Ukrainian theater and film actor Volodymyr Hladkyi, known for the series “District Police Officer from DVRZ” and “ATP Carriers,” shared in a candid interview with Wave RBC-Ukraine the key stages of his life — from his independent childhood in Bila Tserkva to his recent wedding with his childhood sweetheart, and from battling a chronic autoimmune disease to critically reflecting on his participation in Russian projects before 2022. The conversation, recorded for the Wave YouTube channel, was released in a shortened text version and covers a wide range of topics: upbringing, professional path, personal relationships, health, and civic stance.
Unsupervised childhood: “I ran around the garages myself”
Hladkyi grew up in Bila Tserkva in a family where his parents worked in manufacturing and construction. His mother worked at a factory producing brake pads, while his father worked at construction sites, including in Krasnodar and Moscow. Due to his parents' busy schedules, the boy was often left with aunts and neighbors, which, according to him, fostered early independence. “I even remember going to the hospital by myself at seven,” the actor recalls. By the age of seven, he already knew how to peel and fry potatoes, and he spent his summer holidays in the village, where, as he emphasizes, “first love, first kisses, and the first disco” took place. His parents, he says, never forced him into activities: he took up dancing on his own after seeing a classmate go to rehearsal and deciding to join her.
From the garage to the stage: a path that began with rejection
Before choosing his profession, Hladkyi worked at a car service station at 15–16, and also considered becoming a minibus driver. His first serious experience on stage was a role in a Christmas play at age 11, when the head of a dance group asked him to deliver a line. “Then I was walking through school, and people told me: 'Oh, here comes the actor!'” he recalls. His admission to the Karpenko-Kary Theater Institute ended in failure: when asked “Who is Stanislavski?” the applicant replied that he didn't know, “probably some guy,” and when asked about his theatrical experience, he mentioned seeing “Buratino.” The commission noted his physical appearance—baldness, crooked teeth, hissing sounds—and rejected him. However, the next stage was a turning point: Hladkyi was admitted to study under Poplavsky, and his mentor became Nina Anatolievna Bilchenko, who, according to the actor, “saw potential in that wild stone and began to polish it.”
Wedding with a childhood sweetheart in the Cherkasy region
In the summer of 2026, Volodymyr Hladkyi married Natalia, whom he had known since childhood in the Cherkasy region. The couple held an intimate wedding for their closest friends—60 guests in total. The actor described the event as “cozy,” emphasizing that it was a conscious choice in favor of a close circle rather than a large-scale celebration. In the interview, he also shared that he dreams of playing the role of Vladimir Putin in a future project, calling the idea a challenge for himself as an actor.
Ten years with Bekhterev’s disease and volunteering for the Armed Forces
For the past ten years, Hladkyi has lived with a diagnosis of Bekhterev’s disease, an autoimmune condition that affects joints and the spine. Despite the chronic nature of the ailment, the actor continues to exercise, maintain a positive attitude, and actively volunteer for the Defense Forces of Ukraine. He combines his comedic persona, known to viewers, with deep self-reflection and the creation of his own content, addressing the audience on topics that go beyond the scope of a standard entertainment format.
“A shameful page”: criticism of his own Russian projects
A separate block of the interview is dedicated to Hladkyi’s attitude toward his own work in Russian projects before 2022. The actor calls this period a “shameful page” and does not try to justify it. At the same time, he highlights a systemic issue: in his opinion, the development of high-quality Ukrainian content requires strict rules and standards that will allow the industry to move forward without returning to past practices. Hladkyi emphasizes that an honest conversation about past mistakes is part of his personal stance and a way to contribute to forming a new cultural environment in Ukraine.
The full version of the conversation is available on the Wave RBC-Ukraine YouTube channel. The shortened text version, published on the publication's website, captures the main topics: childhood, professional path, wedding, health, and the actor's civic stance.
