Today, Natalka Denysenko is one of the most famous Ukrainian actresses, confidently combining a successful career in cinema and theater, the development of her own authorial projects, entrepreneurship, and active communication with an audience of many thousands. Her creative path is a story of perseverance, continuous development, the courage to go beyond conventional roles, and the ability to stay true to herself regardless of life’s circumstances.
Exclusively for the international glossy magazine Business Woman, the actress, TV presenter, blogger, and founder of her own educational and creative projects, Natalka Denysenko, spoke candidly about her journey in the profession, the roles that changed her life, the power of female leadership, personal brand, her recent engagement, and the main principle that helps her move forward with confidence. This is a conversation about a woman who is not afraid to be different, to create new meanings, and to choose growth every single day.
1. Your path into the public eye began with the acting profession. What was the exact moment when you realized you wanted to connect your life specifically with cinema and theater?
In fact, I have been very active and artistic since childhood. I was never afraid of the stage — on the contrary, I always wanted to perform.
Now I love astrology, and if you look at my matrix of destiny, my central one is the 17th Arcana — the Star Arcana. They say it symbolizes the talent to shine, and it seems to me that this is truly about me.
In school, I started singing, dancing, and attending various creative clubs. Even then, I realized that what I liked most was playing roles and going on stage. I performed in the school theater, and it so happened that by the eighth grade, I knew for sure that I would become an actress.
2. Over the years in the profession, you have played many different roles. Is there one among them that particularly influenced you as an actress and as a person?
It is difficult for me to single out just one role because each of them gave me something of its own.
One of my favorite roles is in the series Jacob’s Century (Stolittia Yakova), where I played a complex girl with an unhappy fate. For me, it was a real step out of my comfort zone, because before that, I mostly played beautiful heroines and seductresses.
Also very important for me was the role in the series The Clan of Jewelers (Klan Yuveliriv) — this was my first major leading role in a hundred-episode series. This project gave me colossal acting practice and taught me to work with a large volume of material.
Another role that is truly close to me is in the series Girls (Divchata). This is already a more conscious, deep female character in whom comedy and drama are combined. Such roles are always interesting because they allow you to reveal different facets of a character.
And, of course, a special place is held by the role of Ksenia in the movies When Will You Get Married? and When Will You Get Divorced?. It was these projects that brought me international recognition, as they were shown not only in Ukraine but also in European countries and the USA. It is worth noting that this is Ukrainian cinema, created in co-production with European partners, particularly Croatia and Bulgaria.
3. Acting is not just about talent, but also continuous work on oneself. What professional qualities, in your opinion, help an actor develop and stay in demand?
In my opinion, an actor must first and foremost be open to the new. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, try yourself in completely different roles, and play characters who might be completely unlike you. Such roles develop acting skills the most.
It is also essential to work on yourself continuously: develop diction, pronunciation, endurance, and acting skills. You have to be prepared for the fact that this profession is very challenging. Shooting schedules can be crazy; you need to adapt quickly to new conditions, work hard, and keep yourself in professional shape.
And perhaps, an actor in demand is one who is ready to jump above their head every time and not be afraid of difficult challenges. But at the same time, it is important to be able to filter projects and choose the films you want to participate in, because they are exactly what shapes you as an actor.
If you constantly develop your acting skills, know how to work in a team, listen to the director’s advice, but at the same time are not afraid to have your own opinion, know how to improvise and naturally step into a role — you will always be in demand.
And also, in my opinion, it is very important to be able to interact with the audience even through the screen, to evoke emotions and make people fall in love with your characters. This is the true magic of the acting profession.
4. How has your attitude towards the profession changed over the years? Are there things you do differently today compared to the beginning of your creative journey?
Of course, everything has changed, and the attitude towards the profession has too. But, even though today I am already a popular and media-exposed actress, this profession still remains a kind of roulette game.
There is always an element of luck and an ongoing struggle here: you constantly need to go through auditions, screen tests, and prove that you are the right fit for the role. You never know if you will align with the vision of the director or producer. Therefore, this part of the profession remains unchanged for me.
And the approach to work has changed as well. Over these years, I have gained a lot of experience — both in comedic and dramatic roles. Today, I understand acting techniques much deeper, I am more conscious of my profession, and I work completely differently than at the beginning of my creative path.
