Domnica Darienco – renowned actress of theatre and cinema from the Republic of Moldova.  She has been on stage for over 50 years, playing over 100 outstanding roles. She was born on January 15, 1919, in the Valley of the Thief (former Dolinscoie), Odessa region.

He studied acting at the Odessa Theatre School from 1933 to 1937. After graduation, Domnica was an actress at the Dramatic Theatre “A.S.Pushkin”, now the National Theatre “Mihai Eminescu”.  She was married, but her husband died in World War II, when their son was only one and a half years old.

She made her stage debut as Krucinina in A. Ostrovsky’s “Guilty without guilt”. She has played the roles of powerful heroines from national and universal drama. Notable roles such as: Aftenia from “The Mother-in-law with three sons-in-law” by Ion Creanga, Corina from “Ovid” by Vasile Alecsandri, Vasilisa from “The Night Asylum” by Maxim Gorky made Domnica Darienco shine on stage. In 1957, she became a People’s Artist of the USSR, and in 1973 – People’s Artist of the USSR. She was also awarded the Order of the Republic.

She made her film debut in 1955 in the film “Andriesh”, shot at the “A. Dovjenko” studio in Kiev. Her best-known role was Domnica in the film “Armageddon” (1962).

Although she retired at the ripe old age of 70 in 1989, she never left the world of theatre.  From 1992-2004, Domnica Darienco was president of the League of Stage Veterans of the Republic of Moldova, looking after her colleagues, like herself, in old age.

She passed away on 6 November 2010 and was buried at the Central Cemetery in Chisinau, next to her husband.