, embracing new beginnings, whether that meant a new job, a new role, or even a new country.

Her career spans a wide variety of roles, all connected by a common thread: delving deeply into past traumas, inner struggles, and unresolved issues. Today, she shares with us her life story—from directing plays with the neighborhood kids, to her university experiences and self-discovery, to relocating to Romania and adjusting to life here

 

Rina, how did you enter the world of film? What drew you to it so strongly that you decided to stay?

 

I was on stage from the age of 4, studying ballet until I was 12. At some point, I realized that I didn’t see a future for myself in that profession. I had suffered a leg injury, went through multiple surgeries that kept me from dancing for a year, and, on top of that, I wasn’t tall enough to continue a ballet career. That was something I couldn’t change, and I no longer saw a clear goal in continuing. So, I made the difficult decision to quit.

Right after I left ballet, my teacher at music school (where I was studying violin and piano) suggested I try theater. That same year, I was accepted into a theater as a child actor. Not long after, a film crew came to one of our rehearsals looking for a young actress to play the childhood version of a lead character in a TV series. That’s how it all began.

I started to have shootings one after another and just fell in love with the atmosphere on set, with the movie magic, and with playing “other people.” As a kid, I really loved that part of acting – the idea that I could be someone else for a while and live through different stories.

 

You started your acting career at 13. Do you feel like you sacrificed your childhood? Can you tell us about young Rina and your early beginnings in this field?

 

I remember growing up in the beautiful world of art created by my mother. I was always surrounded by books, museums, poetry, theater, movies, architecture, and paintings.

When I think of a “sacrificed childhood,” I imagine what I see now – kids glued to their phones and tablets, bored and unsure of what to do with their lives, without goals or desires. I feel sorry for them because they never had the kind of childhood we did; they simply didn’t have a choice.

Every summer, I stayed with my grandparents near the Black Sea, swimming and enjoying the freedom of those days. Without anyone pushing me, I would write a theater play each summer, direct it with the kids from my building, run a little PR campaign by putting posters up around the neighborhood, and perform for parents and grandparents all season long.

When I was on a film set, it always felt like a game to me. I loved every minute of it, and it was hard to pull me away. The same was true for theater – I stayed late at rehearsals, completely immersed in the process.

I also had a lot of friends who were just as passionate as I was. We were always on the same page, creating something new and diving into adventures. It was fun, exciting, and fulfilling.

So, my answer is no. I can’t imagine a childhood better than the one I had.

 

Tell us about your professional journey and how you became the actress you are today.

 

I can definitely say that the experiences we go through in life shape the actors we become. In my case, those experiences weren’t always kind.

My professional journey as an adult started when I was 16 years old and got into the Saint-Petersburg Theatre Academy. Unfortunately, I wasn’t officially accepted as a student; I had to study for a year to prove my place. Getting into a theatre university in Russia is extremely competitive – more than 100 applicants fight for a single spot, coming from all over the country. So, I worked hard, refusing any film offers, fully focused on securing my place. 

But the following year, something unexpected happened – they canceled the program, leaving me with nowhere to go. Since it was the end of summer, I also missed the chance to reapply.

Over the next two years, I kept trying to get accepted but failed in the final exams each time. During this period, I worked as a props assistant at a drama theatre to stay close to the field and earn some money. It was a very dark time for me. I felt frustrated and started to hate myself. I gained weight, left home, got into an unhealthy relationship that involved alcohol and drugs, and completely lost faith in myself, both as an actress and as a person.

But there’s one moment I’ll never forget. One evening, I was preparing props for a performance that took place under the stage, which involved a lot of dirt as part of the scenography. As I worked, arranging the dirt, I could hear the actors above me warming up, singing their scales. Suddenly, I started crying because I realized that my place wasn’t down there, buried in the dirt. My place was up there with them. In that moment, I made a promise to myself that I would believe in myself again and find my way back. From that moment, something changed. I fell in love with myself again, left those relationships, and finally got accepted into the Academy that year.

The adventure didn’t stop there. At the Academy, we weren’t allowed to participate in shootings, so I had to find other ways to support myself. For the first two years, I worked as a cleaner at the Academy from 6 to 9 a.m. and as a night dispatcher at a gas station four nights a week. The rest of the time, I was studying from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. every day, with Sunday rehearsals. The education system in Russia is intense – you don’t experience much of real life during those five years of training. I was always tired and hungry, but I never let it affect my studies.

By the third year, my professor allowed me to take acting jobs, and life became a little easier. I reentered the world of film, equipped with new acting skills and a wealth of life experience.

After graduating at 25, I moved to Moscow without knowing anyone and had to start all over again. There’s a lot of “proving yourself” in an actor’s life, and this was another chapter of that. I worked in theatre and as a voice-over artist for two years without booking any significant film roles. But I never stopped believing that I would eventually succeed.

