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Milana Vayntrub is an Uzbekistan-born American actress, writer and stand-up comedian. She began her career making YouTube videos amounting over 11 million views, then turned her web content into an MTV pilot. In 2016 she was recognized by Adweek on the cover of their Creative 100 issue for her activism, documentary work, and her role as Lily Adams in AT&T commercials. She is most recognized as an actress for her role as Sloane on the NBC dramatic series This Is Us and as a writer for Adult Swim's Robot Chicken Robot Chicken (2001) .

Best known for her role as Yvetta on the hit HBO series, "True Blood," iconic role of Anica a transgender character on "Entourage" series, and Tatyana on "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" series, Natasha has found success on both the big and small screen since arriving in Hollywood all the way from Tashkent, Uzbekistan. After moving to Moscow, Natasha began a globe-trotting career as a print and runway model for Gucci, Versace, John Galliano, Christian Dior and many other top designers. Natasha then transitioned into acting, moving to London to train at "The Method Center" and learn the "Lee Strasberg Acting Technique. After moving to LA and studying under well known teachers Ivana Chubbuck, Howard Fine, Lesly Kahn and Bob Corff, Natasha booked her first acting job on the Fox Television show "Fastlane" (2002). She has since appeared on a wide variety of television shows, including "NYPD Blue," "CSI," "NCIS LA," "Just Shoot Me," "The Bold and the Beautiful," "Nip/Tuck," and "Body of Pain" among others. Natasha has also appeared in over a dozen films, including "The Women" (2008), opposite Meg Ryan, Eva Mendes, and Bette Midler.

Natasha has shared the screen with dozens of icons, including Annette Benning, Debra Messing, Cloris Leachman, Candace Bergen, Danny DeVito, Jada Pinkett Smith, Charlie Day and many more.

Despite having a busy work schedule, Natasha loves spending time with her daughter Valentina.

Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Rita Volk moved to San Francisco with her family when she 6 years old. Approached by a modeling scout, Volk was given the opportunity to audition for commercials and instantly fell in love with acting.

Through high school, Volk acted in school plays and further explored her burgeoning love for film which she claims, also, helped her and her family acclimatise to the American language and culture. After high school, Volk attended Duke University, where she graduated with a degree in psychology/premed. But she never lost sight of her passion for acting as she acted in student films and was a member of Inside Joke, Duke's sketch comedy troupe.

Nearly unrecognizable in his portrayals, Michael Aronov is a Tony Award winning actor that has made a name for himself by pushing the boundaries on stage and screen. In film he is most known for his role as Chovka, the Chechen warlord and head gangster opposite Tom Hardy and James Gandolfini in the Twentieth Century Fox feature The Drop (2014). In complete contrast, the actor also spent three seasons on the award winning FX series The Americans (2013), playing a physicist that is torn from his family and exiled as a political prisoner. Another indelible TV role was the fast-talking lovable hustler, Smokey Putnum on NBC's The Blacklist (2013). Subsequently Aronov played lead undercover cop, Jackie Dillon in the HBO-Cinemax series Jett (2019). The actor also went head-to-head with Sir Ben Kingsley, portraying a real life Nazi hunter in "Operation Finale" (MGM). He will soon be seen as Isaac, a nightclub owner with a sordid past in the Netflix series "Hit and Run," and in the upcoming Showtime mini-series "The First Lady" - playing Rahm Emanuel opposite Viola Davis as Michelle Obama.

Earlier in his career Aronov earned respect for his unique level of immersion into a role as he lost nearly fifty pounds to reflect the authentic downfall of Sacco Valenzia, a charismatic and boundless addict in the Sundance Film Festival and Independent Spirit Award nominated film - Lbs. (2004) Just prior to that, the actor's film debut was in another Sundance Film Festival favorite, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" - playing the long-haired, diesel glam-rock drummer, Schlatko.

For his Theatre work, Aronov has won the Tony Award, the Lucille Lortel Award, the Obie Award, and the Elliot Norton Award. The actor has also been nominated for the Drama Desk Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, and the IRNE Award. He originated the roles of Uri Savir in the Tony Award winning production of "Oslo" on Broadway; Paul in Lyle Kessler's "First Born" at The Actors Studio, and Dennis in Theresa Rebeck's "Mauritius." Other Theatre highlights include: Siggie, in the Tony-nominated revival of "Golden Boy" on Broadway, the American premiere of "Blood and Gifts" by J.T. Rogers at Lincoln Center; his solo-show "Manigma" (NYC); Stanley Kowalski in the classic "A Streetcar Named Desire" (Europe); Jean in "Miss Julie" at the Cherry Lane Theatre, Dionysus in "The Bacchae 2.1," and Edgar in an award winning production of "King Lear."

