In a recent interview with the publication "Blyizhche do zirik" (Closer to the Stars), Olga Sumskaya spoke candidly about the beginning of her romance with Vitaliy Borisyuk, which started on stage while the actress was still married to Evgeniy Paperny. In her words, it was their shared work in a theatrical production that became the invisible bridge that ultimately grew into feelings that changed the lives of all three of them. The actress did not hide that, during that period, their relationship was noticeable to those around them, and the finale of the first chapter of her personal story turned out to be dramatic and unexpected even for her.
The Stage as a Point of Intersection: "Blood Wedding"
At the time she met Vitaliy Borisyuk, Olga Sumskaya was married to the actor Evgeniy Paperny. The couple already had a young daughter, Antonina, and the actress continued to work actively in the theater. It was on stage that their paths crossed: Sumskaya and Borisyuk performed together in the production "Blood Wedding." Gradually, their professional interaction grew into a romantic relationship. Notably, by that point Borisyuk was already divorced, while Sumskaya remained married, which added an extra layer of complexity and emotional strain to their growing closeness.
"You're Flying, You're Doing Crazy Things"
Sumskaya admitted that hiding her feelings became increasingly difficult. In her own description, her surroundings were essentially seeing that something more than mere collegial communication was happening between her and Borisyuk. "Everyone saw it all. So I don't even understand how we didn't hold back, how we were carried away. You're flying, you're doing some crazy things," the actress recalled, describing the state both participants in the romance were in. This quote underscores that, in Sumskaya's own view, their relationship was less a secret than a collective unspoken understanding that no one wanted to voice first.
One Photograph That Changed Everything
In the end, the secret romance was exposed because of what seemed like a completely insignificant detail. Sumskaya kept a photograph of Vitaliy Borisyuk in her handbag. It was this very photograph that the actress's then-husband, Evgeniy Paperny, discovered. "I put it in my bag, and Evgeniy Vasilyevich Paperny found this photograph in my bag. And that is when it all began," the star shared. In her words, it was precisely after this discovery that her first marriage began to irreversibly fall apart. Sumskaya ultimately left Paperny and chose a relationship with Borisyuk, which became a turning point in her personal life.
The Boomerang: When Sumskaya Found Herself on the Other Side
Years later, fate played a bitter joke on the actress: Olga Sumskaya herself ended up on the other side of a story about infidelity. Vitaliy Borisyuk, as she recounted, was also unfaithful to her. However, this time the couple managed to save their marriage. According to Sumskaya, a critically important role was played by her pregnancy: when she learned of her husband's affair, she was expecting their daughter Anna. The actress suggested that without this news, their relationship would likely have ended. Forgiving Borisyuk was not easy, but an honest conversation, his acknowledgment of his mistake, and their strong feelings helped the couple get through the crisis. Later, in Sumskaya's words, they even experienced a sort of "second honeymoon."
A Life Boomerang in the Actress's Perception
Olga Sumskaya sees in this chain of events a kind of life boomerang. She believes that the pain she once caused her first husband, Evgeniy Paperny, she later experienced herself in her marriage with Borisyuk. This reflection gives her account not only a memoir-like but also a philosophical tone: the actress reflects on her own past actions through the lens of what she herself had to go through. The collage, in which a pensive and weary Paperny is in the foreground and the smiling couple of Sumskaya and Borisyuk are in the background, visually captures this duality: one was left in the shadow of another's happiness, while the others built a new life, albeit not without internal cracks.