That belief paid off when I landed a role in one of the most famous TV shows in Russia. From there, I was cast in another major production, which gave me a role that became iconic and opened doors to many other opportunities.

Looking back, so much has happened since those early days, but I’m certain of one thing: my life experiences shape my acting. Every role I take comes from a place of truth, rooted in what I’ve lived and learned. I have so much to express through my characters, and that’s what drives me as an actress.

Photo credit: Victoria Perger

 

What are the most important lessons you’ve learned along your journey, professionally? And personally?

 


I’ve learned to appreciate what I have right now because you never know what the next day will bring. You can be at the highest point in your career, and the next day, you might be out of work, or you could be out of work for months, and the next day, you land the role of your dreams. I’ve also learned to always believe in your dreams and keep working towards your goals, no matter what. Our lives are in our hands, and how we react to the situations life brings us is our choice.

Photo credit: Filip Stanciu

 

You studied at some of the best acting schools in the world. What are the most valuable things you’ve learned, and how have they helped your career?

 

Never stop learning – that’s the most important thing I’ve learned. Always strive to evolve and become better than you were yesterday as an actor. That’s why I’ve always tried to find new places to gather knowledge. I really enjoy the process of learning.

After graduating from the Saint-Petersburg Theatre Academy and living in Moscow for a while, I suddenly got the opportunity to study at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in Los Angeles. I was incredibly lucky to study directly under Lee Strasberg’s wife, Anna, and their son, David. There, I learned so many new things about acting in film, Strasberg’s method, script analysis, and even working as a comedian in classical American sitcoms. I remember returning home full of fresh ideas and feeling deeply inspired by the new knowledge I had gained, which I immediately started to bring to my roles.

Recently, after moving to Romania, I won a scholarship at the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg in Germany. There, I learned a lot about the European film industry. I had amazing teachers from all over the world and was greatly inspired by their advice, especially: “Do your own projects.” I followed that advice as soon as I came back to Romania.

This past year, I’ve also been studying with one of the best dialect coaches in the industry, Jon Sperry, who has worked with Harvey Keitel, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Sophia Loren, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and many other great actors. Every class, I learn something new – not just about the American accent but also about acting itself.

I’m 37 years old now, and I guess I’ll keep learning for the rest of my life, finding something new and exciting to bring to my profession every time.

Photo credit: Alecs Năstoiu

 

You’ve also ventured into production. What is it like for you to be a producer? How did you learn this craft, and where do you feel more at home – acting or producing?

 

I definitely feel more at home as an actress – it’s just in my roots. But I’ve always felt the urge to take control of things when I had the chance. Whether it was student performances or short films, whenever I had the chance to get involved in organizing, I always went for it. It all started with the summer theatre plays I used to put on at my grandparents’ place when I was a kid:)

Later on, I made it a point to learn from producers on set. I was fortunate to work with wonderful professionals in Russia, and I would listen to them carefully, trying to understand the film industry from the business perspective.

Now, I’m gaining more experience by creating my own projects. This summer, Alecs Nastoiu (writer and director) and I shot and produced a new feature film, and I can’t wait to dive into the post-production phase as soon as we finish with the release of The Secret of Pin-Up Island.

Photo credit: Oleg Sid

 

How would you describe yourself as an actress? What would you say defines your approach? How do you choose your roles, and how do you prepare for them?

 

I would describe myself as a passionate, vulnerable, layered and versatile actress. I try to choose characters I’ve never played before. I’m against being an “actor of one role” because I believe it would be very boring for me. I look for stories that resonate with me on a personal level, that can inspire the audience, and that carry a message I feel needs to be shared.

Preparing for a role is my favorite part – I imagine it as a “detective” work. I do research, look for clues, and I try to uncover the truth. In the end, I create a character that is far away from my personality but still filled with my soul and life experiences.

Photo credit: Polina Savelyeva

 

What advice would you give to young people who want to follow this path? What do you wish you had known when you started?

 

I wouldn’t give any advice, as it would likely be too general. We’re all unique individuals who need personalized guidance. I believe life itself is the best adviser – it teaches us everything we need to know if we listen carefully.

And I wouldn’t want to know anything I didn’t know when I started, because it might have changed something in my journey, and I wouldn’t be where I am today. I wouldn’t want that – I love every moment of my career, with its highs and lows, its failures and successes.

Photo credit: Victoria Perger

 

What made you move to Romania? How do you feel this country has welcomed you?

 

The last five years of my life in Moscow, my husband Alecs Nastoiu and I built a very successful life together. Besides my acting career, Alecs and I founded an International Short Film Festival with monthly screenings in 13 cities. I was a motivational speaker, giving talks to hundreds of people. I also had an Instagram account with half a million followers, where I shared my “Gratitude Movement” for over five years and used the platform to bring attention to charity organizations.

