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Sidebeat Music catches up with Irina Maleeva, a veteran of film, television, musical and cabaret theater, at a rehearsal at the Hudson Main Stage Thestre in Hollywood California, where she presented her one-woman musical theater show, “Illusions.” <p< < p=””> </p< <>

Irina shares pieces of her epic life well lived, mixed with Irina’s sultry voice that beautifully interprets and personalizes songs from her just-released CD, “Illusions.”
Featured songs in the theater show included Amanda McBroom’s “Crimes of the Heart” and “Portrait,” Edith Piaf’s “La Vie en Rose” and Yves Montand’s “Autumn Leaves.”
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Irina has traveled the world with her critically acclaimed one-woman musical comedy shows, including “Passion, Pain and an Occasional Vodka Tonic,” “Mata Hari’s Last Dance” and “Irina A-Broad.”
Born in Bulgaria to a leading lady of the Bulgarian stage and a war hero father who led the anti-Nazi movement for his country, Irina first established herself as a child actor in Italy, where she studied acting, earned a degree in set design, became a painter and learned to speak seven languages fluently. <p< < p=””> </p< <>

At age 15, she was discovered by Italian film director Federico Fellini, who cast her in three of his films.
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She played Jessica to Orson Welles’ Shylock in a BBC production of “The Merchant Of Venice” and then went on to star in more than 30 European and American movies.
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Her co-stars have included such icons as James Mason, Valentina Cortese, Terence Stamp, Anthony Franciosa and Charles Grodin. She was recognized by the Toronto Film Festival for her supporting-actress portrayal of “the demented contessa” in the film “Union City,” starring Deborah Harry and Pat Benatar.

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Irina has appeared on the small screen too, guest starring or recurring in such TV hits as “Days Of Our Lives,” “The Gilmore Girls,” “The Bold And The Beautiful,” “Pensacola,” “Just Shoot Me,” “Angel,” “Heroes” and “Six Feet Under.” <p< < p=””> </p< <>

“I was emotionally and sensually involved with Irina Maleeva!” Austrian avant-garde painter Hundertwasser admitted. He brought Irina’s face to one of his most famous paintings, calling it “Irinaland Over The Balkans.” The original is in a museum in Japan.
Her new show, “Illusions” is directed by Randy Johnson (Elvis The Musical, One Night with Janis Joplin) with musical direction by Michele Brourman (The Rose) . <p< < p=””> </p< <>

Enjoy Illusions CD at www.cdbaby.com/cd/irinamaleeva <p< < p=””> </p< <>

Learn more about Irina Maleeva at http://www.irinamaleeva.com/ <p< < p=””> </p< <>

Sidebeat Music is on Actors Entertainment, a site on the Actors Podcast Network, a Pepper Jay Production.

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