Park Solomon was born on 11 November 1999 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He is an actor, known for All of Us Are Dead (2022), Lookout (2017) and Revenge of Others (2022).

Anna Jimskaia was born on 22 January 1979 in Tashkent, USSR [now Uzbekistan]. She is an actress, known for Monamour (2005), Villa Bella (2015) and Loro (2018).

Alik Sakharov was born on 17 May 1959 in Tashkent, USSR. Alik is a director and producer, known for Ozark (2017), House of Cards (2013) and Game of Thrones (2011).

Ravshana Bakhramovna Kurkova is a distinguished Russian cinema and theatre actress. She has appeared in more than thirty films since 2003. Ravshana was born in Tashkent in an Uzbek acting family. Her parents are Uzbek actor Bakhram Matchanov and Uzbek actress, producer, and director Rano Kubaeva. One of her first major acting experiences was playing, at the age of 12, the daughter, Nigora, in Tayna paporotnikov (1992) ("The Mystery of Ferns"), a philosophical art house drama by Uzbek director Rashid Malikov, filmed at the "Uzbekfilm" studio in 1992. Ravshana graduated from one of the most prestigious music schools in Central Asia. In the eighth grade her parents transferred her to another Tashkent lyceum, a branch of the University of London. In the late 1990s, Ravshana moved to Moscow, where she entered the philological faculty of the Moscow State Pedagogical University. After receiving a diploma of higher education she worked in television as an editor of a talk show. Ravshana studied acting under the guidance of Tatyana Pyshnova, a professor of the Mikhail Shchepkin Higher Theatre School. Ravshana Kurkova is also known as a theatre actress. She has played leading roles in plays of Ivan Vyrypaev, including "Nevynosimo dolgi obyatiya" ("Unbearably Long Embraces") and "Ilyuzii" ("Illusions"), both at the Moscow theatre "Praktika" ("Practice").

Marisha Triantafyllidou was born on 4 May 1975 in Tashkent, USSR [now Uzbekistan]. She is an actress and writer, known for Her Job (2018), Dodo (2022) and Xenia (2014).

Larissa Bond was born on 8 April 1973 in Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, USSR [now Uzbekistan]. She is an actress, known for Lord of War (2005), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) and How to Make It in America (2010).

Rina Zelyonaya is a Soviet pop, theater and film actress, master of imitation of children's speech, People's Artist of the RSFSR.

She was born in Tashkent in a family of Vasiliy Zelyonyy. After her father was transferred to work in Moscow, Rina began to study at the von Derviz gymnasium in Gorokhovskiy Lane. She became an actress quite by accident: she was walking around Moscow and saw an ad: "Recruitment to a theater school." Of the 80 applicants, only 22 people were admitted to the school, including Ekaterina. In 1919 she graduated from the Moscow Theater School at the Free Theatre. She started on the stage as a professional singer, but natural comedy, her desire for parody prevailed. Her teachers were Illarion Pevtsov, Nikolai Radin, Mariya Blyumental-Tamarina.

With the outbreak of the Civil War, the Zelenyy family moved to Odessa, where the young actress got a job at the local theater - the Confreria of the Knights of the Sharp Theatre. It was then that Ekaterina became Rina - her name did not fit on the theater poster.

And some time later, Rina Zelenaya returned to Moscow. She worked in the Moscow theater "Do not cry", then - in the Petrograd "Balaganchik". In 1924-1928 - actress of the Moscow Theater of Satire. Since 1928 she was an actress of the Review Theater at the Press House (later - the Theater of Variety and Miniatures).

In the cinema - since 1931, the first role - a girl from Zhigan's gang in the film by Nikolai Ekk Road to Life (1931). Eight years later, she, along with Agniya Barto, wrote the script for the film The Foundling (1940). She took part in the dubbing of cartoons.

The last role that the actress played in the movie was Mrs. Hudson, the owner of the apartment on Baker Street, where the legendary Sherlock Holmes lived. The work on the image lasted for seven whole years, five films about the detective's adventures were shot, the last one in 1986.

Tatyana Konyukhova was a Soviet and Russian theater and film actress.

She was born in Tashkent (Uzbek SSR). She had a brother, Igor, who died at an early age. In 1946, her father was sent to work in Latvia, and the Konyukhov family moved to Riga. She finished school in Liepaja. In 1949, she came to Moscow, where she entered VGIK. In 1955, she graduated from the All-Union State Institute of Theater Arts. After graduating from VGIK she worked at the Malyy Theater.

