TOP TEN ACTORS IN RUSSIAN ROLES

① AKIM TAMIROFF

A one-man United Nations, Tamiroff, born in Baku and a graduate of the Moscow Art Theater troupe, played characters of many nationalities in a prolific and steady Hollywood career that lasted for nearly 40 years. With what Newsweek called “the thickest Russian accent this side of Minsk,” Tamiroff was usually cast in the role of a sidekick (often as Mexicans or Spaniards). As Russians, his best performances came as the scheming gold-digger Boris Chernov in Anastasia and as the perpetually harried Soviet ambassador in Romanoff and Juliet.

② GRETA GARBO