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{{Refimprove|date=November 2024}}[[File:War and peace9.jpg|thumb|Cropped screenshot of Anita Ekberg from the trailer for the film War and Peace.]]
{{unreferenced|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox character
{{Infobox character
⚫
| name = Hélène Kuragina
| colour =
⚫
| series = [[War and Peace]]
⚫
| name = Hélène Kuragina
| first =
⚫
| series = [[War and Peace]]
| first =
| last =
⚫
| creator = [[Leo Tolstoy]]
| last =
⚫
| portrayer = [[Anita Ekberg]]<br />[[Irina Skobtseva]]<br />[[Fiona Gaunt]]<br />[[Tuppence Middleton]]<br />[[Amber Gray]]<br />[[Lilli Cooper]]<br>[[Violante Placido]]<br />Carol Bezerra<br />Hiromu Kiriya
⚫
| creator = [[Leo Tolstoy]]
⚫
| full_name = Yelena Vasilyevna Kuragina
⚫
| portrayer = [[Anita Ekberg]]<br />[[Irina Skobtseva]]<br />[[Fiona Gaunt]]<br />[[Tuppence Middleton]]<br />[[Amber Gray]]<br />[[Violante Placido]]<br />[[Carol Bezerra]]<br />[[Hiromu Kiriya]]
⚫
| nickname = Hélène
⚫
| full_name = Yelena Vasilyevna Kuragina
⚫
| alias = the Queen of society
⚫
| nickname = Hélène
⚫
| gender = Female
⚫
| alias = the Queen of society
⚫
| occupation =
⚫
| gender = Female
⚫
| title = Princess (by birth)<br />Countess (by marriage)
⚫
| occupation =
⚫
| family = Vasily Kuragin (father)<br />[[Anatole Kuragin]] (brother)<br />Hippolyte Kuragin (eldest brother)
⚫
| title = Princess (by birth)<br />Countess (by marriage)
⚫
| spouse = [[Pierre Bezukhov]]
⚫
| family = Vasily Kuragin (father)<br />[[Anatole Kuragin]] (brother)<br />Hippolyte Kuragin (eldest brother)
⚫
| children =
⚫
| spouse = [[Pierre Bezukhov]]
⚫
| relatives = Catiche Bezukhova (cousin), Pierre Bezukhov (cousin)
⚫
| children =
⚫
| religion = [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodox]] (by birth)<br />[[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] (by convert)
⚫
| relatives = Catiche Bezukhova (cousin), Pierre Bezukhov (cousin)
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| nationality = Russian
⚫
| religion = [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodox]] (by birth)<br />[[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] (by convert)
⚫
| nationality = Russian
}}
}}


Princess '''Yelena''' "'''Hélène'''" '''Vasilyevna Kuragina''' ({{lang-ru|Елена "Эле́н" Васи́льевна Кура́гина}}) is a fictional character in [[Leo Tolstoy]]'s 1869 novel ''[[War and Peace]]'' and its various cinematic adaptations. She is played by [[Anita Ekberg]] in the [[War and Peace (1956 film)|1956 film]], by Amber Gray in ''[[Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812]]'', and by [[Tuppence Middleton]] in the [[War & Peace (2016 TV series)|2016 BBC miniseries]].
Princess '''Yelena''' "'''Hélène'''" '''Vasilyevna Kuragina''' ({{langx|ru|Елена "Эле́н" Васи́льевна Кура́гина}}) is a fictional character in [[Leo Tolstoy]]'s 1869 novel ''[[War and Peace]]'' and its various cinematic adaptations. She is played by [[Anita Ekberg]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anita Ekberg as Hélène Kuragina in 'War and Peace' - National Portrait Gallery |url=https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw83626/Anita-Ekberg-as-Hlne-Kuragina-in-War-and-Peace |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=www.npg.org.uk |language=en}}</ref> in the [[War and Peace (1956 film)|1956 film]], by [[Amber Gray]] in the New York stage premiere of ''[[Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812]]'', and by [[Tuppence Middleton]] in the [[War & Peace (2016 TV series)|2016 BBC miniseries]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC One - War and Peace - Helene Kuragina |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/584y9qXZ873Wz0Y1pm7jJXm/helene-kuragina |access-date=2024-12-01 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==
Hélène is described as being in her early to mid-twenties and is considered a great beauty. Within [[St. Petersburg, Russia|Petersburg]] society, she is considered very cultured and intelligent on account of her social graces, despite actually being quite vapid. Early in the novel, it is rumoured and later implied that Hélène has had an [[incestuous]] [[affair]] with her profligate brother, [[Anatole Kuragin|Anatole]].
Hélène is described as being in her early to mid-twenties and is considered a great beauty. Within [[St. Petersburg, Russia|Petersburg]] society, she is considered very cultured and intelligent on account of her social graces, despite actually being quite vapid. Early in the novel, it is rumoured and later implied that Hélène has an [[incestuous]] relationship with her profligate brother, [[Anatole Kuragin|Anatole]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Association |first=Press |date=2015-12-29 |title=Incestuous affair 'crucial' to BBC's War and Peace series |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/dec/29/incestuous-affair-bbc-war-and-peace-helene-anatole |access-date=2024-12-01 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>


