Interpreting at Britain’s Got Talent 2019: The Champions

Interpreting at Britain’s Got Talent 2019: The Champions was an unforgettable experience. When I was contacted on behalf of ITV with the request to provide a Russian-English interpreting service for one of their contestants who couldn’t speak English very well, it didn’t take me long to say yes! I had never been on TV before and was understandably nervous but everyone was so supportive and helpful backstage during the two days of rehearsals and filming that soon I forgot about the pressure of being on stage together with Ant and Dec and in front of all those famous judges. After all they weren’t going to judge ME! Unfortunately, my contestant didn’t get through to the final but I was most thankful to ITV for the magical experience and a chance to see how the show is made from the inside. When the filming was over Simon Cowell came up to us to say hello and thanked me for my help with interpreting - as simple as that! As it turned out, there was nothing to be scared of – it was just another day at the office! You can see me at work by clicking here

Interpreting for Russian ballet dancers Natalya Osipova and Sergey Polunin

I found a couple of pictures I was allowed to take during my interpreting job for the British Vogue last year. The company in charge organised a promotional photo session with the Russian ballet dancers Natalya Osipova from the Covent Garden and Sergey Polunin, for the British Vogue April issue. Being Russian myself I was very excited to have a chance to interpret during the interview for the two Russian superstars of the ballet world. Although both dancers had good English, the producers felt it was a good idea to have a Russian interpreter on the set. Both dancers looked so strong and powerful but gorgeous and gentle at the same time. Despite their fame they were both quite good-natured and professional throughout the whole day. There was a lot of chemistry between them – it wasn’t a secret that they were a couple on and off stage. It was a real privilege to accompany them and help with interpreting on a few other interview occasions after the British Vogue event.  The unexpected perk from those assignments was a ticket to their show in the Sadles Wells theatre!

Interpreting at the Bombay Sapphire Distillery

If you need a Russian interpreter to visit a gin distillery, I'll be there for you, as the song goes. After my one day job at the distillery in Whitchurch  I think I have a pretty good idea about how gin is made technically. The Bombay Sapphire distillery tour turned out to be more than a story of spirit infused with 10 botanicals and a cocktail-making session as I initially thought! The knowledge of some specific technical terms would have been handy. Who would have thought that I would be translating into Russian ‘coil condenser’!

However most of the group were Russian male journalists (who knew those sort of things anyway!) and when we left the beautiful distillery building I knew everything there was to know about it. The day finished pleasantly with the cocktail-making session in which sadly I couldn't fully participate since I was driving, so I had to do with a non-alcoholic drink which, admittedly, was very nice!