Who Is Andrii Saminin? The Amazing Life Story of Lesia Samaieva’s Husband

Andrii Saminin is a Ukrainian actor who has built a career across theatre, film, television and voice dubbing, and he is also known as the husband of actress Lesia Samaieva. Born on 26 April 1974, he trained at the Karpenko-Karyi university in Kyiv, spent more than two decades on the stage of the Left Bank Theatre and now performs at the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre. His name also appears in English sources as Andrey Saminin and in Ukrainian as Андрій Самінін. This guide covers his background, training, stage and screen work, awards and family life, based on theatre profiles, film databases and public records.

What Are the Key Facts About Andrii Saminin?

Andrii Saminin is a Ukrainian actor and theatre director born on 26 April 1974. The table below collects the details that appear most consistently across reliable sources.

Detail	Information
Full name	Andrii (Andriy) Mykolayovych Saminin
Also written as	Andrey Saminin, Андрій Самінін
Date of birth	26 April 1974
Zodiac sign	Taurus
Place of birth	Zhytomyr, Ukraine (per the Ivan Franko Theatre; some databases list Kyiv)
Nationality	Ukrainian
Profession	Stage actor, film and television actor, voice actor, theatre director
Education	Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television, graduated 1995
Course tutor	Mykola Rushkovsky
Screen debut	Film “Vitry” (1994)
First theatre	Kyiv Academic Theatre of Drama and Comedy on the Left Bank of the Dnipro (from 1997)
Current theatre	Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre (since 2022)
Spouse	Lesia Samaieva, actress (married 17 March 2001)
Children	One child
Honour	Merited Artist of Ukraine (2016)
Known for	“Pes” (2015), stage roles at the Left Bank Theatre, Ukrainian dubbing

The details above come from the Ivan Franko Theatre, Wikidata, film databases and published interviews. Sources differ on a few points, which the sections below explain.

Where Was Andrii Saminin Born and How Did He Grow Up?

Andrii Saminin was born on 26 April 1974, and the Ivan Franko Theatre’s official profile names Zhytomyr as his birthplace. A few databases, including Wikidata and a Disney fan wiki, list Kyiv instead. The theatre’s own biography is the stronger source, so this article uses Zhytomyr.

He grew up in a theatre family. Interviews describe his mother as a well known stage actress, and he has said that he spent his childhood around rehearsals and backstage corridors.

That upbringing shaped his choice of career. He has described acting as a deliberate decision rather than an accident, and he aimed for the Karpenko-Karyi institute while still at school.

Many actors from theatre families say the same thing: the stage felt ordinary to them long before it felt glamorous. Saminin’s early years fit that pattern, and they help explain why he stayed loyal to live performance even after film and television offers arrived.

What Did Andrii Saminin Study?

Andrii Saminin studied acting at the Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television, which was then called the Kyiv Institute of Theatre Arts. He graduated in 1995 from the course led by Mykola Rushkovsky, a respected teacher of Ukrainian actors.

The university is the main training ground for Ukrainian theatre and film professionals. It has produced generations of performers, directors and screenwriters, and its graduates fill the casts of national theatres across the country.

Saminin did not wait for graduation to start working. He appeared in his first film, “Vitry”, in 1994 while still a student, and he played a small role in the picture.

That early start gave him two habits that show up later in his career. He treats every part, however small, as real work, and he keeps one foot in theatre while taking screen roles.

What Is Andrii Saminin’s Theatre Career?

Andrii Saminin joined the Kyiv Academic Theatre of Drama and Comedy on the Left Bank of the Dnipro in 1997, and he stayed there for more than 20 years. The Left Bank Theatre is one of the most closely followed stages in Ukraine, and it gave him a wide range of leading roles.

His repertoire there included Tybalt in “Romeo and Juliet”, Christian de Neuvillette in “Cyrano de Bergerac” and Andrei Prozorov in Chekhov’s “Three Sisters”. In 2011 he played Don Juan in “Guests Arrive at Midnight”, directed by Dmytro Bohomazov.

He also moved into directing. In 2009 he co-wrote a stage adaptation of Vladimir Voinovich’s satirical novel about the soldier Ivan Chonkin with actor and director Oleksandr Kobzar, and he staged it as “Playing Chonkin”. Film databases note this production as his directing debut.

In 2022 he joined the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre in Kyiv, which is among the oldest and most prestigious drama companies in the country. The theatre’s profile confirms that he has worked there since that year and describes more than 20 years of earlier service at the Left Bank Theatre.

The move marked a new chapter. It placed him in a larger repertoire and alongside some of the country’s best known stage performers.

Which Films and TV Series Has Andrii Saminin Appeared In?

Andrii Saminin has appeared in more than 60 film and television roles, according to the film database Kinoafisha. His screen career began with “Vitry” in 1994 and grew steadily from the early 2000s.

Biographies describe him as an actor who plays a wide mix of characters, including villains, heroes, police officers, doctors, artists, writers and soldiers. Titles linked to him include “Sisters by Blood”, “Hunters for Caravans”, “Brother for Brother” and “Shark”, with the last two starting on television in 2010.

His best known screen work is the detective series “Pes”, in which he played a leading role in 2015. The series continued with later seasons, and he appears in “Pes 3” and “Pes 4” (2018) as well. Viewers in Ukraine know the franchise well, and it brought him wider recognition outside theatre audiences.

Other credits listed in Ukrainian databases include the melodrama “Balerina” (2017) and the comedy “Nebo v horoshok” (2008). The variety of genres shows how comfortably he moves between drama, crime stories and lighter material.

His film work rarely pulled him away from the stage. He kept performing in Kyiv theatres through the years when his television schedule was busiest.

What Is Andrii Saminin’s Work in Dubbing?

Andrii Saminin is also an established voice actor in Ukrainian dubbing. Several Ukrainian entertainment sites describe dubbing as a second career that runs alongside his stage and screen work.

The Disney Ukraine fan wiki lists him among performers who voiced characters in Disney and Pixar releases, including “Brother Bear” (2003) and “The Incredibles” (2004). Other profiles name further animated and live action films, though those claims vary between sites, so readers should check studio credits before quoting specific roles.

Dubbing demands skills that suit a stage actor. A performer must match rhythm, breath and emotion to an existing performance, and do it without the help of a visible face.

For many viewers in Ukraine, his voice is familiar even when they cannot name him. That quiet kind of recognition is common among dubbing actors, who often reach larger audiences than their on-screen roles do.

Who Is Andrii Saminin’s Wife, Lesia Samaieva?

Andrii Saminin has been married to actress Lesia Samaieva since 17 March 2001, according to Wikidata. She is a Ukrainian film and stage actress born in Kyiv, and her name is also written as Lesya Samaeva.

The two met as students. Biographical profiles note that they studied at the same university, the Karpenko-Karyi institute, which is where their working and personal lives first overlapped.

Samaieva has her own distinguished record. She is a Merited Artist of Ukraine, a member of the National Union of Cinematographers of Ukraine and a holder of the Order of Princess Olga, third class.

In an interview with the Ukrainian outlet Uyut, Saminin said that playing opposite his wife is both difficult and easy. Familiarity helps on stage, but it also raises the stakes.

The couple has one child. They keep family details out of the press, so this article does not name or describe their child.

What Awards Has Andrii Saminin Won?

Andrii Saminin received the title Merited Artist of Ukraine in 2016. Wikidata and several Ukrainian biographical databases record this honour, which the state gives for a significant contribution to national culture.

The Ivan Franko Theatre’s current profile of him carries the higher title People’s Artist of Ukraine. Because that page does not state the year of the award, this article does not give a date for it, and readers who need one should check the official presidential decree.

His directing debut with “Playing Chonkin” drew attention in the Kyiv theatre community. Reports on that production vary in the details of the awards it received, so they are not listed here.

Titles and prizes tell only part of the story. His long service at two major Kyiv theatres, and his steady presence in popular series, say as much about his standing as any list of honours.

Why Does Andrii Saminin Matter to Ukrainian Culture?

Andrii Saminin matters because he works across the full range of the performing arts and has done so for more than three decades. Few actors keep a stage career, a screen career, a directing career and a dubbing career going at once.

He stands in a line of Ukrainian performers raised in theatre families who treat the stage as their foundation. His move from the Left Bank Theatre to the Franko Theatre shows that this foundation has kept growing.

His marriage to Lesia Samaieva also places him inside one of the best known acting partnerships in Ukrainian cinema and theatre. Both have earned state recognition, and both continue to work.

For readers new to Ukrainian culture, his filmography is a practical entry point. “Pes” introduces his screen presence, while the theatre repertoire shows the craft behind it.

Conclusion

Andrii Saminin is a Ukrainian actor whose career runs from a student film in 1994 to leading roles at the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre. He has played classic stage parts, directed his own adaptation, led a popular detective series and lent his voice to dubbed releases. His long marriage to Lesia Samaieva adds a family story that rests on shared training and shared work. For anyone searching for a clear, sourced profile, these are the facts that hold up across theatre pages, film databases and published interviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Andrii Saminin?

Andrii Saminin is a Ukrainian actor born on 26 April 1974. He works in theatre, film, television and voice dubbing, and he also directs. He performs at the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre in Kyiv and holds the honorary title Merited Artist of Ukraine, awarded in 2016.

How old is Andrii Saminin?

Andrii Saminin was born on 26 April 1974, so he is 52 years old as of October 2026. His birthday falls in late April, and his zodiac sign is Taurus. Several databases list the same date, which makes it one of the most reliable facts about him.

Who is Andrii Saminin’s wife?

His wife is Lesia Samaieva, a Ukrainian actress born in Kyiv. They married on 17 March 2001, according to Wikidata. She is a Merited Artist of Ukraine and a member of the National Union of Cinematographers of Ukraine. Both attended the Karpenko-Karyi university in Kyiv.

Does Andrii Saminin have children?

Biographical profiles say that Andrii Saminin and Lesia Samaieva have one child. The couple keeps family matters private and rarely shares details with the press. For that reason, this article does not give the child’s name or other personal information, and it recommends respecting that privacy.

Where was Andrii Saminin born?

The Ivan Franko Theatre’s official biography gives Zhytomyr as his birthplace. A few online databases, such as Wikidata, list Kyiv instead. Because the theatre is a direct and authoritative source, Zhytomyr is the more reliable answer, though the discrepancy is worth noting when citing him.

Where did Andrii Saminin study?

He studied at the Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television, formerly the Kyiv Institute of Theatre Arts. He graduated in 1995 from the course led by Mykola Rushkovsky. The university is Ukraine’s leading school for actors, directors and film professionals.

Which theatres has Andrii Saminin worked in?

He joined the Kyiv Academic Theatre of Drama and Comedy on the Left Bank of the Dnipro in 1997 and stayed for more than 20 years. In 2022 he moved to the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre in Kyiv, where he continues to perform today.

What is Andrii Saminin best known for?

He is best known for the detective series “Pes”, in which he played a leading role in 2015, and for his long stage career in Kyiv. He is also recognised for Ukrainian dubbing work, including Disney and Pixar releases, and for directing the stage adaptation “Playing Chonkin” in 2009.

Has Andrii Saminin worked as a voice actor?

Yes. Ukrainian entertainment sites and the Disney Ukraine fan wiki list him as a dubbing actor. Credits linked to him include “Brother Bear” (2003) and “The Incredibles” (2004). Specific roles vary between sources, so readers should confirm exact characters through official dubbing credits.

What awards has Andrii Saminin received?

He received the title Merited Artist of Ukraine in 2016, as recorded by Wikidata and Ukrainian biographical databases. The Ivan Franko Theatre’s profile lists him with the higher title People’s Artist of Ukraine, though it gives no year. His directing debut also earned attention in the theatre community.