The well-known Soviet and Lettish actress Vija Artmane has passed away on her 80th year.
      
      In the last years of her life the film star was very ill and endured several apoplectic strokes.
      
      The actress became popular in the 1960s, after starring in the film Blood Ties (Rodnaya krov) (1963). The picture Nobody Wanted to Die (Nikto ne khotel umirat) (1966), in its turn, brought the actress wide fame and universal acclaim all over the Soviet Union.
      
      In 1969 Vija Artmane was honoured with the title of the People’s Artist of the USSR. The film star also played in numerous stage productions.
      
      In 2002 the actress played the Russian Empress Catherine the Great in the historical feature The Golden Age (Zolotoy vek) by director Ilya Khotinenko. It was her last film role.
      
      Sources:
       night.ru,
       rusactors.ru