After [[Pierre Bezukhov]] is legitimized as the heir to his father's title and fortune, Hélène's father, Prince Vasily Kuragin, arranges for the two of them to be married. Despite finding Pierre odd, Hélène goes through with the marriage for the sake of social and financial advantage. Pierre is at first thrilled to be married to such a beautiful woman, but he quickly sours on the match, especially after Hélène tells him she will never have children with him. Not long after they are married, Hélène has an affair with their houseguest, the crude but fearless soldier Dolokhov, who flaunts the romance. Pierre fights Dolokhov in a [[duel]], and in a stroke of luck wins by wounding him. Pierre sinks into [[Major depressive disorder|depression]], losing all love for his wife. He leaves her and goes to St. Petersburg. Hélène begs him to maintain the marriage, which he does only for appearances, while she continues to engage in sexual affairs, most notably with Boris Drubetskoy. Continuing to pursue her social ambitions, she frequently hosts dinner parties for the elite, and her [[salon (gathering)|salon]] becomes extremely popular. Later, she conspires with Anatole to help him seduce [[Natasha Rostova]], to whom Anatole is powerfully attracted.
After [[Pierre Bezukhov]] is legitimised as the heir to his father's title and fortune, Hélène's father, Prince Vasily Kuragin, arranges for the two of them to be married. Despite finding Pierre odd, Hélène goes through with the marriage<ref>{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=John |date=2016-01-14 |title=‘War & Peace’ Review: Tolstoy in the Bedroom |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/war-peace-review-tolstoy-in-the-bedroom-1452814627 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411015029/https://www.wsj.com/articles/war-peace-review-tolstoy-in-the-bedroom-1452814627 |archive-date=2023-04-11 |access-date=2024-12-01 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref> for the sake of social and financial advantage. Pierre is at first thrilled to be married to such a beautiful woman, but he quickly sours on the match, especially after Hélène tells him she will never have children with him. Not long after they are married and living in Moscow, Hélène has an affair with their houseguest, the crude but fearless soldier Dolokhov, who flaunts the romance. Pierre fights Dolokhov in a [[duel]], and by a stroke of luck wins by wounding him. Pierre sinks into [[Major depressive disorder|depression]], losing all love for his wife. He leaves her and goes to St. Petersburg. Hélène begs him to maintain the marriage, which he does only for the sake of appearances, while she continues to engage in sexual affairs, most notably with Boris Drubetskoy. Continuing to pursue her social ambitions, she frequently hosts dinner parties for the elite, and her [[salon (gathering)|salon]] becomes extremely popular. Later, she conspires with Anatole to help him in his pursuit of [[Natasha Rostova]], to whom Anatole is powerfully attracted.


Late in the novel, Hélène forsakes the Russian Orthodox Church and adopts [[Catholicism]], believing a large donation to the church will lead the pope to annul her union with Pierre so she can remarry. Soon afterward, Hélène falls ill due to pregnancy and dies; it is implied that she died from a [[drug overdose]] in an attempted [[abortion]].
Late in the novel, Hélène forsakes the Russian Orthodox Church and adopts [[Catholicism]], believing that a large donation to the church will lead the Pope to annul her union with Pierre so she can remarry. Soon afterward, Hélène becomes pregnant and then dies; it is implied that she died from a [[drug overdose]] in an attempted [[abortion]].