Then the war started. Opposing the war and refusing to be part of such a totalitarian and aggressive system, we moved to Romania the very next week. It was March 13, 2022, when we finally landed in Bucharest, and I had no idea what to do with my life.

But I wasn’t afraid to leave everything behind and move forward. I had this inner feeling that if I had “made it” once, I could do it again – even if I had to start from scratch in an industry where nobody knew me yet. I’ve always had this secret belief in myself, and when I feel that way, it’s my sign that I’m on the right path.

I wanted to be honest, first of all with myself, and start a new life on a truly clean slate. I was even curious to see what would happen if I had nothing at all. 

So, I decided to close the “Russian” chapter of my life. I shut down my companies (I had three of them), cut half of my surname to feel like a completely new person, deleted my Instagram account, closed our festival (which was the saddest part of all), and refused any offers from Russian productions.

The way Romania has welcomed me has been truly heartwarming. I’ve met so many talented and kind people who have embraced me as part of their creative community. I’ve met open-minded individuals who judge you not by your nationality but by your actions. And every day, I feel grateful for the decision I made in February 2022.

Photo credit: Alecs Năstoiu

 

One of your most recent projects is The Secret of Pin-Up Island. How did the idea come about? What was the production process like, and how did you feel at the film’s screening?

 

This project took 7 years to complete, and my life changed so much during those years. I started just as an actress who embarked on an international project adventure. Then this story brought Alecs and me together, and we got married. 

Due to the pandemic and other challenges, the post-production took many years to complete. During those years, I became one of the producers, getting involved in all stages, especially taking charge of everything related to sound. Then we began self-distributing the release of the film in Romania. And we are still in the process. 

Having seen this film so many times throughout the work on it and during testing screenings, Alecs and I never watched it with the audience. I believe it would have been too emotional for me. Personally, because this film is dedicated to my sister, who passed away during post-production two years ago. 

This film means so much to me; it’s unique and has changed my life in so many ways. When I hear the audience’s feedback about how inspirational the story and my character Alesia are, it makes me very happy. This project is something I needed at this phase of my life. It came at just the right time.

Photo credit: Ovidiu Ungureanu

 

This film was created with an all-female cast, featuring 49 actresses, making it one of the few films in history that entirely centers women’s perspectives. Tell us about this decision. How do you view partnerships between women? What do you think the role of this production is, given its cast?

 


This film is as much about mental health as it is about women. Every character in The Secret of Pin-Up Island created by Alecs Nastoiu is female because they are all different versions of Alesia. Each one represents different stages of her life, from the insecurities of adolescence to the deep sadness she’s struggled with. The film really gives voice to those internal battles, showing how they shape us and how women, in particular, often carry these complex layers.

Photo credit: Andrei Chebutiu

 

Movies with all-female casts are pretty rare, though there have been notable examples across genres, often exploring themes tied to women’s experiences. Most films with an all-women cast center around dynamics within gender, relationships, and society, but it’s still something you don’t see often in feature films, especially when compared to male-dominated cinema. It’s part of the bigger conversation about gender representation and the imbalance of screen time given to women in mainstream media. 

But our film isn’t about putting women on screen; it’s about focusing on their experiences, thoughts, struggles, and strengths. It’s about creating space for those voices to be heard in a way that is often missing in films.

To me, this film is a reminder of the importance of women’s voices. When we have the space to tell our stories, we can create something truly special. It’s a celebration of the strength and resilience we have as women, especially when we support each other.

 

 Beyond your career, what else can you share about yourself? What do you do in your free time, and who are the people you surround yourself with?

 

The main person in my life is my husband Alecs Nastoiu. He is my soulmate, my best friend, and my creative partner. I’m very happy we’ve found this rare balance where husband and wife can work, create, and live together. Together, we have the power of an unstoppable dynamic duo. We believe in the same dreams and are moving forward toward the same goals.

I don’t have a lot of free time, but there is one thing I enjoy a lot: “catching moments” (as I call it) with my analog photo camera. It has taught me so many things in life: always look around, don’t forget to look up, search for beauty, catch the moment, notice all the details, be present. Because if you’re not, you’ll miss something wonderful that was right near you. Enjoy the process. Don’t put pressure on yourself. The result is a surprise. You don’t see it right away. You have to wait. Everything, just like in life. 🙂

Photo credit: Polina Savelyeva

 

3 qualities of a great actor: Vulnerability, Versatility, Passion

A cherished memory from the set: Every time I hear “Action” and the magic begins

Favorite dish: Anything my husband cooks

Tea or coffee? – Coffee 

Note to self: You will never walk alone!

 

Read the interview in Romanian here.

 

Cover photo credit: Polina Savelyeva

 

Editor: