Russian/Czech beauty Maria Darkina is taking the international film scene by storm.

Born in Vladivostok, Russia, Maria moved with her family to Prague when she was a child. She attended and graduated from the British International School of Prague where she focused her studies on Theatre and Drama, ranging her training from classical Shakespeare to contemporary performance. She also took a course on theatre and acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, as well as vocal lessons with a former soloist of the great Bolshoi Theatre. At 19, she relocated to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career, studying at the New York Film Academy where she earned an Associate of Fine Arts in Acting Degree, and later received an Acting Certificate from the prestigious University of California, Los Angeles. Fluent in English, Russian and Czech languages, when she is not on set Darkina perfects her acting craft in ongoing classes, or dedicates her time to training in Martial Arts and stunts.

            While her introduction to the industry was in the theatre, Darkina began auditioning for film roles at a very early age. Since her first film role in “Narnia: Prince Caspian”, the young actress knew that she was destined to pursue a professional career in acting. In recent years, she has appeared in student graduate film productions “Plight”, “Hard Target”, “Abortion”; reality TV series as a host “Passport to Hollywood”; theatrical plays at the New York Film Academy and Prague British School, including “Women of Manhattan”, “Five Women Wearing The Same Dress”, “Katie and Frank”, “Closer”, “The Odd Couple: Female Version”, and a variety of Shakespearean productions; as well as music videos and modeling assignments for top designers. She was featured in a cover story of the 2015 Cannes Film Festival edition of French magazine “Cote”, and on the cover of its edition for Paris Fashion Week in summer 2015. She has also secured a feature and cover stories in several top international luxury fashion and lifestyle magazines.

            Additionally, Emir Kusturica cast her in his new romance adventure feature “On The Milky Road”, starring the legendary director himself and Italian actress Monica Bellucci. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2016, to which she was invited and attended with the cast and crew. Kusturica also invited Darkina to join him and his band The No Smoking Orchestra on stage to perform on the Balkans Festival concert tour. Her first appearance took place in Paris and Luxembourg in April 2016.

            Darkina also starred in a key role in the U.S. indie film “Get Married or Die”, alongside many great actors, including Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee Sally Kirkland and actor Jason London, to name the few.

            Darkina was also invited to participate in the prestigious Young Talent Program at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival; and host the Cannes Fashion and Global Short Film Awards the following year.

            An animal activist, Darkina works with Ace of Hearts, an association dedicated to the rescue of abandoned dogs.