After the success in the film May Night (1952), the actress began to be regularly invited to act in films. In the 1950s, she played leading roles in the films Good Morning (1955) (driver foreman Katya Golovan), Raznye sudby (1956) (Sonya Orlova), Gori, moya zvezda! (1958) (Nelya Bulatova), Vremya letnikh otpuskov (1961) (Anna Gorelova).

She performed notably in Radunitsa (1984) (as Olga), Portret zheny khudozhnika (1982) (as Varya Nikitenko), Sitting on the Golden Porch (1986) (as Tsarina), Ssuda na brak (1988) (as Valentina), and Vsyo vperedi (1990) (as Zinaida Vitalyevna).

After leaving the theater, she worked with children at the Theater Studio at the Moscow Children's Academy of Folk Arts in Perovo. She also taught acting at the Moscow State Institute of Culture.

Dmitriy Kharatyan was born on 21 January 1960 in Almalyk, Tashkent Oblast, Uzbek SSR, USSR [now Uzbekistan]. He is an actor and producer, known for Na Deribasovskoy khoroshaya pogoda, ili Na Brayton-Bich opyat idut dozhdi (1993), Koroleva Margo (1996) and The Secret of Queen Anne or Musketeers Thirty Years After (1994). He has been married to Marina Mayko since 1996. They have one child. He was previously married to Marina.

Talgat Nigmatulin was born on 5 March 1949 in Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, USSR [now Uzbekistan]. He was an actor and writer, known for Pirates of the 20th Century (1980), Odin i bez oruzhiya (1984) and Vstrechi i rasstavaniya (1973). He was married to Larissa Kandalova, Halima Hasanova and Venera Nigmatulina. He died on 11 February 1985 in Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR, USSR [now Lithuania].

Margarita Merino was born on 14 January 1943 in Tashkent. She is an actress, known for Korona Rossiyskoy Imperii, ili Snova Neulovimye (1971), Komitet 19-ti (1972) and Staryy znakomyy (1969).

Ariadna Shengelaia was born on 13 January 1937 in Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, USSR [now Uzbekistan]. She is an actress, known for Evgeniya Grande (1960), Yevgeni Onegin (1959) and Volshebnyy portret (1997). She was previously married to Eldar Shengelaia.

Aleksey Grishin was born on 24 July 1974 in Tashkent, USSR. He is an actor, known for Mafia: Game of Survival (2016), Brat 2 (2000) and Landysh serebristyy (2000).

Ulug'bek Qodirov was born on 3 August 1983 in Tashkent. He is an actor, known for Yengilmas Tokioga yo'l, Er Bermoq - Jon Bermoq (2011) and Baron (2016).

Elena Kats-Chernin was born on 4 November 1957 in Tashkent, Uzbek SSR, USSR [now Uzbekistan]. She is a composer, known for Mary and Max (2009), Michelle's Story (2015) and The Divorce (2015).

Alia Azamat Ashkenazi was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and raised in Moscow, Russia by her paternal grandmother, Soviet journalist-turned-librarian Rano Abduraimova. Alia was heavily involved in drama and literature club in high school and graduated as an Honors student and Valedictorian.

Alia's father Azamat Abduraimov is an international soccer star and a Champion of 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, where his score against South Korea was lauded the Best Goal in the history of Uzbek football, famously called the "Golden Goal." Alia's paternal grandfather Berador is named the Best Uzbek Goal Scorer of the 20th century, also considered the greatest football player in Uzbek history. Born into a dynasty of elite athletes, Alia herself played junior tennis competitively and now is a vocal fitness aficionado.

Alia started her career in 2006 as a Sports Columnist in Otechestvenny Futbol magazine and a reporter for the Russian national newspaper, Uchitelskaya Gazeta. Alia's achieved an impressive journalistic career for her very young age only to realize that her true love and her true talent lay in dramatic writing and visual storytelling.

Alia is a recipient of two United Nations Awards for her documentary work (Sadako) and theater writing and direction (Michael Jackson: Peacemaking).

In 2012 Alia created and hosted a radio show "Azamat's Champions" on Radio Terra which became one of the most popular programs of the station. On her namesake show, she aimed to bridge the gap between professional athletes and listeners, dedicating a big part of it to entertaining biopic-style profiles on star football players including Zinedine Zidane, Leo Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Gerard, and Pique.

A published Poet by that time, Alia wrote "The Sun" lyrics for a pop-rock band, SAHAR; the song became a chart-topping hit in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan and was frequently rotated on Ukrainian radio stations.