⚫
==References==
{{Reflist}}


==See also==
==See also==
*[[List of characters in War and Peace|List of characters in ''War and Peace'']]
*[[List of characters in War and Peace|List of characters in ''War and Peace'']]

⚫
== References ==
{{reflist}}


{{War and Peace}}
{{War and Peace}}

Latest revision as of 11:43, 1 December 2024

Cropped screenshot of Anita Ekberg from the trailer for the film War and Peace.
Hélène Kuragina
War and Peace character
Created byLeo Tolstoy
Portrayed byAnita Ekberg
Irina Skobtseva
Fiona Gaunt
Tuppence Middleton
Amber Gray
Lilli Cooper
Violante Placido
Carol Bezerra
Hiromu Kiriya
In-universe information
Full nameYelena Vasilyevna Kuragina
Aliasthe Queen of society
NicknameHélène
GenderFemale
TitlePrincess (by birth)
Countess (by marriage)
FamilyVasily Kuragin (father)
Anatole Kuragin (brother)
Hippolyte Kuragin (eldest brother)
SpousePierre Bezukhov
RelativesCatiche Bezukhova (cousin), Pierre Bezukhov (cousin)
ReligionRussian Orthodox (by birth)
Roman Catholic (by convert)
NationalityRussian

Princess Yelena "Hélène" Vasilyevna Kuragina (Russian: Елена "Эле́н" Васи́льевна Кура́гина) is a fictional character in Leo Tolstoy's 1869 novel War and Peace and its various cinematic adaptations. She is played by Anita Ekberg[1] in the 1956 film, by Amber Gray in the New York stage premiere of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, and by Tuppence Middleton in the 2016 BBC miniseries.[2]

Biography

[edit]

Hélène is described as being in her early to mid-twenties and is considered a great beauty. Within Petersburg society, she is considered very cultured and intelligent on account of her social graces, despite actually being quite vapid. Early in the novel, it is rumoured and later implied that Hélène has an incestuous relationship with her profligate brother, Anatole.[3]

After Pierre Bezukhov is legitimised as the heir to his father's title and fortune, Hélène's father, Prince Vasily Kuragin, arranges for the two of them to be married. Despite finding Pierre odd, Hélène goes through with the marriage[4] for the sake of social and financial advantage. Pierre is at first thrilled to be married to such a beautiful woman, but he quickly sours on the match, especially after Hélène tells him she will never have children with him. Not long after they are married and living in Moscow, Hélène has an affair with their houseguest, the crude but fearless soldier Dolokhov, who flaunts the romance. Pierre fights Dolokhov in a duel, and by a stroke of luck wins by wounding him. Pierre sinks into depression, losing all love for his wife. He leaves her and goes to St. Petersburg. Hélène begs him to maintain the marriage, which he does only for the sake of appearances, while she continues to engage in sexual affairs, most notably with Boris Drubetskoy. Continuing to pursue her social ambitions, she frequently hosts dinner parties for the elite, and her salon becomes extremely popular. Later, she conspires with Anatole to help him in his pursuit of Natasha Rostova, to whom Anatole is powerfully attracted.

Late in the novel, Hélène forsakes the Russian Orthodox Church and adopts Catholicism, believing that a large donation to the church will lead the Pope to annul her union with Pierre so she can remarry. Soon afterward, Hélène becomes pregnant and then dies; it is implied that she died from a drug overdose in an attempted abortion.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Anita Ekberg as Hélène Kuragina in 'War and Peace' - National Portrait Gallery". www.npg.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
  2. ^ "BBC One - War and Peace - Helene Kuragina". BBC. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
  3. ^ Association, Press (2015-12-29). "Incestuous affair 'crucial' to BBC's War and Peace series". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
  4. ^ Anderson, John (2016-01-14). "'War & Peace' Review: Tolstoy in the Bedroom". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 2023-04-11. Retrieved 2024-12-01.


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