Anastasiia Pustovit is a Ukrainian theater and film actress who is not afraid of complex characters, creative exploration, and constant change. For her, the acting profession is not just about working on roles, but also an opportunity to continually discover herself and reveal new facets through theater and cinema.
Today, the actress places special value on the quality of work, strong scripts, and having enough time to prepare for a role. At the same time, she speaks about the need for honesty in Ukrainian cinema, complex and multifaceted female characters, and the importance of remaining authentic off-stage and off-screen.
Exclusively for the international magazine Business Woman, Anastasiia Pustovit spoke about her professional choices, the impact of theater on her work, personal boundaries in the digital world, contemporary Ukrainian cinema, and the kinds of heroines she would like to see on screen more often.
— Anastasiia, you work in a profession where one must constantly remain open to new characters and challenges. What defines your professional choice the most today — interest in the role, the team, the director, or the theme of the project?
— I think everything combined. Right now, one cannot exist without the other. And best of all is a good script and a long preparation period.
— Which role or professional experience became a turning point for you and changed your understanding of yourself as an actress?
— There are actually quite a few. Theater always remains foundational. It is probably what changed me and continues to change me constantly. I would like to live in a way where change never stops.
— Today, personal branding is a crucial part of a public figure’s career. How important is it for you to stay true to yourself off-screen, and where is the line between personal life and publicity?
— That’s an interesting question, especially since I’ve reduced my social media activity lately. There is always a boundary; it’s unavoidable — that is simply how the digital world is built. For me, staying as honest with myself as possible is the primary priority.
— The Ukrainian film industry continues to evolve even under extremely difficult conditions. What changes do you consider most essential for Ukrainian cinema today?
— Honesty. Complexity. The absence of slogans and simple solutions. Relevance. I think these changes are still ahead.
— The acting profession often entails rejections, uncertainty, and the need to constantly prove your professional level. How do you cope with moments when things don’t work out or don’t go according to plan?
— Well, just like everyone else, really. Differently. Sometimes it doesn’t bother me because I have the theater. Overall, that is a place of constant creation. Other times, of course, there are moments of despair. But right now, what matters most to me is not so much the quantity of projects, but the quality.
— What themes and stories are you especially interested in telling through your characters today? Is there a role you dream of playing but haven’t had the chance to yet?
Good question. I think in Ukrainian filmmaking, we have an endless amount of female characters yet to play. I mean complex, multifaceted, complete heroines. I would like to see more ambiguity, an absence of over-explaining female behavior, and the avoidance of sacralization and martyrdom. More about the actual woman, rather than the preconceived notion of her.
—If you had to formulate your own rule for success today — not only in your profession, but in life — what would it be?
Don’t stop, don’t be afraid, live through it, enjoy it.
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Photo: from the heroine’s archive