5. You are actively developing your presence on social media. How important is it for a modern actress to have a personal brand and direct contact with the audience?
I think this is not important for everyone. There are actors who deal exclusively with their profession, do not run social media, and do not have a large audience. And that is absolutely fine. But for me, that is not enough.
I have a lot of energy and a desire to constantly create something. The acting profession always involves a certain amount of waiting, because you don’t work an office schedule from 8:00 to 18:00. It is a life from project to project, and the pauses between them can be quite long. And I cannot sit idle.
That is precisely why my life includes self-development, a personal brand, and teaching — the “Million Dollar Voice” program and the psychological program for women “Voice of a Woman”, as well as my jewelry brand “UNA”.
In addition, I keep a blog, write poetry, and right now, I am preparing my own poetic solo performance. I like to constantly create something new. I need movement, development, and the opportunity to realize my energy.
6. Natalka, we sincerely congratulate you on your recent marriage proposal! Please tell us, what were your first emotions and impressions of this special moment? Was it a surprise for you?
Thank you so much! Yes, it was a real surprise for me. I didn’t even suspect that Yuriy would propose to me that day and in that exact place. I remember when I turned around and saw him with the ring, the first thing I asked was: “But why today?”.
Previously, Yuriy often told me that he wanted me to become his wife. Therefore, I used to share my wishes regarding the ring with him. We went on vacation, and I was sure there would be no proposal. I couldn’t even imagine how Yuriy could secretly bring the ring across the border, so I didn’t even consider it.
It all happened at the Temple of Apollo in the city of Side, Turkey. By the way, many people think it’s Greece, but no — it’s Turkey. Already after the proposal, Yuriy told me the legend of this place, where, according to tales, Mark Antony and Cleopatra used to meet. And I didn’t even know about that.
The most interesting part is that I was the one who organized the photoshoot in this place. I just arranged it with an acquaintance who is a photographer, because I wanted nice pictures for the blog and as a keepsake of our trip.
She suggested the location to me and said: “There is a very beautiful place with white columns.” And I thought: “Oh, great! I love white — the photos will be beautiful.” And I didn’t even suspect that Yuriy had already contacted her, arranged everything, and she was in on his plan.
So it was a truly pleasant surprise. And after the proposal, a romantic evening at a seaside restaurant was waiting for us.
7. What does female leadership mean to you today? What qualities help a woman realize her potential and boldly pursue her goals?
For me, female leadership is, first and foremost, the awareness of one’s own strength.
A woman gives life to this world, and an incredible inner power is already embedded in that. We are often perceived as soft and fragile, but that is exactly where our strength lies, in my opinion. We can not only give birth to children but also create new projects, new meanings, inspire, and lead others.
The idea of healthy feminism resonates deeply with me — when a woman has the right to choose her path, realize her potential, and be exactly who she truly wants to be.
Speaking about me, my purposefulness helps me most in self-realization. If I truly want something, I will definitely put in the maximum effort to achieve it.
Perhaps someone might say this is a more “masculine” character trait, but I always joke that I am a “Sagittarius” (Archer), and the arrow always flies straight into the target. This specific trait helps me a lot in life and in the profession. And, probably, if I were different, it wouldn’t be Natalka Denysenko anymore.
8. What advice would you give to young girls who dream of a creative profession but are afraid to take the first step?
Once I heard a truly great phrase, and it still motivates me to this day. Find a business that brings you incredible pleasure, something you are ready to do even for free, 24/7 — and make it your profession.
If you love shopping — maybe you should become a stylist. If you love knitting — open your own brand. When you do what you truly love, then work stops being just work.
And, of course, it is very important to get to know yourself. In this process, you begin to understand what your path of realization is, what is given to you by God, and what your strengths are.
Nowadays, there are many different ways to understand yourself better. Personally, I used astrology, human design, numerology, and the matrix of destiny. These are the tools that helped me better understand my aptitudes, the areas where I can be successful, and what nature has gifted me with.
Therefore, my main advice is to first know yourself, understand what it is that you personally love, and not what society imposes on you. And only then, turn the business of your heart and soul into a profession.
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Photo: from the heroine’s archive