In 2014 Alia moved to New York to pursue a career in Film and Television. She won a talent-based scholarship and graduated from NYFA as a Screenwriter. Since 2016 Alia served as a Script Supervisor on more than 150 narrative and commercial projects. The most notable of which are Russian Doll, The Sinner and Love, Victor and promos for Glass and When They See Us, as well as various commercials starring Hugh Jackman, Tessa Thompson, Dua Lipa, Samuel L. Jackson and Turkish Airlines Super Bowl spot starring Morgan Freeman and Hellmann's Super Bowl spot starring Pete Davidson.

In 2018 Alia married the No. 1 American Backgammon player and Grandmaster Victor Ashkenazi. Since then Alia uses her marital last name as a Writer and Director and her middle name Azamat in Script Supervisor credits.

Alia's narrative writing credits include shorts Am I Pretty (2014), Mama (2015), Stay (2021) and Esther's Choice (2020) - the latter of which Alia also directed and produced. A Francois Arnaud-starrer, hailed by audiences as "a tender but fraught journey" and "hauntingly beautiful," the romantic thriller has won the Best U.S. Narrative Film and the Best Cinematography (Guillermo Cameo) Awards at Venice Shorts, and ranked No. 6 most-viewed film at the Chelsea Film Festival, out of 130 selected projects.

In November 2020 Alia was invited to the Big Apple Film Festival with two films, Esther's Choice and the World Premiere of Misha, a feature documentary Alia co-wrote and co-directed atmosphere scenes for. Both Esther's Choice and Misha made an Official Selection at the prestigious Santa Fe Film Festival in 2021. Official Selection of the Manchester Film Festival, Misha was also the Opening Night Feature Film of the festival, a rare honor for a documentary. After picking up the Best Documentary Feature prize at the Oxford International Film Festival, Misha is set for international distribution, and Esther's Choice is now available on YouTube worldwide.

Alia just signed on to direct a French independent drama set in 1960s on Reunion island, while writing to direct her first studio comedy with Game One producing. She is also in development of NYC-based family drama series with Mainstay Entertainment; set to direct an off-Broadway play "Carry On" conceived and produced by Jane Tuv; and is also attached to direct John Klein's biopic on Franz Kafka set in pre-war Nazi Germany.

As a Writer, Alia is best known for her emotional, often ensemble cast, linear storytelling with a use of unconventional narrative devices, such as imaginary characters and fantasy/dream sequences. She's made a name for herself by skillfully balancing comedy and drama in her scripts, showcasing a unique voice and tone in each story. The subjects of family, identity and success are central in her work, she also often explores trauma, love and parent-child relationships in her writing.

As a Director, Alia strives for visual sensation and cinematic poetry in her films, so that one could watch them repeatedly and discover something new every time. Raised by a librarian, and surrounded by books all her life, Alia expressed interest in bringing Magical Realism to screen, and is a fan of blending genres and book adaptations.

As a young girl Alia played Backgammon, a hobby she continues to have to this day. In fact, Alia is the Winner of the 2015 Capital Classic Backgammon Championship held in Washington D.C., the 2016 Ultimate Backgammon Tournament held in San Antonio, Texas and the 2019 Boston Backgammon Championship. She is a numerous-time Finalist of such distinguished US Backgammon Tournaments, as Las Vegas Open and New York Metropolitan Open.

Julia Kalantarova was born on 26 December 1970 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. She was a production designer, known for The Simpsons Movie (2007), Frozen (2013) and Rocket Power (1999). She was married to Robert Morris. She died on 27 September 2016 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Ali Khamraev was born on 19 May 1937 in Tashkent, Uzbekskaya SSR, USSR [now Uzbekistan]. He is a director and writer, known for I Remember You (1985), Bo Ba Bu (1998) and Chrezvychainyy komissar (1970).

Victor Stoloff was born on 17 March 1913 in Tashkent, Russia. He was a director and writer, known for Sinfonia fatale (1947), Little Isles of Freedom (1943) and The 300 Year Weekend (1971). He died on 6 December 2009 in New York, New York, USA.

Shukur Burkhanov was born on 15 September 1910 in Tashkent, Russian Empire [now Uzbekistan]. He was an actor, known for Dalyokie blizkie gody (1976), Gibel chernogo konsula (1971) and Asal (1940). He died on 15 August 1987 in the USSR.

Miron Penson was born on 15 March 1928 in Tashkent, USSR [now Uzbekistan]. He was a cinematographer, known for Dalyokie blizkie gody (1976), Parol 'Otel Regina' (1984) and Gibel chernogo konsula (1971). He died on 29 May 2018.