Vera Kholodnaya, recognized as the queen of silent cinema, left a significant mark in cinematography despite her short career lasting only four years. During this time, she became the most popular actress, attracting crowds to theaters who came not so much for the films but to see her. Films such as "Forget about the fireplace, its lights have gone out" and "Silence, sadness... silence..." dedicated to circus life featuring her, achieved record box office in pre-revolutionary Russia.

Kholodnaya had refined facial features, expressive sad eyes, and beautiful hair. She performed dramatic roles, becoming a symbol of femininity and the aesthetic ideal of beauty of her time. Vera represented a new decadent image in Russian cinema, replacing the traditional image of the "cheeky rosy Russian beauty" of the 1910s.

Her life was surrounded by mysteries and rumors: she was called the mistress of the famous bandit Mishka Yaponchik or even a French spy. Kholodnaya often acted differently than her contemporary actresses. She created her own hats and dress patterns, styled her own hair. During holidays, she cooked her favorite dishes such as Olivier salad, fish under mayonnaise, and punch.

Her acting career continued during World War I. Kholodnaya participated in charity concerts and the sale of gifts to support soldiers and their families. Soldiers adored her, calling her "their Vera" and actively attended her screenings. In the breaks between filming, she traveled to the front to see her husband, who had volunteered for the war.

Despite tempting offers from foreign companies, Vera refused to leave Russia, considering it wrong. Unfortunately, her life was cut short; she died at 26 from the Spanish flu, a terrible epidemic of that time.