Ivan Yankovsky spoke plainly about what draws him to acting and why he keeps choosing certain roles. In a candid discussion, he suggested that acting is less about talent or technique and more about the practical decision to step into different lives. He described the craft as a form of work that requires him to wear other people’s clothes and become someone else, even if only temporarily. He emphasized that comfort with not being himself is part of the job, but he also stressed that he does not take every part. If a role does not spark his interest or feel meaningful, he believes it risks disengaging the audience he hopes to move with his portrayal.
The actor expanded on his selective approach, explaining that only projects with genuine interest or significance make the cut. He has spent years confronting personal fears and insecurities, and he credits his acting career with helping him navigate those challenges. Through the process of embodying various characters, he has found a way to examine his own thinking patterns without turning to a psychologist. The stage and screen have offered him a structured path to explore worries, motivations, and desires in a controlled, creative environment.
Earlier, Yankovsky hinted at a striking possibility: he would be willing to portray a role connected to his own family if it served a meaningful purpose. The conversation touched on a private life shared with Diana Pozharskaya, with whom he is raising a one-year-old son. The child’s given name honors a storied legacy in Russian cinema, bearing the name of Oleg Yankovsky, a celebrated People’s Artist of the USSR. Observers noted how closely the child’s features resemble that famed relative, and Yankovsky reflected on the resonance of heritage, joking that the appearance might feel like a form of reincarnation. The reflections convey how lineage and craft can intertwine, shaping creative choices and personal meaning for this actor and his family [citation].