Ukrainian theater and film actor, and teacher Dmytro Solovyov is preparing for the premiere of the comedy series 'Kotlyarevsky', which will take place on November 2 at 19:00 on Novyi Kanal. The story unfolds in the restaurant of the same name, where employees combine Ukrainian culinary traditions with modern presentation while falling in love, sorting out relationships, and getting into funny situations amidst their work duties. In a blitz interview with the entertainment project Styler (RБК-Ukraine), Solovyov talked about why the most difficult scenes in his career turned out to be almost wordless, what his students taught him, and how he and his partner Anastasia Ivanyuk set boundaries between their professional and personal lives.
Scenes without text: two hours instead of twenty minutes
Answering the question about which scene in 'Kotlyarevsky' turned out to be harder than it seemed on paper, Solovyov unhesitatingly named episodes with a minimal amount of lines or their complete absence. 'Every time I thought we would shoot it in about twenty minutes, but we worked in the frame for two hours,' the actor admitted. According to him, such scenes require maximum concentration and internal work, as the actor has to convey the entire spectrum of emotions and plot twists without relying on text. Real chef Sasha Miroshnychenko was also present on the series set, preparing dishes on camera. Solovyov noted that the actors did not cook anything themselves, and the most delicious dish that 'was remembered for a lifetime' was the chef's borscht.
Teaching as a school of responsibility
In addition to his acting career, Dmytro Solovyov teaches. In the interview, he shared that his students taught him to 'love the profession even more, become more responsible, and rejoice in their victories.' At the same time, he emphasized that not a single student's question made him doubt his own approach to the acting profession: 'I try to find answers to everything. Think — yes, doubt — no.' He describes his relationship with the students as 'friends with subordination,' and this format, he says, avoids the rigid hierarchy customary in some pedagogical traditions. The main professional advice Solovyov most often gives to students is 'don't listen to anyone.' At the same time, he admits with a smile that he doesn't always follow this principle himself.
Rules that save relationships
Solovyov's personal life is closely intertwined with his professional one: his partner is actress Anastasia Ivanyuk, with whom he works at the Theater on the Left Bank. The couple has developed a number of unwritten rules that help maintain a balance between the stage and home. In addition to the already known agreement not to watch each other's intimate scenes, they agreed not to bring personal matters into the media. 'Another rule of ours is mutual respect and mutual understanding,' the actor stressed. When asked if they discuss professional failures, Solovyov answered in the affirmative: 'Of course we discuss them, we share, like everyone else. If we understand each other and express support, then our failures do not become so important. And that is how we find the strength to overcome them.'
What awaits viewers on November 2
The series 'Kotlyarevsky' is positioned as a comedy with a culinary component: viewers will see how the restaurant team masters modern techniques of serving Ukrainian dishes, experiences romantic dramas, and gets into absurd situations. The premiere of the first episode is scheduled for November 2, 2026, at 19:00 on Novyi Kanal. For viewers already familiar with the Ukrainian series format, the project is of interest primarily due to its lively humor and authentic gastronomic component, for which a working chef was responsible on set. Solovyov, in turn, invites the audience to appreciate not only the comedic situations but also the actors' work in scenes where 'everything is said without words.'
